Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis

Founded in 1949, the Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis powers our community impact. Generous gifts from members -- both past and present -- enable us to invest $250,000 annually in scholarships, grants and programs for central Indiana youth

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Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis

Celebrating 75 Years

Investing in our Community

Application Process

Each summer, the Kiwanis Foundation of Indianapolis invites local non profits to apply for grant funding for the creation or expansion of initiatives that directly impact the quality of life of children and adolescents in Indianapolis.

We are pleased to support programming or projects of nonprofit organizations serving youth in Indianapolis by providing multiple grants up to $5,000 each.

This page will be updated when the 2025 grant cycle opens.

2025 Grant Application

2024 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Brightwood Community Center - Kentucky Kingdom trip during SPARKS summer camp! Learn more
Claude McNeal Productions - ACT Out social-issue theatre youth prevention program. Learn more
Firefly Children & Family Alliance - Foster care program to support 400 older youth transition out of foster care and into independence. Learn more
Horizons at St. Richard's Episcopal School - New coding and robotics programming for early childhood students. Learn more
Indiana Center for the Prevention of Youth Abuse & Suicide - Signs of Suicide and Child Lures Prevention programs. Learn more
Pack Away Hunger - Hunger education and meal pack volunteer opportunity for 120 students at Believe Circle City High School, supporting Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Learn more
Special Olympics of Indiana - Erskine Personal Impact Curriculum materials for Marion County classrooms to share the messages of inclusion, respect, and community. Learn more
St. Mary's Early Childhood Center - Preschool program at two Indianapolis sites for 150 three- to five-year old children. Learn more
Teachers' Treasures - New mobile ordering program providing 500 school supply boxes to teachers in Perry Township who work at 21 schools where more than 60% of the students are low-income. Learn more
Unique 7x - Seed to Preservation Program for youth and families are taught how to plant, grow, harvest, and preserve food.

2023 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis - Aquatic Programs that will extend swim lessons & aquatic programming all year at Wheeler-Dowe Club in Martindale-Brightwood. Learn more

Brightwood Community Center - SPARKS Summer Camp, a new program that includes an overnight camping trip for youth ages 4-18. Learn more

Brightlane Learning - Community Tutoring, partnering with community centers to offer tutoring sessions and education-based case management services. Learn more

College Mentors for Kids - Little Buddies program that connects 150 students at Holy Angels, Phalen Leadership Academy, IPS School #43, #654 and #114 to college students at Butler, University of Indianapolis, and Marian through weekly on-campus activities that inspire growth, confidence, and brighter futures. Learn more

Exploradoor - Student Interns who serve as outreach representatives assist with new service that simplifies access for teens from marginalized areas to connect with programs and internships. Learn more

Footlite Musicals - Summer Youth Program supplies for a two-week day camp (6-12) and eight-week young artist program & musical production. Learn more

Indiana Youth Group - Basic Needs and Case Management Program to provide support to LGBTQ+ youth (ages 12-24) experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. Learn more

LifeSmart Youth - TEACH--Tween Education and Access to Community Health initiative to offer health education to advance racial health equity and access to care for 2,000 Black and Latinx Marion County youth in grades 4-10. Learn more

Philharmonic Orchestra of Indianapolis - Strings & Jazzy Things Music Camp, an intensive, week-long camp at Marian University for 70 IPS students. Learn more

ProjectWill - Camp Will Summer Program for youth (14-17) with cognitive and intellectual disabilities to develop life and vocational skills through a variety of experiential learning activities and interactive classroom instruction during their school breaks. Learn more

Saint Florian Center - After School Programs and Leadership Development Summer Camp for at-risk youth to develop leadership and problem solving skills and foster physical activity. Learn more

2022 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Brooke’s Place - Ongoing Grief Support Groups for children, teens, young adults, and their families, offering critical mental health and emotional support services regardless of income. Learn more

Christel House Indianapolis - New enrichment program for preschoolers in the drop-in daycare at Christel House DORS, an adult high school with 600+ enrolled students. Learn more

Edna Martin Christian Center - Youth Leadership Council, a service-learning and leadership-development program for a select group of high school students in the Martindale-Brightwood community. Learn more

Freewheelin’ Community Bikes - Green Apron / Earn-A-Bike Program and Advanced Bicycle Mechanics Classes that use bikes as tool for transformation, by equipping 200 teens with physical health, mentoring and STEM education. Learn more

Friends of Garfield Park - Fall Break Adventure & Sport Camp with experiences designed to inspire and educate 9-12 year olds of underserved families in the Garfield Park area. Learn more

Indianapolis Public Library Foundation - On the Road to Reading to equip thousands of children in low- to moderate-income areas with the resources they need to build their early literacy skills and prepare for kindergarten. Learn more

Pack Away Hunger - Hands-on learning and service opportunity for 85 students at Believe Circle City High School to pack 5,000 meals for Gleaners Food Bank. Learn more

Saint Florian Center - After School Programs and Leadership Development Summer Camp for at-risk youth to develop leadership and problem solving skills and foster physical activity. Learn more

Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign Learn more

Previous Recipients

Since 2015, more than $225,000 has been awarded to 63 local organizations, including:

AYS, Inc.
Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site
Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre
Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis
Brightlane Learning (formerly School on Wheels)
Brightwood Community Center
Brooke's Place
Camptown
Center for Leadership Development
Child Advocates
Christamore House Family & Community Center
Christel House Academy, Inc.
Claude McNeal Productions
College Mentors for Kids
Concord Neighborhood Center
Early Learning Indiana, Inc.
Easter Seals Crossroads
Edna Martin Christian Center
Exploradoor

Firely Youth & Family Alliance (formerly Children's Bureau)
Footlite Musicals
Freewheelin' Community Bikes
Friends of Garfield Park
Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis
Harrison Home
Hawthorne Community Center
Horizons at St. Richard's Episcopal School

Indiana Center for the Prevention of Youth Abuse and Suicide
Indianapolis Children's Choir
Indiana District of Circle K International
Indiana Youth Group
Indianapolis Fire Department
Indianapolis Neighborhood Resource Center
Indianapolis Public Library Foundation
Indianapolis Public Safety Foundation
Indy Thunder Beep Baseball, Inc.
Keep Indianapolis Beautiful
LifeSmart Youth
National Junior Tennis & Learning of Indianapolis
Pack Away Hunger
Peace Learning Center
Perry Township Schools
Philharmonic Orchestra
Playworks Indiana
ProjectWill
Reach for Youth
Rise Learning Center
Saint Florian Center
Salvation Army
Social Health Association of Indiana

Special Olympics Indiana
St. Joseph Institute for the Deaf
Starfish Initiative
Step up for Kindness
Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Teachers Treasurers
TechPoint Foundation for Youth
TeenWorks
Tutors in Action

Unique 7x
Visually Impaired Preschool Services
Wheeler Mission Center for Women & Children
Youth Philanthropy Alliance Foundation

Early Projects

Kiwanis has been involved in many community projects over the past 100 years supporting these organizations:
- Riley Hospital for Children
- Boy Scouts of America / Crossroads of America Council