About Ball State University Foundation
We support the university, its mission, and its students by carefully stewarding, prudently investing, and strategically allocating private gifts for scholarships, faculty, and programs.
Focus Areas
higher educationscholarshipsfaculty supportacademic programsfacilitiesathleticsplanned givingstudent engagement
Who They Fund
students (scholarship recipients)postsecondary/college-bound individuals
Funding Style
unrestricted/general operating supportscholarship/financial aid funding
About Ball State University Foundation
Ball State University Foundation Inc’s recent giving is dominated by large, recurring transfers to Ball State University itself, with one general-support grant of $12,472,349 in 2023 followed by another of $10,263,706 in 2024. That pattern points to a foundation whose grantmaking is closely tied to the university’s core operations rather than a broad portfolio of outside recipients. Beyond general support, the foundation also directs major resources to scholarships, including $3,962,368 in 2024 and $3,371,140 in 2023. Those awards align with its stated role in stewarding private gifts for scholarships, faculty, and programs. The foundation’s active programs show that this support is organized around student access, academic success, and campus life through Ball State Scholarships, tuition-savings programs, alumni-associated named scholarships, and athletics support. It also operates crowdfunding for campus projects, giving students, programs, and community members a way to raise money for specific needs. Overall, the record shows a university foundation that combines institutional support with student-facing aid and program funding inside Ball State’s ecosystem.
What Ball State University Foundation Funds
Scholarships are a central theme. In 2024, Ball State University Foundation Inc gave $3,962,368 to Ball State University for scholarships, following a $3,371,140 scholarship grant in 2023. Its active scholarship programs include merit-based and need-based awards, the Ball State Scholars Award, and named scholarships administered with the Alumni Association. The foundation also supports higher education access through tuition-saving programs such as the Midwest Student Exchange Program and Regional Tuition Savings. Another thread is athletics. The Cardinal Varsity Club is a giving program used to support Ball State student-athletes and athletics programs, including scholarships and program needs. A third area is project-based support through crowdfunding for Ball State students, programs, and campus initiatives in Muncie.
How Ball State University Foundation Gives
The grant size profile is high and concentrated: p25 is $3,814,561, median is $7,113,037, and p75 is $10,815,867. The recent record also shows repeated support to the same recipient across 2023 and 2024, indicating an ongoing relationship rather than isolated one-off awards. The foundation is structured as a university foundation and makes grants locally, with all recorded grants going to Indiana recipients. Its active programs include both unsolicited options, such as scholarship programs and crowdfunding, and non-unsolicited recognition programs like Top 100 Student Awards.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$25.9M
Total Assets
$438.8M
Total Revenue
$30.2M
Total Expenses
$37.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $3.8M and $10.8M, with a median of $7.1M.
25th Percentile
$3.8M
Median
$7.1M
75th Percentile
$10.8M
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JEAN KRAMER CROSBY PRESIDENT
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