Learn More
Our Community Foundation awards grants from funds it administers to charitable, educational, religious, or public entities to address the charitable goals of the donors it serves and the charitable needs of Daviess County, Indiana. The Board of Directors holds final authority to award grants to eligible organization for charitable purposes in alignment with the organization’s mission.
2025 Foundation Fast Grant Application
Applications are now being accepted for five Foundation Fast Grants of up to $1000. These grants provide one-time assistance for unplanned projects that are small in scale, help the organization meet an unanticipated need or opportunity, or provide support for new and innovative projects that positively impact the lives of people living in Daviess County.
The turnaround time for the grants is quick with applications due May 1, 2025 and grants awarded by May 22, 2025.
2024 Teaching Innovator Grant Program
1st Semester 2024-2025 School Year Grants
Through the Foundation’s 2024 Teaching Innovator Grant Program, Our Community Foundation supports innovative Daviess County teachers to prepare Daviess County youth for the future.
During the 1st semester of the 2024-2025 school year’s competitive grant program, the Foundation awarded 7 grants of up to $250 to schools for innovative in-school or in-class projects in 3 Daviess County schools. The program empowered educators to create dynamic learning environments that meet the diverse needs of their students, so Daviess County youth are better prepared for success in our ever-changing world. Funding was provided by donations to three different funds held by the Foundation – the Jim and L Jane Norton Endowment, the Ken and Paula Jones Family Endowment, and the Administrative Support Fund.
2024 Fast Grants
The Foundation accepted applications for Fast Grants in April 2024 to receive funding from the Foundation’s unrestricted funds. The competitive grant cycle accepted requests of up to $750 to provide one-time assistance for unplanned charitable projects that were small in scale but helped the organization meet an unanticipated need or opportunity, or provided support for new and innovative projects that positively impact the lives of people living in Daviess County. Requests were accepted for charitable activities serving Daviess County people from existing 501(c)3 organizations in good standing with the IRS, existing government/quasi-governmental agencies applying for an extraordinary project that is not funded by tax revenue, faith-based organizations requesting funding for non-sectarian activities, and civic groups that are not 501(c)3 organizations but submitted requests for funding a charitable community cause.
2023 Grant Program – Housing Stability
Through Our Community Foundation’s 2023 Daviess County Stable Housing Grant Program, a $10,000 grant was awarded to the Salvation Army – Daviess County Service Extension – to help Daviess County residents with rent, lodging, or utility bills during times of financial setbacks and emergencies that may cause them to lose their homes.
During the program, the Foundation accepted proposals from charitable organizations that provided housing assistance, emergency rent assistance, rent vouchers, household repair programs, and other forms of support. After a detailed review by the Foundation’s Grant Committee, the 22-member local Board selected the Salvation Army’s proposal for funding.
Travis Schaffer, Foundation Board member and Chair of the Grant Committee says the Foundation selected the focus of the grant program based not only on national trends but on trends in Daviess County. “We reviewed data and trends and that told us there are more and more people in our community who are at risk of losing their home. That’s because of increased costs for the basics, like rent, food and household supplies, transportation, and childcare. This need for stable housing for families and seniors is a pressing need. Because Our Community Foundation is flexible, we can direct funding to causes like this one, where it is most needed in Daviess County.”
Through Our Community Foundation’s 2023 Daviess County Stable Housing Grant Program, a $10,000 grant was awarded to the Salvation Army – Daviess County Service Extension – to help Daviess County residents with rent, lodging, or utility bills during times of financial setbacks and emergencies that may cause them to lose their homes.
During the program, the Foundation accepted proposals from charitable organizations that provided housing assistance, emergency rent assistance, rent vouchers, household repair programs, and other forms of support. After a detailed review by the Foundation’s Grant Committee, the 22-member local Board selected the Salvation Army’s proposal for funding.
Travis Schaffer, Foundation Board member and Chair of the Grant Committee says the Foundation selected the focus of the grant program based not only on national trends but on trends in Daviess County. “We reviewed data and trends and that told us there are more and more people in our community who are at risk of losing their home. That’s because of increased costs for the basics, like rent, food and household supplies, transportation, and childcare. This need for stable housing for families and seniors is a pressing need. Because Our Community Foundation is flexible, we can direct funding to causes like this one, where it is most needed in Daviess County.”