CFMJC Celebrates 35 Years and Awards $391,494 in Grants

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF MADISON & JEFFERSON COUNTY CELEBRATES 35 FANTASTIC YEARS AND GRANT AWARDS
Area Nonprofits Receive Funding for Projects Spanning Jefferson County

MADISON, IN –The Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County (CFMJC) celebrated new endowments and over $390,000 in grants awards with donors, volunteers, and nonprofit organizations on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the Fairfield Inn and sponsored by German American Bank.

While dining, attendees watched a restrospective video highlighting the Community Foundation’s milestones and accomplishments in its 35-year history. CFMJC President & CEO Bill Barnes began the evening’s program by sharing that the Foundation’s assets have now surpassed $55 million as of the end of September and that over $2.1 million dollars will be distributed in 2026 through grants and scholarships. He then shared the newest endowments created by donors since October 2025 that will provide long-term support for a nonprofit organization or cause forever. CFMJC Board Chair Devon Sharpe welcomed the Foundation’s newest board member, Hilary Beall, and thanked past board members and current volunteers for their support of the Foundation. CFMJC Marketing & Donor Relations Manager Kelley Hoagland shared an overview of the G1K and Women’s Giving Circle programs, including the grants awarded earlier in the year and how donors can participate in the programs. Leadership Jefferson County Steering Committee Chair Rachel Sharpe encouraged attendees to consider applying for the upcoming 2027 course of the program and thanked her fellow steering committee members for their hard work.

The highlight of the evening was awarding $391,494 in grants to 24 nonprofit organizations through the CFMJC’s 2026 Competitive Grant Cycle. These awards are made possible by the generous donors who established and contribute to the Foundation’s Flexible Community Funds and Field of Interest Funds. Community Foundation Finance & Program Officer Kelly Miller announced the grant recipients, their award amount, and their project’s summary. The Competitive Grant Cycle awards include:

• Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County – $40,000 to support the renovation of the gymnasium and creation of a dedicated Teen Center
• Caroline’s Corner – $20,000 to purchase furnishings and equipment for various therapy spaces
• City of Madison – $40,000 to support the renovation of Kiwanis Park
• Englishton Park, Inc. – $4,000 to purchase new cot bed frames for the new camp dormitory
• The Freedom Center – $5,085 to cover registration fees for clinicians to receive EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing) training
• Genesis: Pathways to Success, Inc. – $6,000 to support the Ignite SEI: Fuel the Small Business Spark regional conference
• Girls Inc. of Jefferson County, IN – $2,100 to upgrade the box gutters and downspouts at the center
• Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana – $4,382 to provide new windows and an emergency exit door to Camp Whippoorwill’s Wren House
• Habitat for Humanity of Southeast Indiana – $9,000 to purchase construction tools and job site equipment needed to build homes and provide repairs
• Hanover Community Garden – $6,000 to purchase a new mower to maintain the garden space
• Indiana State Museum Foundation, Inc. – $3,495 to support the Celebrating a Century event at the Lanier Mansion State Historic Site
• Jefferson County 4-H Club & Agricultural Association – $40,000 to support the construction of a new Community Building at the Jefferson County 4-H Fairgrounds
• Jefferson County Health Initiative – $25,000 to support the creation of building planning documents, including site plans, renderings, and cost estimates, for a new hilltop community center
• Jefferson County Historical Society – $10,000 to purchase equipment to upgrade and modernize the archival and preservation methods of the museum’s collection
• Jefferson County House of Hope – $17,500 to support the BackSacks nourishment program for local students
• Jefferson County, Indiana – $50,000 to support the construction of a new animal shelter
• Jefferson County Public Library – $20,000 to digitize microfilm reels of 19th century editions of local newspapers for online research access
• Jefferson County Southpaws 4-H Dog Club – $3,457 to purchase new agility equipment for 4-H members to use through the Dog Project
• Madison Area Arts Alliance – $20,000 to support the ARTsy Switchbox project
• Madison Art Club – $2,160 to purchase a digital point-of-sale system for the club’s storefront, Art on Main
• Madison Christian Health & Developmental Services, Inc. – $25,000 to support the stabilization and pre-construction phase of the Legacy of Hope housing project
• Madison Consolidated School Corp./Southwestern-Jefferson County School Corp. – $15,000 to purchase cell phone storage cabinets for each middle, junior, and high school in the two school systems
• Special Olympics Indiana-Jefferson/Switzerland County – $5,315 to purchase new equipment and uniforms for the bowling and track & field teams
• Town of Hanover – $18,000 to purchase trees and build shelter structures to provide shade at Hanover Park

The evening concluded with closing remarks from Community Foundation Board Treasurer Phil McKay, who reflected on why he and his family and business support the Foundation and reiteratied the Foundation’s appreciation of its donors and the nonprofit organizations helping the residents of Jefferson County, Indiana.

Established in 1991, the Community Foundation of Madison and Jefferson County fulfills the mission of building a strong, vibrant community by helping donors provide perpetual funding for the people, projects, and passions of Jefferson County. Since the Foundation’s creation, 287 permanent funds have been established. For information about the Community Foundation, contact Bill Barnes at (812) 265-3327, email [email protected], or visit www.cfmjc.org.

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