Hamilton County Tourism Inc focuses on strengthening local tourism infrastructure and community amenities within Hamilton County, IN, prioritizing sports and recreation facilities, heritage and performing arts institutions, and municipal projects that drive visitor activity. The foundation routinely provides core operating and capital support to city governments, major local attractions, parks organizations, and sports commissions—often funding well-known county assets like Grand Park, Conner Prairie, and regional arts organizations. Grants are highly place-based and geared toward organizations that directly contribute to tourism, events, and recreational draw for the county.
Hamilton County Tourism Inc’s largest recent grants center on Grand Park, including a $448,000 award in 2025 to the City of Westfield for capital improvements and a $440,000 operating grant in 2024 to the Westfield Sports Commission. That pattern shows a funder focused on visitor-driving infrastructure rather than broad philanthropic giving. Across the recent grants list, the foundation supports county assets that bring people to Hamilton County through sports, heritage, parks, and performing arts. The grants are place-based and tied to local institutions that shape tourism activity in Indiana. Recipients include municipal bodies, arts organizations, heritage sites, parks groups, and sports entities, with support often directed to operating or capital needs. Conner Prairie Museum Inc received $132,500 in 2025 for operating support, while Friends of Hamilton County Parks received $150,000 in 2025 for operating support. Hamilton County Tourism Inc also funds smaller awards that keep local programming active, including support for community events and visitor-oriented institutions across the county.
Sports tourism is a major thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. In 2025, it gave $35,000 to Hamilton County Parks and Recreation for operating support, and it also awarded $10,000 to Westfield Youth Sports Inc for operating support. Through the Hamilton County Sports Authority funding stream, the foundation backs tournaments and related programs that support visitor activity and hotel stays. Heritage and cultural attractions are another clear focus. Conner Prairie Museum Inc received $130,000 in 2024 for operating support, and Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad Inc received $69,800 in 2023 for operating support. The foundation also funds arts institutions that help draw local visitors, including $103,250 to Nickel Plate Arts Inc in 2024 for operating support and $10,000 to The Center for the Performing Arts in 2024 for operating support. Municipal and community-facing projects appear as well. The City of Fishers received $10,000 in 2023 for operating support, and Carmel Redevelopment Commission received $100,000 in 2024 for operating support.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $50,000 at the median, and $130,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both large capital awards and smaller operating grants, with repeated support for some organizations across multiple years. The foundation gives through named programs such as Tourism Gives and the Hamilton County Sports Authority funding stream, and the available program descriptions indicate that unsolicited applications are not accepted. Its grantmaking is fully local, with nearly all grants going to recipients in Indiana.
$1M
$5.6M
$8.7M
$8.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $130K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$130K
NORMAN BURNS
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Concentrated, place-based giving with a mix of a few large multi-year or capital grants and many smaller operating grants; frequent repeat funding to key local partners (cities, major attractions, sports commission) rather than broad, new national grantees.
Notable grantees: City of Westfield (Grand Park), Westfield Sports Commission, Conner Prairie Museum Inc, Nickel Plate Arts Inc, Friends of Hamilton County Parks
Grantmaking is concentrated in Hamilton County, Indiana, with 95% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Westfield appears frequently, including the City of Westfield and the Westfield Sports Commission. Other repeated recipient locations include Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, and Arcadia. Outside the U.S., there are no recipient countries in the recent grants list; all recorded grants went to U.S. organizations.
The foundation funds municipal bodies, sports groups, heritage attractions, parks organizations, and performing arts institutions. Recent recipients include the City of Westfield, Conner Prairie Museum Inc, Friends of Hamilton County Parks, Nickel Plate Arts Inc, and the Westfield Sports Commission.
The distribution provided shows a 25th percentile grant size of $10,000, a median of $50,000, and a 75th percentile of $130,000. The recent grants list also includes larger awards, such as $448,000 for the City of Westfield and $440,000 for the Westfield Sports Commission.
No. The provided program descriptions for Tourism Gives, BEST Investment Fund, and Hamilton County Sports Authority funding indicate that unsolicited applications are not accepted.
Sports tourism, heritage attractions, parks, and local arts recur in the recent grants list. Examples include operating support for Hamilton County Parks and Recreation, Conner Prairie Museum Inc, Nickel Plate Arts Inc, and The Center for the Performing Arts.
It is local. The geographic scope is listed as local, and 95% of grants go to recipients in Indiana. The recent grants list shows U.S.-only giving.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Hamilton County Tourism that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: The organization must be based in Hamilton County, Indiana, or greatly serve the population of Hamilton County. Each organization may receive one gift basket. Distribution is subject to available supplies.
Deadline: Requests are fulfilled until supplies run out; early requests are recommended.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CITY OF WESTFIELD | WESTFIELD, IN | $448,000 | 2025 | GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| FRIENDS OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS | CARMEL, IN | $150,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM INC | FISHERS, IN | $132,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | CARMEL, IN | $100,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NICKEL PLATE RAIL ROAD | — | $50,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION | — | $35,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT INC | CARMEL, IN | $15,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTFIELD YOUTH SPORTS INC | — | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROUNDTRIPPER FOUNDATION | — | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NOBLESVILLE YOUTH SPORTS | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY TENIS ASSOCIATION | — | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARMEL DAD'S CLUB | CARMEL, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SOUTHEASTERN PROGRAM OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS | — | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | CARMEL, IN | $10,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NOBLESVILLE CREATES | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $6,500 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF FISHERS | FISHERS, IN | $6,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WESTFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION | — | $440,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WESTFIELD | WESTFIELD, IN | $401,500 | 2024 | GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| LOGICOURT LLC | — | $160,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM INC | FISHERS, IN | $130,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT |
| NICKEL PLATE ARTS INC | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $103,250 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION | CARMEL, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ROBERTS CHAPEL CHURCH AND BURIAL ASSOCIATION | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $100,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE SUPERLATIVE GROUP INC | CLEVELAND, OH | $40,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NOBLESVILLE YOUTH SPORTS | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | CARMEL, IN | $10,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CARMEL DAD'S CLUB | CARMEL, IN | $7,000 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF FISHERS | FISHERS, IN | $5,500 | 2024 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF WESTFIELD | WESTFIELD, IN | $160,000 | 2023 | GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| NICKEL PLATE ARTS INC | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $152,240 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NICKEL PLATE HERITAGE RAILROAD INC | ARCADIA, IN | $69,800 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $50,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS | CARMEL, IN | $40,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT |
| HAMILTON COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT | NOBLESVILLE, IN | $25,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| CITY OF FISHERS | FISHERS, IN | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERTING SUPPORT |
| CONNER PRAIRIE MUSEUM INC | FISHERS, IN | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | CARMEL, IN | $10,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
CITY OF WESTFIELD
$448,000GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
FRIENDS OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS
$150,000OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT
HAMILTON COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
$100,000OPERATING SUPPORT
NICKEL PLATE RAIL ROAD
$50,000OPERATING SUPPORT
HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
$35,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CARMEL CHRISTKINDLMARKT INC
$15,000OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTFIELD YOUTH SPORTS INC
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
ROUNDTRIPPER FOUNDATION
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
NOBLESVILLE YOUTH SPORTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
HAMILTON COUNTY COMMUNITY TENIS ASSOCIATION
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CARMEL DAD'S CLUB
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
SOUTHEASTERN PROGRAM OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
NOBLESVILLE CREATES
$6,500OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF FISHERS
$6,000OPERATING SUPPORT
WESTFIELD SPORTS COMMISSION
$440,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF WESTFIELD
$401,500GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
LOGICOURT LLC
$160,000OPERATING SUPPORT
NICKEL PLATE ARTS INC
$103,250OPERATING SUPPORT
CARMEL REDEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
$100,000OPERATING SUPPORT
ROBERTS CHAPEL CHURCH AND BURIAL ASSOCIATION
$100,000OPERATING SUPPORT
THE SUPERLATIVE GROUP INC
$40,000OPERATING SUPPORT
NOBLESVILLE YOUTH SPORTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CARMEL DAD'S CLUB
$7,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF FISHERS
$5,500OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF WESTFIELD
$160,000GRAND PARK CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
NICKEL PLATE ARTS INC
$152,240OPERATING SUPPORT
NICKEL PLATE HERITAGE RAILROAD INC
$69,800OPERATING SUPPORT
HAMILTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$50,000OPERATING SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF HAMILTON COUNTY PARKS
$40,000OPERATING SUPPORTOPERATING SUPPORT
HAMILTON COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
$25,000OPERATING SUPPORT
CITY OF FISHERS
$10,000OPERTING SUPPORT
THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$10,000OPERATING SUPPORT
