The Clark County Youth Shelter was one of eight local organizations who received grant funding from the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana this quarter. The Shelter’s executive director Meredith Clipp-Rodriguez (middle) accepted the award from CFSI board members D. Keith Pulliam (left) and David Reinhardt. The $2,230 grant will enhance safety measures around the building by adding a security camera system. Photo by Wes Scott.
NEW ALBANY, Ind. – From ensuring children have food over the weekend to preparing nonprofit organizations for long-term success, the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana (CFSI) has awarded $62,630 through its latest competitive grant cycle to eight organizations serving Clark and Floyd counties.
The quarterly awards include five Community Assist Grants and three Capacity Building Grants, reflecting the Foundation’s commitment to addressing immediate community needs while helping local nonprofits build the strength and sustainability needed to serve Southern Indiana well into the future.
This quarter’s Community Assist Grants focus heavily on supporting children and families across the region. Funding will help expand camp scholarship opportunities for local Girl Scouts, provide weekend meals for students experiencing food insecurity, connect young people with caring adult mentors, support trauma-informed summer programming for children facing significant adversity, and enhance transportation safety for youth served by the Clark County Youth Shelter.
While these grants directly support services in the community, CFSI’s Capacity Building Grants recognize that strong nonprofits require more than dedicated staff and volunteers. This funding will help organizations modernize technology, improve volunteer management, strengthen communications, and develop strategic plans that position them for lasting success.
“Every nonprofit has a mission to serve our community, but they also need the right tools, technology, and leadership to carry that mission forward,” said Linda Speed, CFSI President and CEO. “This grant cycle reflects our commitment to investing in both immediate community needs and the long-term strength of the organizations working every day to improve lives throughout Southern Indiana.”
Recipients of this quarter’s Community Assist Grants include:
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana ($5,000): Expand youth mentorship opportunities for children in Clark and Floyd counties.
- Blessings in a Backpack – Floyd County ($2,500): Provide weekend meals for more than 1,300 students experiencing food insecurity.
- Clark County Youth Shelter ($2,230): Enhance youth safety by equipping transportation vehicles with security camera systems.
- Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana ($5,000): Provide camp scholarships for girls in Clark and Floyd counties.
- Kerith Family Recovery ($5,000): Provide backpacks and essential supplies for Camp Kerith of Southern Indiana, serving children impacted by parental incarceration, substance addiction, and trauma.
Capacity Building Grant recipients include:
- Hope Southern Indiana ($7,900): Modernize volunteer management technology and strengthen operational efficiency for its RSVP volunteer program.
- Leadership Southern Indiana ($25,000): Support stakeholder engagement and strategic planning that will guide the organization’s future leadership and long-term impact.
- Youth Link Southern Indiana ($10,000): Improve organizational technology, communications, and operational infrastructure that supports its mission of removing barriers to education.
In the coming weeks, CFSI also expects to announce additional discretionary grant awards made possible through increased charitable resources generated by the Foundation’s recent GIFT VIII matching initiative. Those investments will further expand support for organizations working to improve quality of life throughout Clark and Floyd counties.
For more information about the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana’s grant programs, visit www.cfsouthernindiana.com.
About CFSI
The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana was founded in 1991 as the region’s partner, resource, and steward in philanthropy. The Foundation manages nearly $171 million in charitable assets and approximately 285 individual funds – each of which supports the unique charitable intent of the donor who established the fund. Annually, the Foundation awards millions in grants and scholarships and is a National Standards certified community foundation. For more information about the Community Foundation, contact 812-948-4662 or visit www.cfsouthernindiana.com.
