Indianapolis Foundation Announces $1 Million Investment in Youth Mentoring and Development
Grants were announced during Foundation’s 110th anniversary celebration, where 110 individuals were given $110 to give back to the community.
Five nonprofits dedicated to supporting Indianapolis-area youth received a collective $1 million on Thursday during the Indianapolis Foundation’s community event celebrating its 110th anniversary. The organizations – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana, Dream Alive, Evolve International, Indy Arts Council, and Junior Achievement – each received $200,000 grants to strengthen their mentorship and youth development work.
“Every young person in Indianapolis deserves someone who believes in them and opportunities to discover what they’re capable of,” said Ahmed Young, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Foundation. “These five organizations help make that possible through mentorship, experiential learning, and creative expression. As we celebrate 110 years of serving our community, investing in young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can shape what’s happening now and what comes next for our city.”
During Thursday’s event, the Indianapolis Foundation selected 110 guests at random to participate in a “110 for 110” Challenge inspired by the anniversary milestone. These 110 attendees were each given $110 to donate to a nonprofit of their choice, with encouragement to match the funds with their own money and find others willing to donate with them to maximize impact.
The exercise was designed to demonstrate that philanthropy is not reserved for a select few. By placing charitable decision-making into the hands of attendees, the activity highlighted the power of collective giving. Donations will be tracked in the coming weeks to tally the total giving amount and nonprofits selected.
“You don’t have to make a million-dollar gift to make a difference,” said Young. “We want people to see themselves as philanthropists and recognize the power they have to support causes they care about. When we invite friends, neighbors, and colleagues to give alongside us, one act of generosity can grow into something much bigger.”