The Indianapolis Foundation, in collaboration with local and regional funders, has developed the Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund to accelerate environmental equity, decarbonization, and an inclusive democracy throughout the state of Indiana. This fund will seek co-investments from other Indiana based environmental and democracy supporting philanthropic organizations and donors with a goal to create collaborative effort to maximize impact in our state. This co-investment will progress environmental equity and inclusive democracy through grants to non-profit organizations leading this work in their communities.
Our Why
Indiana emits the most carbon emissions per capita in the Midwest and must transition to renewable energy to reach our collective carbon reduction goals. We must increase our efforts to halt planned new gas plants and retire the remaining coal fired power plants while reversing the alarming anti-solar momentum. We need unified voices raising the collective consciousness of Hoosier communities to the devastating economic opportunity cost of blocking renewable energy investment while entrenching outdated fossil-derived energy.
We must invest in climate and clean energy advocacy organizations with a proven track record of success. Equally critical, we must build and fund infrastructure to empower more nonprofits and grassroots organizations to attract additional funding to implement systems-level environmental initiatives.
We urgently need to engage community members in the democratic process (Indiana consistently ranked among the lowest voter turnout states) to advocate for an equitable clean energy transition. This includes increasing democratic participation and civic engagement in the state.
Purpose
While environmental funders in Indiana have strong relationships, there has not been a formal co-investment strategy to catalyze climate action and inclusive democracy work across the state. To leverage expertise and impact, The Indianapolis Foundation will convene a committee consisting of philanthropic investors to:
- Leverage funding opportunities to attract additional philanthropic investments in Indiana
- Strengthen relationships between environmental, democracy, and climate funders in the state
- Maximize the impact of funding beyond what any one funder could achieve alone
- Strengthen organizing capacity in Indiana toward power-building, climate justice, and democracy
Values
- Center equity in process, funding priorities, and organizational outcomes
- Community-based solutions as the path to climate justice and democracy
- Transparent systems that foster trust-based philanthropy
- Return learnings to leaders and frontline communities
Fund Members
The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund Members include:
- Crown Family Philanthropies
- McKnight Foundation
- McKinney Family Foundation
- Indianapolis Foundation
- Herbert Simon Family Foundation
Grant Guidelines
The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund prioritizes funding for 501c3 non-profits with a focus on frontline communities, place-based organizations, tribal governments, rural communities, and rural governments. This fund aims to support grassroots, newly developing organizations, and/or organizations and places that want to develop relationships with funders in Indiana.
Organizations must be centered in Indiana, led by Indiana communities and/or center community voice in work, and have measurable community outcomes.
Eligible Projects
The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund provides statewide support for the following:
- Nonprofit staff for current organizational scope of work
- New or existing programs and/or projects
- Pay for services such as consultants, technical assistance, or contractors
- Convening, collaboration, and coalition-building
Examples (These are meant to be examples, not parameters on what the fund would consider)
Inclusive Democracy: Get Out the Vote activities, voter registration, organizer training, voting access, and voting rights protection.
Climate: Community convening on an environmental equity solution, consultant to develop a grant proposal, data collection for environmental challenges, citizen science projects.
Scopes of work that are not aligned:
- Programs that focus on individual behavior change vs systems change, convening, or advocacy
- Land conservation
- Hunger relief
- Recycling programs
- Animal welfare
If you have questions about your organization’s eligibility or project eligibility, please follow the inquiry process below.
General Grant Information
- Open application process, although it is recommended that you follow the inquiry process below.
- Rolling application with funding decisions monthly.
- Award range from $5,000 -$100,000.
- If you have a request that is over $100,000, please reach out to Jamie Valentine at the Indianapolis Foundation, jamiev@indianapolisfoundation.org, prior to applying.
- Single-year and multi-year award opportunities.
- Applications are submitted through the Indianapolis Foundation via the Grants Portal powered by SmartSimple. For guidance on setting up an account and navigating an applicant profile, please refer to the Grants Portal 101 resource for guidance or send a request for support to GrantSupport@cicf.org.
Grant Timeline
The Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund application portal will remain open through the close of Round 4. Proposals will be reviewed on a quarterly basis.
