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June 2026

Jun 27

Purpose Beyond a Paycheck: Indiana Nonprofits Show What It Means to Make a Difference

By Feature

By Chelsea Ohlemiller, Director of Community & Content, Charitable Advisors

A job can be more than a paycheck. It can be a purpose. It can be a way to strengthen communities, create meaningful change and become part of something bigger than yourself.

That belief is at the heart of Charitable Advisors’ “Work for a Nonprofit, Make a Difference” campaign — an initiative created to highlight the purpose, impact and opportunity found in nonprofit careers across Indiana.

Through storytelling, resources and community engagement, the campaign connects passionate professionals with organizations creating meaningful change every day. It challenges the idea that work is simply something we do and instead showcases how nonprofit careers can transform both the communities being served and the people who serve them.

Throughout May, 28 Indiana nonprofits opened their doors and their smartphones, and shared their missions, stories and impact with our community. From supporting children and families to advancing housing equity, strengthening education, improving health outcomes and creating opportunities for those who need them most, each organization showed what happens when people choose work rooted in purpose.

The participating organizations included Autism Community Connection, Child Care Answers, Muscular Dystrophy Family Foundation, Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, Lutheran Child & Family Services, Perry Township Education Foundation, New Hope of Indiana, Clarity of Central Indiana, Mid-North Food Pantry, The Julian Center, Indiana Diaper Bank, Pretty Passionate Hands, Edna Martin Christian Center, Kids’ Voice of Indiana, John Boner Neighborhood Centers, Camp To Belong Indiana, Hope Academy, Cancer Services of NE Indiana, Parks Foundation of Hendricks County, Peace Learning Center, IWIN (Indiana Women In Need) Foundation, Dove Recovery House for Women, Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana, Immigrant Welcome Center, Indy Art Center, Dayspring Center, AYS, Inc., and InteCare Veteran Services.

Each organization created a short social media video sharing why their work matters — and the result was a powerful reminder that behind every nonprofit mission are people who care deeply about making Indiana stronger.

For AYS (At Your School), the campaign created an opportunity for the children they serve to share, in their own words, why the organization’s work matters.

“As a result of the Work For a Nonprofit, Make A Difference campaign AYS kids got to tell the audience, in their own words, why the work we do here at AYS matters to them,” said Abi Bainbridge, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, AYS. “The resulting video didn’t just allow us to reflect on our values and remind ourselves of exactly how the work we do benefits the children in our community. It also gave us the opportunity to create a unique piece of content that drove potential employees to our careers page during a vital hiring cycle.”

Beyond the visibility, the campaign created opportunities for organizations to grow, learn and connect.

“In the process of producing this video, our team developed new skills and gathered enough additional footage to be used for future projects,” Bainbridge said. “We also appreciated the opportunity to see the great work of other local nonprofit organizations. Campaigns like WFN, help bring us together as a community, and remind us of the power of collaborative action.”

For Pretty Passionate Hands, the campaign provided a chance to share the heart behind their mission and reach new audiences.

“Participating in the Work for a Nonprofit, Make a Difference campaign was such a meaningful experience for Pretty Passionate Hands,” said Chandler Jessup, Organizational Development Coordinator. “It gave us a platform to share our story and shed light on the heart behind our work. The visibility we gained through the campaign helped remind our community, and us, why this work matters so deeply.”

Jessup also emphasized the importance of celebrating the nonprofit sector and the people who dedicate themselves to serving others.

“Campaigns like this are so important because they shine a light on the people and organizations doing the quiet, consistent work that often goes unnoticed,” she said. “The nonprofit sector is full of passionate individuals who dedicate themselves to serving others, and being celebrated alongside other incredible organizations was both humbling and energizing.”

The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana (FHCCI) also highlighted the value of reaching new audiences through the campaign.

“We, at the FHCCI, are so incredibly grateful to Charitable Advisors for allowing us to share the work we do (and why we do it) with audiences that we normally don’t reach within our typical channels,” said Brady Ripperger, FHCCI. “Unfortunately, algorithms are skilled at keeping audiences siloed into areas, and this campaign allowed us to reach new audiences.”

Ripperger shared that campaigns like this play an important role in connecting people with the many organizations working across Indiana.

“Through this campaign, the wide breadth of missions and work us nonprofits are doing across the state was highlighted, which we are incredibly grateful for, especially as nonprofit funding continues to be slashed,” Ripperger said.

Thanks to the support of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF), Charitable Advisors was able to provide three $500 gifts to participating organizations:

  • Viewer’s Choice: Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana
  • CICF Team Choice: AYS (At Your School)
  • Charitable Advisors Team Choice: Pretty Passionate Hands

These awards, though small, provide additional resources for organizations to continue advancing their missions. AYS plans to pour its awarded funds back into programs supporting children across central Indiana, Pretty Passionate Hands will use the funds to support teen parents and their babies, and FHCCI will continue its work addressing housing barriers and discrimination experienced by Hoosiers.

The true impact of this campaign, however, extends beyond a video, a contest or an award. It is found in the connections created, the stories shared and the reminder that meaningful work exists in every corner of Indiana.

At Charitable Advisors, we are grateful for the organizations that participated, the people who shared their stories and the nonprofit professionals who continue to show what it means to work for a nonprofit and make a difference.

And this is just the beginning. Another “Work for a Nonprofit, Make a Difference” campaign is coming this fall. Stay tuned for details and another opportunity to celebrate the people and organizations creating lasting impact throughout Indiana.

Experience the stories and impact shared through May’s campaign:

Jun 27

Why Your Organization Needs a North Star

By Sponsor Insight

Monica Hingst, Senior Consultant, Schunk Moreland Strategies

Most organizations have a vision and mission statement. Far fewer have a north star. A vision describes the future that an organization hopes to create. A mission declares why an organization exists, including what you do, who you serve, and how you serve. A north star answers a different question: What are we ultimately trying to achieve together?

For mission-driven organizations, this distinction matters. Unlike businesses that often look to profit margins as a guiding metric, nonprofits need to navigate competing priorities without a single profit-centered measure of success. A north star guides decision-making, keeping people aligned, and helps organizations stay focused on what matters the most as they pursue their mission and vision.

As organizations face competing demands, limited resources, and pressure to create meaningful impact, a shared north star becomes essential. This article explores why north stars matter, how they support second-order change, and how shared utility framing can help organizations make better decisions together.

Why Decision-Making is Challenging

Inter-organizational competition is everywhere, but it is especially common in the nonprofit sector where budgets, resources, and organizational capacity are often limited. These tensions become even more pronounced during periods of second-order change, which is any change that is complex, structural, or requires people to rethink big things like systems, human behaviors, or ways of working.

When nonprofit leaders face decisions about which programs to fund, which opportunities to pursue, or what initiatives to sunset, they need a clear way to evaluate competing priorities. Without a shared north star, or a shared utility framing, decisions can become political or personal instead of strategic.

Second-order change alters existing systems, structures, rules and assumptions, not just behavior within a system. In my research about navigating second-order change, I found that people naturally default to protecting their own interests. Within the public sector (e.g., nonprofits, government, higher education), this can look like departments competing for resources or working in silos to meet their own goals. It can look like board members advocating for their favorite initiatives or funders unintentionally pulling an organization in multiple directions. These dynamics are rarely driven by selfish intent. More often, they emerge when people lack a shared framework for evaluating decisions. The issue is the absence of a north star, not the competing interests themselves.

What is Shared Utility Framing?

Shared utility framing explains how a proposed change benefits an organization as a whole while also acknowledging how individual interests will be protected. Shared utility framing asks: How does this decision benefit the entire organization, not just one person, department, or program? For shared utility framing to work, stakeholders need to understand how value is created collectively. They also need confidence that their interests are recognized and protected in that shared value. Without both conditions, people often default to defensive positioning and zero-sum thinking, where one group’s gain is viewed as another group’s loss. Zero-sum thinking slows progress and makes change difficult to achieve.

During periods of second-order change, conflict often emerges when individuals or teams fear losing access to resources, influence, funding, staffing, or other things of value. Shared utility framing requires stakeholders to step outside of their silos and consider how value is created and distributed across the organization as a whole. When leaders clearly communicate how organizational value is created and how success will be measured through outcomes connected to the mission and vision, they address many of the concerns that can stall change. Teams, boards, and partners need to understand how the organization creates value collectively. They also need confidence that their interests are acknowledged and protected.

A North Star Creates a Shared Definition of Success

When nonprofit organizations face major decisions, conversations often focus on questions like: What does my department gain? What will my program lose? What does this mean for my workload? A north star shifts the conversation toward a different question: How does this move us closer to what we are trying to achieve together?

Here’s an example. In 2023, Indiana passed a law to automatically enroll eligible students in the 21st Century Scholars program.1 Stakeholders involved in the process initially focused on administrative concerns, implementation costs, staffing needs, and potential operational disruptions. Progress accelerated when leaders identified two broader outcomes that stakeholders could collectively rally around: improving the quality of life for Hoosiers and strengthening Indiana’s workforce and economy. Once those outcomes became the shared north stars, stakeholders could see beyond their individual concerns. The conversations shifted from organizational impacts to collective outcomes. A broader coalition formed around a shared purpose, and the policy ultimately passed.

The same principle applies within nonprofits. Coalitions form more easily when people rally around shared outcomes rather than organizational interests.

How to Establish a North Star

If your organization has a strategic plan, start there. Ask yourself: What are we ultimately trying to achieve with this plan? Who benefits if we succeed? How would we know we are making progress? What outcomes matter the most?

If the answers to these questions are unclear or open to interpretation, it may be worth considering a neutral facilitator to help your leadership team arrive at a shared north star. A facilitator can guide a structured conversation, surface areas of misalignment, and help the group develop a shared understanding of what success looks like.

One way to begin is by asking each member of the leadership team to identify the three most important outcomes for the organization. If those answers vary significantly, there is a good chance your organization does not yet have a clearly defined north star.

While this exercise can be led internally, there are advantages to having a neutral facilitator guide the conversation. Team members are often more candid with someone who is not tied to organizational politics, departmental priorities, or reporting relationships. A facilitator can also ask difficult questions without being perceived as advocating for a particular outcome, helping the group move beyond individual interests and focus on what is best for the organization as a whole.

Put Your North Star to Work

A north star only works if it becomes part of daily organizational life. It should inform planning, prioritization, progress monitoring, partnerships, board discussions, hiring decisions, and, most importantly, budgeting. Where you allocate your resources should reflect your north star.

Strong organizations do not eliminate conflict within organizations. They create enough shared utility framing to foster understanding and make disagreement a productive exercise. When people know what they are trying to achieve together, they can debate tactics without losing sight of purpose.

A north star does not make decision-making easier. It makes decision-making clearer. The most effective and sustaining types of change begin with the question, “What are we ultimately trying to accomplish together?”

Jun 27

The Essential Ingredients of Nonprofit-Friendly Banking

By Sponsor Insight, Uncategorized

By Amandula Anderson, First Vice President & Manager of Nonprofit Services, The National Bank of Indianapolis

Nonprofits manage frequent and varied types of transactions, from donations to payroll, which means that you need easy access to funds. In this area, you want to look for a combination of convenience from modern digital banking tools and a local team that knows your organization and is accessible in the moments that matter most.

Everyone knows I love sweet treats. But if you know anything about baking, you know that measurements are key to creating the right texture and flavor. A proper blend of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs will translate into a good cookie. There are also primary components that lead to the right style of nonprofit banking to feed your success as an organization.

Ease of Access & Digital Tools

Convenience and strong digital capabilities are essential to help your organization remain responsive to donor and operational needs. The right banking partner can work with you to address these factors and determine which transactional tools you need to accomplish your financial goals:

  • Simple onboarding and documentation processes
  • A full suite of online and mobile banking capabilities with real-time account access
  • Remote deposit capture, ACH, and payment portals for efficient donation processing
  • A local team available when you need them plus a local branch presence; not just a call center

Cost Efficiency & Competitive Pricing

Every dollar your organization can save on banking is a dollar you can re-direct to your mission and its impact. The approach is simple: your resources should advance your mission and not be absorbed by fees. Structure your accounts around how your organization actually operates by securing key benefits, such as:

  • Nonprofit-specific checking and depository accounts with competitive fees
  • Ability to earn interest or earnings credit on balances
  • Flexible structures tailored to activity level (from simple to complex organizations)

Governance, Controls & Security

Your organization operates with board oversight, donor expectations, and compliance pressure, so transparency is non-negotiable. You need to protect what has been entrusted to you with financial tools and controls that support strong governance, audit readiness, and donor confidence. Look for the following:

  • Robust fraud mitigation tools including Positive Pay and ACH blocks/filters
  • Secure, permission-based online access for multiple users
  • Systems that support oversight, reporting, and financial transparency

Cash Flow Management Capabilities

Nonprofits face complex cash flow and restricted funding requirements that require more than basic checking accounts. You want a provider to go beyond basic banking by helping you manage the full lifecycle of your funds and even the most complex financial operations, including:

  • Comprehensive treasury capabilities:
    • Receivables (lockbox, remote deposit)
    • Payments (ACH, wires, bill pay)
    • Cash optimization (sweeps, zero-balance accounts)
    • Data & reporting tools
  • Ability to streamline the full cash cycle, from donation to deployment
  • Investment services to support your long-term sustainability

Service Model & Mission Alignment

This is the most important factor, in my professional opinion. It’s priceless to find a partner who understands your mission and not just your balance sheet. This is where you want experience in nonprofit banking by way of:

  • A dedicated nonprofit services team with specialized knowledge
  • Local decision-making and tailored solutions
  • Deep community involvement through board service, volunteering, and financial support and investments

Find a Partner, Not Just a Provider

Ultimately, you want your bank to be invested in the success of our community. While larger banks with a national scope offer scale and standardization, do not overlook locally based institutions that offer programs that may become more meaningful to your organization. Local causes align well with localized support that focuses on relationships, strategy, and your mission.

According to 501c3Center.com, here are the questions you should ask before choosing a bank and opening your accounts:

  • What documents are required to open a nonprofit account?
  • Are there monthly service fees, and can they be waived?
  • Can multiple board members access the account?
  • Is there a dedicated nonprofit team on staff?
  • What fraud protections or alerts are available?
  • Does the bank offer integrations for online donations or accounting tools?

Final Thoughts

There’s not a one-size-fits all recipe when it comes to choosing the best bank for your nonprofit. The answer depends on multiple characteristics including your size, goals, and whether your operations are local or national. Start a conversation with a banking partner. You might just find a solution that’s sweeter than you ever imagined.

Jun 22

A Starting Point: 10 Grant Opportunities for Indiana Nonprofits in a Challenging Funding Landscape

By Feature

By Morgan Riley, Charitable Advisors

Fundraising right now feels a bit like learning a new map while the landscape keeps shifting. Fortunately, to find their footing, organizations don’t necessarily need the biggest budgets. Resilient fundraisers are building a funding ecosystem and weaving together multiple sources of support instead of relying on a single lifeline.

Federal funding uncertainty, increased competition for grants, and growing community needs have created a difficult environment—particularly for small and midsized organizations that are being asked to do more with limited time, staff, and resources.

If you’re part of a team where grant writing is just one responsibility among many, there is still hope.

In times of uncertainty, diversification becomes a way to build resilience, and collaboration matters. Smaller grants can sometimes create meaningful momentum. Funders are looking for organizations that are building partnerships, sharing ideas, and working together to solve challenges that no single organization can address alone.

With that in mind, we’ve gathered 10 grant opportunities Indiana nonprofits may want to explore this summer. Some are designed specifically for smaller organizations, some support experimentation and capacity building, and others reward strong community partnerships.

Our hope isn’t to create another overwhelming to-do list. It’s to provide a starting point and a light in the tunnel.

  1. Hamilton County Community Foundation Competitive Grants

    Apply: https://hamiltoncountycf.org/grants/hamilton-county-community-foundation-competitive-grants/

      Deadline: July 31, 2026

      Why it’s noteworthy: One of the strongest examples of trust-based philanthropy in Indiana, this funding opportunity emphasizes unrestricted operating support, allowing organizations to invest in both programs and the infrastructure that sustains them.

      Who it’s for: Nonprofits serving Hamilton County working in childcare, housing, workforce development, education, and social services.

      Takeaway: Funders are increasingly recognizing that strong operations are essential to strong outcomes.

      1. Indiana Humanities Mini Grants

      Apply: https://indianahumanities.org/grants/

      Deadline: Rolling monthly deadlines

      Why it’s noteworthy: These small but flexible grants are designed for experimentation—supporting storytelling, public dialogue, and community engagement projects that may not require large budgets but can have meaningful local impact.

      Who it’s for: Nearly any Indiana nonprofit engaging the public through education, storytelling, cultural programming, or civic conversation.

      Takeaway: Small grants can be strategic investments in innovation and pilot programming.

      1. CreatINg Places (IHCDA)

      Apply: https://www.patronicity.com/creatingplaces

      Deadline: Rolling through December 31, 2026

      Why it’s noteworthy: This program pairs community-led crowdfunding with state matching funds, rewarding projects that demonstrate strong local buy-in before public investment is made.

      Who it’s for: Indiana nonprofits and local governments working on placemaking, community spaces, neighborhood revitalization, and public gathering projects.

      Takeaway: Successful fundraising is increasingly tied to visible community engagement and support.

      1. Ball Brothers Foundation Grants

      Apply: https://www.ballfdn.org/grants

      Deadline: Open year-round

      Why it’s noteworthy: While many foundations focus on program expansion, Ball Brothers Foundation places significant emphasis on capacity building, including strategic planning, communications, leadership development, and collaboration.

      Who it’s for: Indiana nonprofits (with strongest consideration in East Central Indiana) seeking support for both program and organizational strengthening efforts.

      Takeaway: Building stronger systems is not overhead; it’s mission-critical work.

      1. Pacers Foundation General Grants

      Apply: https://pacersfoundation.org/grants/

      Deadline: Quarterly cycle (next interest form deadlines: Sept. 15, Dec. 15, March 17, June 16)

      Why it’s noteworthy: This funding prioritizes youth-serving work in education, health, and safety, with a strong preference for collaborative approaches involving multiple community partners.

      Who it’s for: Indiana nonprofits serving youth through education, wellness, safety, or community development initiatives.

      Takeaway: Partnerships can significantly strengthen competitiveness in youth-focused funding.

      1. USDA Rural Business Development Grants

      Apply: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/rural-business-development-grants

      Deadline: June 30, 2026

      Why it’s noteworthy: This federal program supports rural communities through workforce development, technical assistance, equipment, and economic development projects.

      Who it’s for: Nonprofits serving rural areas focused on economic mobility, workforce readiness, or community infrastructure.

      Takeaway: Eligibility is broader than many organizations assume—don’t rule yourself out too quickly.

      1. Hendricks County Community Foundation Open Grants

      Apply: https://hendrickscountycf.org/for-nonprofits/apply-for-a-grant/

      Deadline: September 15, 2026

      Why it’s noteworthy: Designed for flexibility, this grant supports projects that do not fit neatly into traditional funding categories, allowing organizations to present community-driven solutions.

      Who it’s for: Nonprofits serving Hendricks County with projects that fall outside standard funding priorities.

      Takeaway: Some of the best opportunities allow room for creativity and local responsiveness.

      1. Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund (CICF Collaborative / Indianapolis Foundation)

      Apply: https://indianapolisfoundation.org/climate-fund/

      Deadline: Rolling applications with quarterly reviews (through Nov. 20, 2026)

      Why it’s noteworthy: This collaborative fund supports community-led solutions that strengthen environmental resilience, civic participation, and local leadership—often prioritizing grassroots and emerging organizations.

      Who it’s for: Indiana nonprofits working in community engagement, coalition-building, environmental equity, civic participation, or place-based community development.

      Takeaway: Funders are increasingly investing in networks and relationships—not just standalone programs.

      1. Indiana Arts Commission Arts Project Support Grants

      Apply: https://www.in.gov/arts/grants/

      Deadline: September 3, 2026

      Why it’s noteworthy: These grants support arts-based projects across Indiana and are open to organizations that integrate creative approaches into broader community work—not just traditional arts organizations.

      Who it’s for: Nonprofits incorporating arts, creativity, or cultural engagement into their programming, regardless of sector.

      Takeaway: Cross-sector strategies can open doors to unexpected funding opportunities.

      1. Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) Funding Programs

      Apply: https://www.in.gov/ocra/

      Deadline: Varies by program throughout summer and fall cycles

      Why it’s noteworthy: OCRA offers multiple competitive programs supporting housing, infrastructure, downtown revitalization, and community development—many of which require or encourage local government partnerships.

      Who it’s for: Nonprofits working in collaboration with municipalities, counties, or regional partners on community development initiatives.

      Takeaway: Collaboration with local government is increasingly a key pathway to funding eligibility.

      The most important takeaway isn’t any individual grant on this list, it’s the reminder that you don’t have to have a large development department, a full-time grant writer, or a decades-long history with a funder to build a sustainable funding strategy.

      Some of the strongest organizations are successful because they’ve learned to diversify their support over time. They’ve pursued smaller opportunities, invested in relationships, and said yes to partnerships that expanded their impact.

      If this season feels particularly challenging, know that many organizations across Indiana are navigating the same questions. The work doesn’t happen overnight; You’re not behind; And you’re certainly not alone.

      May you have space to test a new idea, strengthen a partnership, or just create enough breathing room to continue serving your community well.

      We hope this list serves as a useful place to begin.

      Your work is important and worth investing in.

      Jun 15

      Leading Through Uncertainty: Financial Stewardship and Risk Management for Nonprofits

      By Sponsor Insight

      By Lauren Kreutzinger

      Nonprofit organizations are navigating a period of significant uncertainty. Changes in federal funding priorities, economic pressures, workforce challenges, and increased demand for services are forcing many organizations to make difficult decisions about staffing and resource allocation.

      While these challenges are not new, today’s environment requires nonprofit leaders to think differently about financial stewardship. Maintaining strong oversight is no longer simply a matter of compliance. It is essential to protecting mission delivery, preserving stakeholder confidence, and ensuring long-term sustainability.

      When Capacity Changes, Risk Changes

      Every nonprofit has some level of resource constraint. However, when staffing structures change, leaders should recognize that organizational risk changes as well. Responsibilities may become concentrated among fewer individuals, review processes may become less formal, and critical financial knowledge may reside with a smaller group of employees.

      The goal is not to eliminate risk entirely. Rather, it is to understand where vulnerabilities exist and ensure that appropriate oversight and accountability mechanisms remain in place.

      Building Organizational Resilience

      Organizations that successfully navigate periods of uncertainty often focus on more than financial controls alone. They take a broader view of risk management and organizational sustainability.

      Key questions leaders should consider include:

      • How dependent are we on a limited number of funding sources?
      • Do we have sufficient liquidity to manage reimbursement delays or unexpected disruptions?
      • Are we leveraging technology effectively to support efficiency and oversight?
      • Is institutional knowledge concentrated in too few individuals?
      • Do board members have the information needed to provide meaningful oversight?
      • Are there opportunities to supplement internal resources through strategic partnerships or outsourced support?

      The Board’s Role in Organizational Sustainability

      Strong governance is one of the most effective safeguards during periods of uncertainty.

      Board members play a critical role in helping organizations understand emerging risks, evaluate strategic decisions, and maintain accountability. Beyond reviewing financial statements, boards should engage in conversations about liquidity, funding concentration, workforce capacity, cybersecurity, succession planning, and long-term sustainability.

      Moving Forward with Confidence

      While uncertainty may be unavoidable, organizations can take meaningful steps to strengthen their resilience.

      By evaluating governance structures, reassessing financial risks, and aligning resources with strategic priorities, nonprofit leaders can position their organizations to remain agile and mission-focused regardless of external challenges.

      Dean Dorton’s nonprofit advisors work alongside organizations to strengthen financial operations, enhance governance, evaluate risk, and develop practical strategies for long-term sustainability. If your organization is navigating funding uncertainty, staffing challenges, or operational change, we’re here to help you move forward with confidence.

      Connect with our nonprofit team to discuss strategies that can strengthen your organization’s financial stewardship, governance, and long-term resilience.