Blackford County Community Foundation

About Blackford County Community Foundation

A full-tuition scholarship program for Blackford County students sits alongside a broad stream of general operating support, making education one of the foundation’s clearest recurring commitments. Blackford County Community Foundation Inc administers the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship locally, with application materials provided by the foundation and awards for eligible county students attending Indiana colleges or universities. Beyond scholarships, the foundation funds local nonprofits and community projects that benefit Blackford County residents across youth services, health, education, arts, and community development. Recent grant records show this local pattern in practice. Hartford City Public Library received multiple general-support awards, including $32,793 in 2025, while Blackford County Schools also received general support in 2024 and 2025. The foundation also backs community institutions and service providers outside the county seat when their work connects to local residents, including Arts Place Inc in Portland and Bigjaws Youth for Christ in Bluffton. Several grants are described simply as general support, which aligns with the foundation’s emphasis on flexible funding and organizational capacity support. That mix of scholarship administration, competitive community grants, and unrestricted support reflects a funder working through local institutions rather than a single program area.

What Blackford County Community Foundation Funds

Education is a visible thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Blackford County Schools received $34,290 in 2024 and $24,193 in 2025, both listed as general support. The foundation also administers the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for eligible Blackford County students, supporting undergraduate study at accredited Indiana colleges and universities. Youth-focused grants appear through several local recipients. Bigjaws Youth for Christ received $28,182 in 2023, $23,000 in 2024, and $24,500 in 2025, all for general support. Blackford Youth Soccer League also received $10,000 in 2025. Health and human services show up in grants to organizations such as Second Harvest Food Bank, which received $10,000 in both 2024 and 2025, and Carey Services, which received $10,000 in 2023. The foundation also funds projects centered on women and children through its Women of Worth Grant.

How Blackford County Community Foundation Gives