Our Mission

Advancing the Vitality of Indianapolis

The mission of the Fairbanks Foundation is to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people. We strive to achieve this mission by addressing some of the city’s most significant challenges and opportunities.

Our History

Establishing a Legacy
In 1986, Richard M. “Dick” Fairbanks, the founder and owner of Fairbanks Communications, Inc., established an independent, private foundation bearing his name. He created the Foundation to strengthen the city of Indianapolis and perpetuate the Fairbanks legacy in the city where the family prospered for over a century. Dick was the president of the Foundation until his death in August 2000.

Today, the Fairbanks Foundation’s nine-member board of directors continues to focus our grantmaking and other strategic initiatives on the City of Indianapolis. To date, we have awarded more than $300 million in grants to tax-exempt organizations serving greater Indianapolis.

Our Core Values

Guiding Our Work
The Fairbanks Foundation is guided by three core values:

We adhere to the core beliefs and intent of our founder, Richard M. Fairbanks, who established the Foundation for the benefit of the people of Indianapolis.
We conduct our work with a spirit of entrepreneurialism, a willingness to take risks, and a focus on results, while remaining nimble and opportunistic.
We respect the perspectives and experiences of all with whom we interact.

Our Focus Areas

Addressing Unmet Needs
Every five years, the Fairbanks Foundation’s board of directors reflects on the challenges and opportunities facing Indianapolis to guide our work moving forward. In 2025, our board reaffirmed its commitment to our three focus areas: Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis, setting goals and strategies for each area.

Fairbanks Foundation FAQs

What does the Fairbanks Foundation do?

Established in 1986, the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is an independent, private foundation whose mission is to advance the vitality of Indianapolis and the well-being of its people. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $300 million in grants.

The Foundation has three focus areas: Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis.

Is the Foundation owned and operated by the Fairbanks Family?

Can I submit a funding proposal on behalf of my organization?

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Instead, we welcome inquiries that include information about your organization, program, or project, and strongly align with our funding strategies within our Education focus area at this time.

Please note we are not inviting proposals or accepting inquiries in our Health or Vitality of Indianapolis focus areas at this time.

For more information, please read about our grants process.

Is the Foundation connected to the Community Fairbanks Recovery Center?

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation is a completely separate entity from the nonprofit alcohol and drug treatment provider known as Community Fairbanks Recovery Center.

However, there is a family connection between the two organizations. The treatment center is named in honor of Cornelia Cole Fairbanks, the wife of Charles Warren Fairbanks. Charles Warren and Cornelia Cole Fairbanks were the grandparents of Richard M. (“Dick”) Fairbanks. For more information about the Community Fairbanks Recovery Center, please visit their website.

How can I stay updated on the Foundation’s work?