United Way of Central Indiana awards over $500,000 in literacy grants to child care providers, schools, nonprofits
United Way of Central Indiana has awarded $502,500 to 33 child care providers, schools and community organizations to help them start or expand literacy initiatives, the nonprofit announced Monday.
United Way’s Literacy Fund provides grants of $10,000 to $50,000 to support literacy projects and efforts for children from birth to age 8 that improve language development, early literacy skills, reading and writing.
Earlier this year, United Way invited licensed nonprofit child care centers, licensed family child care homes, registered ministries, licensed out of school time providers, Title I elementary schools and nonprofits from across its seven-county service area to apply for grants. A committee of 11 United Way staff members reviewed 56 applications in all, selecting 33 grantees that serve children in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion, Morgan and Putnam counties.
Among the grant recipients are 12 nonprofits accredited with United Way and 21 that are outside its accredited partner network. Five organizations are receiving funds from United Way of Central Indiana for the first time. Since its new strategic plan launched two years ago, United Way has sought to increase and diversify its investments in under-resourced areas to reach more people in all seven counties.
This is the first year for United Way’s Literacy Fund. The grants evolved from the previously offered Literacy Matters Fund, which supported literacy initiatives following the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Literacy Fund will help schools, child care providers and nonprofits pilot or scale initiatives that will have a meaningful and measurable impact on over 3,000 of Central Indiana’s youngest learners,” said Julie Kilger, United Way’s early care and learning director.
These are the 2025 Literacy Fund recipients, the grant amount and county in which the organization is based:
BECA Bethel Early Childhood Academy: $20,000 (Marion)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Hancock County: $17,500 (Hancock)
DayStar Childcare and Infant Learning Center: $17,500 (Marion)
Early Learning Indiana: $25,000 (Marion)
East 10th Children and Youth Center, Inc: $20,000 (Marion)
FBGNC Preschool: $20,000 (Marion)
Grassroot Projects: $15,000 (Hendricks, Marion)
Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, Harris Elementary: $10,000 (Hancock)
Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, J.B. Stephens Elementary: $11,500 (Hancock)
Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation, Weston Elementary: $9,500 (Hancock)
Indiana Math and Science Academy West: $20,000 (Marion)
John Boner Neighborhood Centers: $20,000 (Marion)
Little Duckling Daycare II: $15,000 (Marion)
Martin Luther King Community Center: $10,000 (Marion)
Metropolitan School District of Martinsville: $20,000 (Morgan)
Mt. Zion's Loving Daycare: $20,000 (Marion)
New Beginnings Child Development Program: $25,000 (Marion)
New Palestine Community Schools: $20,000 (Hancock)
Noblesville Schools: $16,000 (Hamilton)
North Putnam Community School Corporation: $24,000 (Putnam)
RISE UNITED: $20,000 (Marion)
SENSE Charter School: $13,500 (Marion)
St. Lawrence Catholic School: $20,000 (Marion)
The Riley Youth Community Center: $20,000 (Marion)
Wayne Township Preschool: $15,000 (Marion)
Wee Care Early Learning Ministry: $24,000 (Marion)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Avondale Meadows YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Baxter YMCA: $5,000 (Marion)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Benjamin Harrison YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Fishers YMCA: $6,500 (Hamilton)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Hendricks Regional Health YMCA: $4,500 (Hendricks)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Jordan YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis – Ransburg YMCA: $4,500 (Marion)