Supporting Community Causes & Students
NONPROFITS

The work of local nonprofit organizations impacts the quality of life for everyone in Owen County. Recognizing the essential role they play in the economy and health of our community, OCCF is committed to sharing knowledge about the nonprofit sector and strengthening nonprofit organizations through grants and training.
The Owen County Community Foundation administered more than $480,000 in 2021 in community grants and contracts, primarily through nonprofit organizations. Our core programs and community impact initiatives are designed to strengthen nonprofits and solve community problems while delivering solid results and leveraging relationships.
2021 Community Impact


Apply for a Grant
The Owen County Community Foundation's commitment to continue offering grants has been updated and strengthened. Our community grant program will primarily focus on supporting new charitable programs to serve Owen County residents and projects requiring durable equipment and capital items that will not be replaced every year, but which are essential for organizations to carry out their charitable purposes.
Rapid Response Grant
​If your non-profit organization is in need of immediate assistance, please check out our newly available Rapid Response Grant which will issue an amount of up to $1,000. There is no deadline to apply for a Rapid Response Grant. Please click on the grant application for further details.
Community Investment Grant
There are no due dates or deadlines for requesting OCCF community grants. Applications may be submitted anytime during the year. A Community Investment Grant application may be picked at the OCCF office or requested by calling 812-829-1725. A link to the electronic template for the Community Investment Grant Application is below.
Large Impact Grant
Program Overview
The Large Impact Grant is intended for requests from $10,000 to $30,000.
The programs that are considered for support are those located in Owen County or will directly benefit the citizens of Owen County. Currently we will consider grand awards in five broad areas. Get more detail here: Priority Areas
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Civic Affairs
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Education
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Health & Wellness
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Human Services
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Trails & Parks
However, we also welcome good ideas emerging from the community. In these five funding areas, OCCF is interested in working with organizations and associations to build on community strengths and find solutions to community problems. Please contact Janet Rummel at 812-812-1725 if you have questions about whether your idea fits within our funding areas.
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Our goal is to support innovative, collaborative, and transformative projects that support the goals and strategies of the priority areas. Funded projects are also intended to show sustainability over time, as well as leveraging existing community resources.
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Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for funding, an applicant must:
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Be a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (Code) or a public entity described in Sections 170 and 2055 of the Code, such as school districts and municipalities. Organizations that derive their tax-exempt status from formal affiliation with another organization may be considered.
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Provide services within Owen County, Indiana. In certain cases, proposals from organizations serving the larger Indiana Uplands Region may be considered, as long as Owen County residents are served too.
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Be organized and operated so that there is no illegal discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or disability.
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Application Process
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Upload an Intent to Apply Video by June 1, 2022. Instructions here: Intent to Apply Video
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Following submission of your intent to apply video, you will be notified by June 8, 2022 whether or not you are invited to submit a full proposal. Uninvited applications will not be considered.
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Proposals must be submitted by July 15, 2022.
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Finalists present to the OCCF Grants Committee on August 6, 2022 (time to be announced).
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Grant awards will be announced on August 17, 2022.
Other Guidelines
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Proposal funding requests must be for the same amount requested in your Intent to Apply, unless pre-approved by OCCF.
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Any one organization may submit up to two (2) Intent to Apply videos.
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OCCF will offer the opportunity for multi-year support with consecutive year support requests contingent upon prior year outcomes Please contact Janet Rummel at 812-829-1725 with multi-year requests prior to submitting your Intent to Apply video.
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All grants must be closed out within one year of the receipt of funds, with the exception of multi-year grants.
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OCCF will consider supporting programming or capital expenses up to 10% of the grant amount for indirect costs.
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OCCF reserves the right to pay grants in a single installment or in increments at its sole discretion.
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OCCF requires that all successful applicants obtain three bids for any equipment purchase of $10,000 and above.
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OCCF reserves the right to conduct an independent evaluation of grant expenditures for up to four years. The grantee agrees to provide the information necessary to complete such an evaluation. Failure to submit requested information in a timely fashion may obligate the grantee to refund the grant.
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The use of grant funds for purposes not pre-approved by OCCF or not supported through required documentation will result in a requirement that those grant funds be returned to the Community Foundation.
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The failure of an applicant to properly close out a grant in a timely manner will be a factor in considering new grant requests.
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OCCF will not consider competitive funding for:
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Higher education scholarships
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Projects outside of Owen County
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Religious purposes
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Attendance at or sponsorship of fundraising events for organizations
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Field trips, unless they are part of a long-term program or curriculum
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Annual events or festivals
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Any partisan political activity
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Projects and activities that have already occurred
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Food Pantry Grants
Teacher Mini-Grants
Established in 1997 by local educators to provide teacher mini grants of $50-$300 each to enhance the classroom learning of SOCS students. All Spencer-Owen School Corporation teachers are eligible to receive one teacher mini-grant per calendar year.

Grants are given on a first-come-first-served basis. Teachers can also combine grants with other teachers to get one big project complete. These grants are through the Owen County Education Fund, created and funded by teachers for teachers. Access the application by clicking below. The application must be signed by the principal. Save the template to your computer and then type in your information, save the file and print it.
Please note: Applications cannot be completed online, it must be downloaded and then filled out. You can have your principal sign the application and scan it to email to maria@owencountycf.org.
Questions?
Our staff are available to provide direct assistance.
