The Community Foundation Alliance is proud to announce that applications are now open for its Community Scholarship Program, offering hundreds of opportunities for students across Southwest Indiana and in select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. These scholarships, made possible by generous local donors, provide financial support for students pursuing college, university, technical programs, or other post-secondary education paths. “Our scholarships reflect the belief that investing in students is investing in the future of our communities,” said Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer of the Community Foundation Alliance. “We want every eligible student in Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky to have access to these opportunities and feel confident applying.” Scholarship Program Highlights Wide Range of Awards: Hundreds of scholarships for graduating seniors and high school graduates across Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. Simple Application Process: Scholarships can be completed through our online Community Scholarships Common Application. Select special scholarship opportunities can be found on each community’s website. Deadline: Applications are open today and close on January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply Visit communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. Review the 2026 Scholarship Guidebook. Find your community and click through to its website. Review all available scholarship opportunities and their eligibility criteria for your community. Complete the 2025–2026 Community Scholarships Common Application. Receive your automatic matches to scholarships you qualify for. Submit all required materials, including essays and recommendation letters, by January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Start your application early! All supplemental materials must be submitted by the deadline, so build in plenty of time for each step. Give your references time to complete their recommendations, allow yourself enough time to write thoughtful essays, and request your transcripts early so your Guidance Counselor has time to process them. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please contact the staff member in your community. Kentucky & Illinois Michele Gates, Program Assistant mgates@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.429.1191 Daviess County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.254.9354 Gibson County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.386.8082 Knox County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.886.0093 Perry County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.547.3176 Pike County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.890.4469 Posey County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.838.0288 Spencer County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.649.5724 Vanderburgh County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.422.1245 Warrick County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.897.2030

The 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Warrick County through the Warrick County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program (LECSP) will provide 147 scholarships statewide and two scholarships in Warrick County. LECSP scholarships may be used for otherwise unreimbursed full tuition, required fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year. The special allocation may cover the costs for required books and required equipment for four years of undergraduate study on a full-time basis, leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university. The program, administered statewide by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI) and locally in Warrick County through the Warrick County Community Foundation, an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, is open to all Indiana residents who: graduate from an accredited Indiana high school by 2026 and receive their diploma no later than June 30, 2026; intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and meet the criteria specific to Warrick County Community Foundation. Visit warrickcountycf.org/lilly-endowment-community-scholarship-program for complete information regarding the Warrick County application criteria. Students can learn more about the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship in Warrick County and apply for this scholarship by visiting the Warrick County Community Foundation website. Applications must be completed and submitted by August 25, 2025, to be considered. Applications will be evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic ability, community involvement, extracurricular activities/employment, honors and awards, personal statement and goals, application essay, finalist impromptu essay, and finalist interview. Four finalists will be nominated by the Warrick County Community Foundation, and their names will be submitted to ICI for final selection of the recipients. Scholarship recipients will be notified in December. Lilly Endowment created LECSP for the 1997-98 school year and has supported the program every year since with tuition grants totaling more than $505 million. More than 5,400 Indiana students have received Lilly Endowment Community Scholarships since the program’s inception. The primary purposes of LECSP are: 1) to help raise the level of educational attainment in Indiana; 2) to increase awareness of the beneficial roles Indiana community foundations can play in their communities; and 3) to encourage and support the efforts of current and past Lilly Endowment Community Scholars to engage with each other and with Indiana business, governmental, educational, nonprofit and civic leaders to improve the quality of life in Indiana generally and in local communities throughout the state. Warrick County Community Foundation is again pleased to offer LECSP for its 29th year in Warrick County. “We encourage all eligible high school seniors to apply. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Program is a life-changing opportunity, and we’re here to support students through every step of the process,” said Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer.

The Women’s Fund of Warrick County, held by the Warrick County Community Foundation, is now accepting applications for its 2025 Grants Program. Nonprofit organizations serving Warrick County are invited to apply now through Friday, July 18, 2025. The Women's Fund of Warrick County holds an annual grant cycle to award funding to charitable partners addressing a wide range of local needs. Funding is available to support programs and projects that make a meaningful impact in Warrick County communities. Organizations can find detailed grant guidelines and submit their application online at warrickcountycf.org/womens-fund-grants-program . For questions or assistance, please contact Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer, at mwaldroup@communityfoundationalliance.org. 

Warrick County Community Foundation recently hosted its annual Gratitude Gathering, bringing together the 2025 recipients of the Community Scholarship Program and the Community Good Grants Program to celebrate their achievements and our vibrant community. Following a brief welcome and breakfast, members of the Scholarship Committee and Community Good Grants Committee proudly presented awards to this year’s recipients. We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined us to honor and recognize the incredible dedication and impact of these students and community members. Congratulations to the 2025 Community Scholarship Recipients! Allen Family Go Teach! Scholarship - Garrett Smith Bobbie Kuhr Memorial Scholarship - Annabelle Millsap Elizabeth Rudolph Warrick County 4H Scholarship - Addison Heilman Friends of Warrick County 4H Scholarship - Jenna Smith Friends of Warrick County Community Foundation Scholarship - Mariella Barsumian Harold and Grace Miller Scholarship by Main Street United Methodist Church Michael Pimlott Michael Willis Hunter Thomas McDaniel “Hunter Strong” Scholarship Jada Childers Patrick Mardis Bailey Riddle Jeb Gourley “Celebrate Life” Scholarship - Lanie Monks John Leon Susott and kathryn Campbell Susott Memorial Scholarship - Averye Engelhardt Joseph B. Campbell Memorial Scholarship - Lyndsey Winsett Karen Fleming Metzger Scholarship - Connor Claridge krista Lutterman Hurt Scholarship - Brady Reiter Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship Elijah Barnard Alison Ward Roy O. Nicholson Scholarship - Thomas Pemberton Sarah Frizzell Memorial Scholarship - Jenna Smith Warrick County Community Foundation Scholarship Noah Boyd Chloe Epperson Wayne Geurin Memorial Scholarship JoLynn Busing Dayton Hunt Congratulations to the 2025 Community Good Grants Recipients! Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Indiana Bread of Life Ministry Chandler Cumberland Presbyterian Church Chemo Buddies Elberfeld Community League Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra Foundry Center for the Arts Isaiah 1:17 Project Lampion Center Newburgh Park Pals Sleep in Heavenly Peace Tecumseh Jr. & Sr. High School PATHS TRI-CAP Health Services Warrick Ecumenical Soup Kitchen Warrick Literacy and Educational Connections WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc. Youth First, Inc.

The Vanderburgh and Warrick County Community Foundations are now accepting applications for their annual Community Good Grants Program. Community Good grants provide funding to charitable organizations for new or ongoing programs and projects that meet a broad range of local needs. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, February 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Community Good Grants are awarded to charitable organizations located in or directly serving Vanderburgh and/or Warrick Counties. Funding is available to support various local needs, with priority given to organizations that demonstrate: Evidence of realistic organizational planning and management Project methodology with a preventative approach to addressing issues and solving problems Clear, actionable plans for program/project evaluation A commitment to promoting collaboration among organizations or institutions to prevent duplication of services A focus on long-term planning, financial stability, and sustainability For full details on funding requirements and to access the grant application, visit vanderburghcf.org/community-good-grants-program or warrickcountycf.org/community-good-grants-program New prospective grant applicants are encouraged to attend the virtual Grant Application Orientation Session on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. To RSVP, please email Sidney Hardgrave at shardgrave@communityfoundationalliance.org

Community Foundation Alliance, in conjunction with Warrick County Community Foundation, has received a grant of $6,715,058 from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the competitive Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative. This is one of 30 implementation grants awarded through GIFT VIII, a statewide Lilly Endowment initiative designed to support the efforts of community foundations and their partners to strengthen the quality of life for the people in the towns, cities, counties, and regions they serve. With the grant, Warrick County Community Foundation, in collaboration with Gibson, Posey, and Vanderburgh Community Foundations, affiliates of the Community Foundation Alliance, Inc., are partnering with Mission First, Inc. to develop Sanctuary on the Hill. Through collaborative community partnerships, Sanctuary on the Hill will be a retreat nestled on a tranquil 90-acre parcel of land in northern Warrick County that will offer a refuge for healing, treatment, and renewal for military veterans in the region and their families. The Sanctuary will be built in three construction phases and will include an activity center, main lodge, cabins, horse barn and arena, and recreational amenities. This grant will fund phases two and three of construction. Phase one, the construction of the activity center, has already begun. Phase two will begin in early 2025. The Sanctuary will finish construction of its facilities and open to serve veterans from multiple military branches in the four-county region initially, with a plan to work with all Indiana veterans south of I-70. “We envision this incredible regional asset as much more than a physical location where services are provided but as a place where veterans can feel like they belong,” said Jill Carpenter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation Alliance. “It is a hub for holistic support and a continuum of care. This investment aims to help veterans know they are appreciated, supported, and embraced by their community.” All buildings and spaces are being developed through a strategic, phased approach, focused on creating a veteran-centric environment. The design will address the unique mental health needs of veterans. Key features include open sightlines, acoustic treatments, calming aesthetics, and ample personal space to promote safety and comfort. This sets the Sanctuary apart as a truly supportive and healing environment for veterans. In 1990, Lilly Endowment launched the Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative to help establish and further develop community foundations throughout Indiana. Lilly Endowment hoped that Indiana’s community foundations could enhance the quality of life in their communities by convening conversations among people of diverse ages, socioeconomic backgrounds, occupations, races, and cultural traditions about their communities’ most compelling needs and opportunities, as well as the best ways to address them.

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The Women’s Fund of Warrick County awarded more than $27,000 in grants to eight local service organizations. The 2024 grant recipients represent a variety of organizations serving the needs of women and children in Warrick County. Albion Fellows Bacon Center received $1,343.19 to replace kitchen furniture in the emergency shelter kitchen. Immigrant Welcome and Resource Center received $5,000 to provide supportive services for immigrants in southwest Indiana. Isaiah 117 House received $5,000 to provide supplies such as clothing, shoes, toiletries, and blankets for Warrick County children who are going into foster care. Lampion Center received $5,000 to support mental health counseling services for Warrick County clients with limited financial resources. Newburgh Senior Center received $1,000 to support daily exercise classes . The Isaiah 1:17 Project received $3,000 to provide support for fostering families in Warrick County. Warrick County Ecumenical Soup Kitchen received $2,000 to support the weekly meal program for individuals facing financial hardship in Warrick County. Youth First received $5,000 to support the Student Assistance Program in Warrick County schools. Established in 2008, the Women’s Fund of Warrick County’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Warrick County by collectively funding significant grants to support local programs that give opportunities, encouragement, knowledge, and hope to the Warrick County community. Since its inception, the fund has awarded more than $306,000 in grants to improve lives in Warrick County. View past grant recipients. The Warrick County Women’s Fund is looking for new members who share a passion for supporting efforts that serve the most vulnerable members of our community. For more information or to become a member, contact Sarah Wagner, Regional Development Director at 812.429.1191, ext. 105, or swagner@communityfoundationalliance.org .

Many of our donors have chosen to honor their loved ones, communities, high schools, colleges, and professions by establishing scholarship funds through their local Community Foundations in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick Counties. These funds support the annual Community Scholarship programs, providing valuable opportunities for students in Southwest Indiana. Thanks to their contributions, applications are being accepted now, with a deadline of Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. "We are excited to once again provide scholarship opportunities to students in our Southwest Indiana region,” says Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer at the Community Foundation Alliance. “By offering these scholarships, we are not only investing in individual students but also in the future of our communities. We encourage all eligible students to apply and take a step towards achieving their educational and career goals." Students may apply for one or more scholarships if they meet the eligibility requirements and selection criteria established by donors. Details about each scholarship and the application are posted on the website at communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships . Each scholarship is unique and supports students with a variety of backgrounds, educational goals, and economic statuses. Awards are made without regard to race, creed, color, sex, religion, or national origin and are based on a competitive process that may consider academic achievement, extracurricular activities, personal aspirations, educational goals, and financial need. The deadline to apply is Monday, January 20, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Learn more and apply today!