City & county progress Grants

Supporting non-profit programs + projects

grant cycle juNE 1 - august 1

Funded by Shelbyville and Shelby County Racino Income
Administered by the Blue River Community Foundation

Shelbyville and Shelby County are pleased to offer a community grant program that is funded through racino income that they receive annually under state law. The City and County recognize that many organizations are working continually to enhance the quality of life, and wish to support this work by offering grants to be awarded annually through a competitive selection process.

The City and County partner with the Blue River Community Foundation to administer the grant selection process. The Foundation is a community-based philanthropic organization with over 20 years of experience in community grant making.

The City and County will make grants once annually through a competitive process administered by the Blue River Community Foundation to charitable causes that serve the residents of Shelby County.

+ Deadlines

BRCF conducts one Racino grant cycle each year:

INTEREST FORM DEADLINE: July 1

APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 1

Grant applications must be received at the Foundation office no later than 5 p.m. on the deadline date.

+ Application procedure

Grant applications may be submitted at any time, but will only be reviewed during the next upcoming grant cycle. The applicant organization may be contacted for additional information if needed. When the completed application and all required attachments are received, staff will prepare the request for review by the Foundation Grants Committee. This committee is comprised of Foundation Board members and community advisors. An organization can expect a decision regarding its application within 90 days after the grant application deadline. All grant applicants will be notified in writing or by personal phone call of the Councils’ funding decisions.
Racino grants will not grant to:

  • Organizational endowments
  • Taxing entities or organizations that receive funding through taxes; such as schools, public libraries, etc.
  • Expenses related to professional development or student enrichment opportunities


These guidelines and policies apply only to the City and County Racino funds and not to other BRCF funds for which the donor has designated the beneficiary or has restricted the use of a particular fund to a specific charitable purpose. Those designated and restricted funds will be administered separately in relation to their respective donor agreements.

 
 

New Grant Opportunity Wortman Family Foundation
APPLY HERE


 
 
View our 2023 Annual Report
See the impact BRCF made in the past year.

 
 
Questions about grants?
Contact Jordan England, Grants and Nonprofit Relations Director
jengland@blueriverfoundation.com
317.392.7955

 
 
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