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What types of organizations are eligible for funding?
The Fairbanks Foundation funds tax-exempt organizations serving greater Indianapolis, including:
We do not fund:
What types of projects does the Foundation currently fund?
The Fairbanks Foundation primarily funds organizations and initiatives that align with our three focus areas: Education, Health, and the Vitality of Indianapolis.
We are currently only accepting inquiries in our Pendidikan focus area. We are not accepting inquiries in our Kesihatan or Daya Tahan Indianapolis focus areas. We expect to begin accepting Health inquiries in late 2026.
What geographic region does the Foundation support?
The Fairbanks Foundation limits grant awards to organizations serving greater Indianapolis, Indiana. We do not award international grants.
What kinds of projects are typically supported?
We prioritize efforts that address unmet needs, demonstrate strong outcomes, and create transformative change.
The Foundation has historically awarded multiple types of grants, including:
All projects must demonstrate a clear impact on greater Indianapolis and align with our current focus areas and strategies. Please note: We are currently only accepting inquiries in our Pendidikan focus area.
What types of requests are not supported?
The Fairbanks Foundation does not award grants for:
What is the grantmaking process and timeline?
The Fairbanks Foundation’s grantmaking process begins when an organization submits an inquiry that provides information about an organization, program, or project. Inquiries are reviewed by Foundation staff. If we determine potential alignment, we may conduct due diligence, including but not limited to a site visit, follow-up meetings, and program or financial assessment.
If we decide to invite a proposal, our team will work with you to provide guidance about the proposal submission process. Proposals are reviewed by our board of directors, who makes the final decisions.
Proposals are reviewed at quarterly board meetings. Meeting dates vary from year to year.
Learn more about our full grant process here.
Can I submit a proposal on behalf of my organization?
No, the Fairbanks Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Instead, we welcome inquiries that align with our funding strategies and that include information about your organization, program, or project.
Please note we are not accepting inquiries in our Health or Vitality of Indianapolis focus areas at this time. For more information, please review our Grant Process page.
My inquiry or proposal was declined. May I submit another?
Yes. Please consider that while we allow inquiries at any time, if your proposal or inquiry was previously declined, we ask that you carefully consider the reasons for prior declinations.
We also recommend reviewing our work to ensure your inquiry aligns with the focus areas and strategies for which we are currently accepting inquiries. At this time, we are only accepting inquiries in our Pendidikan focus area.
Can I apply for one of the Fairbanks Foundation’s Charitable Grants?
No, organizations cannot apply for this funding.
Charitable Grants are one-time $25,000 grants for Indianapolis nonprofit organizations. These grants are based on a funding theme that reflects the pressing needs of the city. Grantees are selected annually by the Fairbanks Foundation board of directors based on that year’s determined theme.
I’m a current multi-year grantee and was asked to submit a tax-exempt status confirmation form. Why is this required?
This form helps the Fairbanks Foundation ensure that an organization’s tax-exempt status has not changed since the grant was originally awarded.
In August 2006, former President George W. Bush signed the Pension Protection Act of 2006 into law. Among other changes, the Act imposed tighter legal restrictions on grants awarded by private foundations, including the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, to a type of charitable organization referred to as a Supporting Organization. To avoid potential penalties imposed by the Internal Revenue Service for failing to adhere to the provisions contained within the Pension Protection Act, our legal counsel advised the Foundation to implement an annual tax-exempt status certification process for all multi-year grant recipients. The Foundation’s certification process does not apply to municipal corporations or to one-year grant recipients. For more information about the Pension Protection Act, please visit the Council on Foundations’ website.
What is Hal Ehwal Kolej?
Launched in 2023, Hal Ehwal Kolej is an initiative of the Fairbanks Foundation to increase college enrollment rates among Marion County high school seniors.
Funded by $14 million in grants, Hal Ehwal Kolej seeks to connect high school students and their families to the support they need during the college exploration and enrollment process, including applying for financial aid.
What is Prevention Matters?
Launched in 2018, Prevention Matters was a five-year, $13.5 million initiative of the Fairbanks Foundation to help Marion County schools identify, implement, and sustain evidence-based substance use prevention programs.
At scale, Prevention Matters supported 27 Marion County school districts, charter schools or networks, and accredited private schools in the delivery of proven prevention programs in 159 schools, reaching nearly 84,000 students annually. Following the completion of Prevention Matters, we compiled a range of resources, including lessons learned documents, to assist others in implementing or supporting similar initiatives.
What is CEMETS iLab Indiana?
CEMETS iLab Indiana is a coalition of more than 300 leaders from business, K-12 education, higher education, government, non-profits, and philanthropy committed to addressing Indiana’s education and workforce challenges. The coalition’s members joined forces in 2023 to create a new way for Hoosiers to access professional education and training, now known as the Indiana Career Apprenticeship Pathway (INCAP).
Co-chairs David Becker, chairman and CEO of First Internet Bank, and Claire Fiddian-Green, president & CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, are leading the iLab.