United Way of Central Indiana awards $17.3 million to 71 nonprofits in region
United Way of Central Indiana on Tuesday announced it is awarding $17.3 million in grants to 71 nonprofits throughout the region to help meet the basic needs of Hoosiers and improve the education, financial stability and well-being of families.
This funding is expected to serve more than 148,000 people across Central Indiana. The grants come from United Way’s Basic Needs and Family Opportunity Funds.
Last Thursday, Oct. 30, United Way announced a separate, $1 million Central Indiana Food Relief Fund in emergency response to cuts to federal SNAP benefits. Today’s announcement of $17.3 million in funding to 71 nonprofits is separate from that fund: United Way awards Basic Needs and Family Opportunity funding twice a year – once for organizations accredited with United Way and once for nonprofits outside its accredited network. This funding is part of United Way's ongoing commitment to meeting the essential needs of all our neighbors — a priority of the nonprofit's work.
The Basic Needs Fund focuses on safe and affordable housing, healthy food access, transportation and health services. The Family Opportunity Fund supports integrated programming that serves both youth and adults in the same household, aimed at improving the education, financial stability and well-being of the whole family.
Grants ranging from $50,000 to $470,000 are being awarded to nonprofits in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties that are accredited with United Way of Central Indiana. Funding contracts begin Jan. 1, 2026.
A separate grant cycle is currently underway for nonprofits outside United Way’s accredited network, with that funding announcement expected in February.
For this round of funding, a committee of 13 people – United Way staff, board members and community volunteers – reviewed Basic Needs Fund applications, and a committee of eight people reviewed Family Opportunity Fund applications. These committees made funding recommendations, which were approved by United Way’s Board of Directors at its Oct. 23 meeting. Nonprofits could apply for one-year or multi-year grants, and a number of recipients will now enter their second year of multi-year grants that began in 2025.
"Now more than ever, this funding is critical to helping our partners meet the growing and changing needs of our community. Nonprofits continue to face increased demand and shifting resources, and these grants help support their efforts to deliver essential services and create opportunities for the individuals and families they serve,” said Shannon Jenkins, United Way’s vice president of impact. “United Way is uniquely positioned to bring partners together, align resources and invest where the need is greatest, and we’re proud to stand alongside organizations doing this critical work.”
“The United Way funding allows TeenWorks to continue to meet the growing need in our community to provide real world skills for future leaders of tomorrow,” said Nick Duvall, TeenWorks president and CEO. “Our partnership with United Way will help us provide transportation, meals, mentorship, and exciting employment opportunities for young people and their families throughout our region. These funds continue to help TeenWorks to provide transformational opportunities to those we serve.”
United Way works to tackle generational poverty, with a focus on basic needs, early care and learning, economic mobility, and safe and affordable housing. United Way has been serving the community for more than a century and partners with more than 100 nonprofits across the region.
One in six households has been impacted by, or used a service from, a nonprofit connected to United Way of Central Indiana.
The grant recipients are:
Alternatives Inc: $50,000 Basic Needs
American Red Cross of Central Indiana: $120,000 Basic Needs
The Arc of Greater Boone County: $70,000 Basic Needs; $120,000 Family Opportunity
At Your School (AYS): $50,000 Basic Needs
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana: $140,000 Family Opportunity
Boone County Senior Services, Inc.: $70,000 Basic Needs
Bosma Enterprises: $50,000 Basic Needs
Boys & Girls Club of Boone County: $70,000 Basic Needs
Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis: $100,000 Basic Needs
Boys & Girls Club of Noblesville: $75,000 Basic Needs
Brightlane Learning: $220,000 Family Opportunity
Burmese American Community Institute: $100,000 Basic Needs; $120,000 Family Opportunity
Catholic Charities Indianapolis: $200,000 Basic Needs; $280,000 Family Opportunity
Children’s TherAplay: $50,000 Basic Needs
Christamore House: $100,000 Basic Needs
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions: $250,000 Basic Needs
Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE): $175,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Concord Neighborhood Center: $175,000 Basic Needs; $250,000 Family Opportunity
Damien Center: $250,000 Basic Needs
Easterseals Crossroads: $70,000 Basic Needs; $220,000 Family Opportunity
Edna Martin Christian Center: $200,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Englewood Community Development Corporation: $125,000 Basic Needs
Family Promise of Hendricks County: $100,000 Basic Needs; $80,000 Family Opportunity
Fathers and Families Center: $100,000 Basic Needs; $380,000 Family Opportunity
Firefly Children & Family Alliance: $200,000 Basic Needs; $220,000 Family Opportunity
Flanner House of Indianapolis: $175,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Foster Success: $100,000 Basic Needs
Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana: $200,000 Basic Needs; $380,000 Family Opportunity
Hancock County Senior Services: $50,000 Basic Needs
Hawthorne Community Center: $200,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Hendricks County Senior Services: $200,000 Basic Needs
Horizon House: $250,000 Basic Needs
HVAF of Indiana, Inc.: $100,000 Basic Needs
Indiana Legal Services: $70,000 Basic Needs
Indiana Youth Group (IYG): $200,000 Basic Needs
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society: $120,000 Basic Needs
Indianapolis Urban League: $200,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Indy Reads: $140,000 Family Opportunity
John Boner Neighborhood Centers: $200,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
The Julian Center: $120,000 Basic Needs
La Plaza: $125,000 Basic Needs
Little Red Door Cancer Agency: $150,000 Basic Needs
Lutheran Child and Family Services: $250,000 Basic Needs; $470,000 Family Opportunity
Martin Center Sickle Cell Initiative: $70,000 Basic Needs
Martin Luther King Community Center: $175,000 Basic Needs; $350,000 Family Opportunity
Martindale Brightwood Community Development Corporation: $100,000 Basic Needs
Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center: $200,000 Basic Needs; $175,000 Family Opportunity
Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana: $120,000 Basic Needs
Meals on Wheels of Hancock County: $80,000 Basic Needs
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic: $70,000 Basic Needs
New Hope of Indiana: $120,000 Basic Needs
Noble: $150,000 Basic Needs; $100,000 Family Opportunity
PrimeLife Enrichment: $50,000 Basic Needs
Public Advocates in Community Re-Entry (PACE): $120,000 Basic Needs; $140,000 Family Opportunity
Reach for Youth: $50,000 Basic Needs; $175,000 Family Opportunity
The Salvation Army Indiana: $200,000 Basic Needs
Second Helpings: $250,000 Basic Needs
Sheltering Wings: $175,000 Basic Needs
Shepherd Community Center: $70,000 Basic Needs; $260,000 Family Opportunity
Shepherd's Center of Hamilton County: $125,000 Basic Needs
Southeast Community Services: $175,000 Basic Needs; $350,000 Family Opportunity
St. Mary's Early Childhood Center: $100,000 Basic Needs; $140,000 Family Opportunity
Stability First: $70,000 Basic Needs
Sycamore Services: $50,000 Basic Needs
Tangram, Inc.: $120,000 Basic Needs
TeenWorks: $120,000 Basic Needs; $175,000 Family Opportunity
The Villages of Indiana: $200,000 Basic Needs; $175,000 Family Opportunity
Volunteers of America Ohio & Indiana: $200,000 Basic Needs; $260,000 Family Opportunity
WellSpring: $100,000 Basic Needs
YMCA of Greater Indianapolis: $80,000 Basic Needs; $140,000 Family Opportunity
YMCA of Morgan County: $220,000 Family Opportunity