Evansville Endowment Fund
Investing in Our City's Nonprofits
The Evansville Endowment Fund originated in 1994 when former Mayor Frank McDonald II proposed that $5 million of revenue from the gaming boat be invested in a way that would serve the City of Evansville forever.
The Community Foundation Alliance, Inc. administers the Evansville Endowment Fund as a supporting organization, with annual earnings used for grantmaking. Funding is focused on capital projects for nonprofits serving within the City of Evansville. The Evansville Endowment Fund has a separate board of directors responsible for governance and grantmaking decisions.
Greater Good Forever
What started with a $5M gift has grown to over $10M while granting $6.3M since the fund's inception, making the total philanthropic impact of the Evansville Endowment Fund over $16M.
Evansville Endowment Fund grants are specifically designated for capital projects. When the Evansville Endowment Fund was established, it allocated sixty percent (60%) of grantmaking to benefit the 4th and 6th wards of the City of Evansville. These wards also have representation on the Evansville Endowment Fund's board.
Recent News
The Evansville Endowment Fund (EEF) recently announced total grant awards of more than $560,000 to assist 21 nonprofits in Evansville. Grants are designated for capital improvement projects, with a requirement that at least 60% of grant funding will be directed toward activities that support or benefit the city’s 4th and 6th wards. 2025 Grant Recipients $45,827 awarded to Evansville Association for the Blind to replace the HVAC unit serving the accounting and classroom areas and the adaptive technology lab $35,000 awarded to Evansville Christian Life Center for the purchase and installation of a new loading dock, stairs, overhang, and basement door $25,000 awarded to Evansville African-American Museum Inc. to construct a paved parking area for museum visitors $35,000 awarded to Evansville Museum of Arts, History, & Science to purchase and install a new chiller $20,000 awarded to ECHO Housing Corporation to support the renovation of Meena's Place transitional housing residence for women to create four shared living units $19,210 awarded to Easterseals Rehabilitation Center to replace and expand concrete surfaces at Fuquay Group Home $20,000 awarded to Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Inc. to assist with renovations of the CAPE Place playground $25,000 awarded to Community One to restore two vacant, dilapidated residential properties in Evansville’s 4th Ward $15,460 awarded to Dream Center Evansville to assist with preventative maintenance on the parking lot, including crack sealing, two-coat sealcoating, restriping/markings, and installing speed bumps at key conflict points $25,000 awarded to Jacob's Village to remove and repave the deteriorated nature trail, construct a 600-foot connector loop to improve accessibility to residents’ homes, install maintenance-free benches, add native landscaping, and install handmade, weather-resistant birdhouses $20,000 awarded to JD Sheth Foundation, Inc. to remove and replace the existing fence around Caldwell Park $25,000 awarded to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana to purchase and install headend equipment for storefront control at the new JA Discovery Center $15,057 awarded to Lampion Center to purchase and install automatic door openers, lower the reception counter, and widen a therapy office door $17,476 awarded to The Gathering Church/Restore Outreach to purchase a mobile, heated holding and proofing cabinet and a gas convection oven $55,974 awarded to The Arc Evansville to replace the rooftop HVAC unit $40,800 awarded to The Potter's Wheel, Inc. to replace roof of the main building $17,697 awarded to Southwestern Healthcare, Inc. to replace two HVAC units $36,000 awarded to Vanderburgh County CASA for the inspection, preparation, and resealing of all exterior doors and windows, repair of damaged glass and drainage system, and the application of weather-resistant materials to prevent further damage $35,000 awarded to Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc. to replace two boilers $8,195 awarded to WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc. to repaint exterior architectural features of the WNIN building and remove a large tree obstructing a parking lot security light $25,000 awarded to YWCA of Evansville to assist with the renovation of an outdated bathroom into an ADA-compliant facility
The Evansville Endowment Fund is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for capital projects that benefit nonprofits serving within the city of Evansville. The Fund’s mission is to support nonprofit organizations serving the Evansville community. In 2024, the Fund awarded more than $505,000 in grants to 23 local nonprofits. Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code sections 501(c)(3) and 509(a). All proposed projects must take place within Evansville. At least 60% of grant funding will be directed toward activities that support or benefit the city’s 4th and 6th wards. Capital project proposals may include: Social and community-based organizations for the acquisition, construction, and renovation of permanent facilities used in the provision of services and activities Arts and cultural activities, the construction or renovation of facilities that promote the arts, culture, and/or tourism Recreation activities, the construction and renovation of parks, playgrounds, and other public recreational facilities that are designed for public participation Neighborhood revitalization, the acquisition of property that is blighted, appropriate for rehabilitation, or what is needed to be used for the development of housing for low to moderate-income persons Economic development projects, any project that will augment, supplement, or replenish existing municipally operated loan programs in pursuit of new economic development opportunities Qualified organizations are invited to submit a Letter of Inquiry by June 4, 2025, via the online Letter of Inquiry form.
The Evansville Endowment Fund recently announced total grant awards of more than $505,000 to assist 23 nonprofits in Evansville. Grants are designated for capital improvement projects, with a requirement that at least 60% of the annual funds be allocated to organizations serving Evansville’s Fourth and Sixth Wards. The annual grant cycle began in May. The EEF grants committee awards grants through a competitive application and review process. “Evansville Endowment Fund is excited to continue granting funds to nonprofit organizations directly serving our community,” said board president, Amber Rascoe. “This year we granted to a wide variety of exciting projects. Thank you to the grant committee and board for your time and service. Congratulations to this year’s recipients! I encourage all nonprofits to go to our website for information about how to apply next year.” 2024 Evansville Endowment Fund Grant Recipients Ark, Inc. to reroute downspout drainage underground, repair a broken water wall pipe, and construct a retention wall Carver Community Organization to remove the existing playground surface and install turf surfacing Community Action Program of Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Inc. to replace eight HVAC units at Paradise Estates Community One to secure licensed professional services for the restoration of a vacant, dilapidated residential property at 637 Jackson Avenue Dream Center Evansville to install black-galvanized steel fencing around the playground and improve the parking area fencing Evansville African-American Museum Inc. to develop and install seven new historical markers along the Baptisttown Heritage Trail Evansville Christian Life Center for the purchase and installation of new exterior doors Evansville Museum of Arts, History, & Science for the purchase and installation of twelve security cameras and software equipment Habitat for Humanity of Evansville to assist with the construction materials to build ten homes in Tepe Park and ten homes in Jacobsville neighborhoods Hydration Station to install a Hydration Station at Riverfront Park Impact Evansville to assist with the construction of Bedford Collab Lampion Center for drywall repair and painting in six bathrooms and painting in two offices Ozanam Family Shelter to purchase and install 50 windows Southwestern Healthcare, Inc. to add a drop-off parking area adjacent to the building and remove and install new landscaping St. Vincent Early Learning Center, Inc. for safety and security upgrades SWIRCA & More for the renovation of SWIRCA's current building and the construction of the new Sol and Arlene Bronstein Foundation Center The Arc Evansville to replace the mechanical component of the sliding entry door The Isaiah 1:17 Project to remodel a bathroom and kitchen to be accessible and child-friendly The Potter's Wheel, Inc. to repair, resurface, and reline the primary parking lot Tri-State Food Bank for the purchase of steel angles, angle paint, and drywall repairs Vanderburgh Humane Society, Inc. to assist with roof repair and replacement of the HVAC system condenser and coil WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc. to remove deteriorated caulking and install new sealant YWCA of Evansville for tuckpointing to the north elevation of the building
