Blue River Community Foundation awarded $5 million grant

Blue River Community Foundation has received a grant of $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative.

This is one of 30 implementation grants being awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties and regions they serve.

With the grant, Blue River Community Foundation will develop a Nonprofit Center to serve Shelby County that will be nothing short of transformative for our neighbors and nonprofit organizations that serve the community. The establishment of this type of facility holds the potential to address a myriad of health initiatives for our residents.

Currently, 28% of Shelby County households are considered Asset Limited Income Constrained but Employed (ALICE). These households are having to make the difficult choice between food, utilities, transportation, childcare, education, and other necessities for survival.

The nonprofit center will allow both collocation and collaboration of our local nonprofit organizations that have made it their mission to improve the well-being of our most vulnerable community members. The center will also provide a space for incubation, a centralized food pantry operation, and navigator services for case management.

Healthy Shelby County will own and operate the new Nonprofit Center.

“The planning of the nonprofit center and the resulting award from Lilly Endowment Inc. to allow us to bring the project to fruition, is the outcome of a well-established relationship between Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF), Healthy Shelby County, MHP and local government,” said Jennifer Jones, Blue River Community Foundation Executive Director. “This award is a testament to the incredible teamwork for our organizations and the importance of cross-sector collaboration to build a stronger, more resilient community for everyone BRCF and our partners are committed to supporting the center to make certain that all families in our communities have the opportunities to enjoy a rich and fulfilling life.”

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