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2025 Community Investment Grant Program
Community Investment Grants provide flexible funding to support a thriving Owen County community. These grants align with OCCF’s mission to enhance the quality of life for all Owen County residents, now and for future generations, by funding projects that address community needs and create lasting value.

Who Can Apply?
Charitable 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, churches, and government agencies in or serving Owen County are eligible. If your organization doesn’t meet these criteria, contact OCCF about potential fiscal sponsorship opportunities.

Grant Amounts
Awards range from $1,001 to $5,000, with larger project costs published in OCCF’s Grant Catalog for donor support.

Deadlines
Applications are reviewed twice annually, with deadlines on:

• March 31, 2025
• September 30, 2025 (if funds remain).

Funding Priorities
OCCF focuses on initiatives that reflect its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, including:

• Access to timely, unbiased local information.
• Parks, trails, and recreation.
• High-quality childcare and early education.

Additional categories include community wellness, economic development, broadband access, and more.

Final Reports
Grantees must submit final reports for previous projects before applying for new grants. Deadlines are specified in the Grant Agreement.

Questions?
Contact Karah Bobeck, Director of Programs & Communications, at 812-829-1725 or karah@owencountycf.org.

2025 Food Pantry Grant Program
The Food Pantry Grant Program supports nonprofit food pantries in providing food to Owen County residents. Since 2006, the Freeman Charitable Food Fund has granted over $223,899 to local food pantries. In 2025, OCCF will distribute $18,841.00 in Food Pantry Grants, based on the population served and other considerations.

Timeline

• Application Opens: January 1, 2025
• Application Deadline: March 31, 2025
• Decision Notification: April 17, 2025
• If funds remain available, the application may reopen through September 30, 2025.

Eligible Organizations
Organizations must:

• Be a nonprofit or government agency in good standing with state and federal tax filings.
• Provide a Federal Tax ID number.
• Have a voluntary board.
• Maintain a non-discrimination policy (race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation).

Charitable organizations without IRS designation must:

• Have a sponsoring nonprofit for fiscal management.

Grant Usage
Funds may only be used to purchase food items.

Eligibility Requirements

• Located in or serving Owen County.
• Designated as a qualified charitable organization by the IRS or partnered with a sponsoring nonprofit in good standing.

How to Apply
Click the blue "Apply" button at the top of the page.
For questions, contact Karah at 812-829-1725 or karah@owencountycf.org.

2024-25 Youth Philanthropy Grant Program

The Youth Philanthropy Grant Program supports the mission of the Community Foundation - to enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Owen County, now and for generations to come. OCCF Youth Philanthropy Grants support projects that address community needs and have lasting value.

The Youth Philanthropy Council, a program of the Owen County Community Foundation (OCCF), accepts grant applications from nonprofits in Owen County. Nonprofits serving area youth can apply for funding up to $1,000.

Funding Categories
Projects should meet at least one of the following objectives specific to youth:

• promote healthy development and a safe environment
• provide opportunities to benefit the community
• develop the skills of young people or develop positive relationships between youth and adults.

While not required, there is a preference for organizations that involve youth in the planning and implementation of the program or project.

The Youth Philanthropy Council is comprised of students in grades 9-12 who reside in Owen County and is designed to encourage youth to give and serve in their communities, making philanthropy a habit for future generations. The youth work with adult volunteers and learn about servant leadership, volunteerism, and the important role philanthropy plays in our community. The council members will review the nonprofit grant applications submitted and make awards in early April 2025.

NOTE: You should type answers into Microsoft Word, use spell-check / grammar-check, and then paste your responses into the application.

2025 Education Grant Program

Grants from the OCCF Support Our Schools Fund are designed to improve student outcomes and enrich educational experiences for students at Spencer-Owen Community Schools and Cloverdale Community Schools. This program supports initiatives that:

• Advance teacher development and classroom innovation

• Enhance academic performance or social-emotional and behavioral well-being

• Expand proven strategies to reach more students and deepen impact

Before Applying
See Full Rubric for Application Scoring Here
Applicants should present a clear and well-reasoned plan that includes:

• Evidence of educational need

• Research-based methods or instructional best practices

• Defined goals and measurable objectives

• A realistic timeline with clearly assigned responsibilities

• Strategies for sustainability and collaboration with peers or the broader community

Proposals must have approval from both the school principal and superintendent prior to submission. Projects will be evaluated using OCCF’s published scoring rubric, and applicants are encouraged to review it when preparing responses. See Full Rubric for Application Scoring Here

Eligible Use of Funds

• Teacher professional development

• Innovative projects that improve academic or behavioral outcomes

• Tools or programs that address unmet needs not currently funded by the school or district

Grant Awards & Application Pathways

• Minimum request: $1,000

• No maximum limit for requests above $1,000

• For requests ≤ $300, apply instead through the Teacher Mini-Grant program

• For requests between $300–$1,000, collaborate with peers; each teacher may submit an individual Mini-Grant request

Application Must Include:

• Program description with target population, need, goals, and sustainability

• Specific Indiana Academic Standards addressed

• Defined learning objectives and expected outcomes

• Implementation plan with timeline and role assignments

• Evaluation plan detailing how success will be measured

• Complete budget with itemized expenses and any other funding sources

• Date of school board approval

• Administrator signatures (principal and superintendent)

Review Timeline
There is no fixed application deadline. Funding decisions are communicated within one month of submission.

Please Note

• Education Grants award a minimum of $1,000 and have no maximum "OCCF funding request" amount. 
• For grant requests less than or equal to $300, please apply for a singular Teacher Mini-Grant.
• For larger funding requests, between $300 and $1,000, please team up with other teachers at your school and have each of them submit their own Teacher Mini-Grant application(s).