CICF

CICF was honored to partner with TEDxIndianapolis to bring together community members and leaders from across Central Indiana and across sectors for a shared conversation about the next era of generosity and the role philanthropy will play in our region’s future. What’s being asked of philanthropy right now can’t be carried by one organization or one sector. It will take shared work across the region with business, government, nonprofits, and residents all in it together. And it will require us to reimagine what generosity looks like. Whether you joined us or not, we invite you to watch Chris Anderson’s TED Talk, “It’s Time for Infectious Generosity. Here’s How,” and then sit with these questions that our salon participants discussed together yesterday: • What is one bold shift or one action that could redefine philanthropy in Central Indiana over the next decade? • The Summer of 2026 Experiment: What is one new way you could spark generosity in your role or in your life this summer? CICF’s CEO, Jennifer Bartenbach, was glad to join the panel alongside Alan Berube (Senior Vice President, Policy & Innovation Center), Salil Gupta (Levinson Family Lifetime Philanthropy Award recipient; MD/MBA student, Indiana University), and Steve Simon (Managing Member and Founder, Simon Equity Partners), moderated by Neelay Bhatt (TEDxIndianapolis licensee; Founder & CEO, Next Practice Partners). And if you want to keep the conversation going, we’d love to hear from you at CICF. 📸: @m.dmngz

Today’s CICF board meeting was hosted at @camimuseum , owned and operated by @bigcarpix . Thank you to Jim Walker for welcoming us and sharing more about the space. We were also joined by Bryan Orander, who shared highlights from the work of @charitableadvisors and reflections on how the nonprofit ecosystem has changed since he founded Charitable Advisors 25 years ago. Thank you to our board members for your leadership and ongoing engagement in helping CICF turn Central Indiana into a place where everyone thrives.

Clayton De Fur, Guadalupe Pimentel Solano, and Leah Nahmias — the CICF team that supports the Herbert Simon Family Foundation — were glad to represent the Herbert Simon Family Foundation at last week’s opening celebration for the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis, @camimuseum , owned and operated by @bigcarpix HSFF was generous supporter of CAMi, including bringing to life the Herbert Simon Family Foundation Artist Studios, which provide work space for artists.

Together with our partners at @seedsofcaringindy , we’re exploring youth philanthropy: If you have kids in your life, you’re likely thinking about how to fill these summer months with experiences that matter. Between camps, vacations, and pool days, what if you also made room for impact? Try a simple family challenge: • Read one book about a social issue • Volunteer once. Seeds of Caring has family volunteer opportunities for kids ages 2-12 • Donate to one cause your child selects. Maybe even encourage them to run a lemonade stand to benefit. Through these simple acts, you can make it a summer of purpose. #SummerService #FamilyChallenge #SeedsOfCaring #YouthPhilanthropy

In her article, originally published May 1 in @ibjnews , CICF CEO Jennifer Bartenbach makes the case that Indiana’s model only works when responsibilities are clear and the nonprofit sector is understood and supported. She breaks down what “nonprofit” really means financially, why philanthropy is essential but can’t be the permanent payer of last resort, and what it looks like when government, business, nonprofits, and philanthropy each play the role they’re best positioned to play.

We just wrapped up our May Office Hours session, and we’re grateful for everyone who participated. Our facilitators are debriefing and pulling together takeaways, along with ways we can support participants as they think through next steps. One of the best signs of a good session: many attendees swapped contact information so the conversation can keep going well beyond the hour. Thanks for being part of it. See you at the next Office Hours on September 9! Register on our website.

Central Indiana nonprofits: quick reminder that CICF Office Hours (Peer Learning Conversations) is coming up Wednesday, May 6 | 3–4 p.m. ET. These free, virtual sessions are built for nonprofit practitioners who want a practical reset with peers and a few new ideas to take back to their team. Each room is facilitated by a local expert, and you’re welcome to stay in one group or pop into another. Bring a colleague if you’d like. Register here: https://loom.ly/jTNceis

Central Indiana’s future depends on more than generosity alone. In a new @ibjnews op-ed, CICF CEO Jennifer Bartenbach writes about a question that is becoming increasingly important for our region: as community needs grow, who is responsible for what? Nonprofits and philanthropy play an essential role in Central Indiana. But they cannot be expected to absorb every gap left by shifting public resources, economic pressure or rising community needs. A stronger Central Indiana requires clearer roles across the public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, and shared responsibility for the systems that help our region thrive. Thank you to Indianapolis Business Journal for publishing Jennifer’s perspective.

We’re proud to share that CICF’s video celebrating the potential of Central Indiana has been nominated for a Regional Emmy Award for Branded Content through the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Lower Great Lakes Chapter. Winners will be announced in June. Thank you to @borshoffotos for helping create the video, and the many community partners who shared their time, expertise, and physical space with us to tell this important story!

CICF CEO Jennifer Bartenbach spoke at the opening celebration for the Contemporary Art Museum of Indianapolis - @camimuseum , owned and operated by @bigcarpix CICF has been a longtime partner (and big fan) of Big Car. Over the years, we’ve helped bring a creative source of donors who care deeply about their work and who wanted to be part of making CAMi available to the community. Congratulations to Big Car and everyone who helped bring CAMi to life.

Central Indiana Community Foundation's 2025 Annual Report shows the impact we made during a turbulent year and a view into the future we are actively building. Our impact includes: -$37.3 million granted by CICF fundholders -$850,000+ in scholarships granted by CICF fundholders -CICF's response to nonprofit sector challenges -Partnership on the 2025 Survey of Food Assistance Need -Administration of the final year of Connected Communities, in which CICF helped leverage $50 million into $200 million We are grateful for your partnership and belief in this work. Together, we will fuel a more prosperous, thriving Central Indiana for generations to come. Read the annual report on our website.

Congratulations to The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis on another standout Indy’s Lunch for Parks, presented by AES Indiana. It’s an excellent example of what a fundraiser can be when it’s truly mission-aligned: fun, entertaining, educational, and most importantly, impactful. As their biggest fundraiser of the year, the support raised fuels Parks Alliance’s work to strengthen parks, trails, and public spaces across Indianapolis. Parks are a critical part of placemaking in Central Indiana. They support health and well-being, create places for neighbors to gather and connect, and help make our city feel like home. CICF is proud to support this work because The Parks Alliance of Indianapolis is a fund of CICF. Parks Alliance continues to lead the on-the-ground work, while CICF provides behind-the-scenes operational support that helps them stay focused and keep their impact growing.