Below is a list of current and upcoming opportunities. If you have questions about an opportunity listed below or additional grant opportunities you’d like to add to the list, please contact Josie Smith (josie@regionalopportunityinc.org).

ROI Grant Opportunities

Check back soon for grant opportunities from ROI!

Grant Opportunities Outside of ROI

The following opportunities are offered by organizations other than ROI. ROI is not affiliated with any of these grants. This list is meant to provide our partners with other sources of funding for the great work they do in the Indiana Uplands Region.

Community Development Block Grant Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program

The Owner Occupied Rehabilitation Program aims to help low-income homeowners to age in place, have greater mobility, and make necessary repairs for their comfort and saving. The program also supports communities in improving their housing stock and empowers them to establish local home repair programs. Eligible applicants are legally recognized non-entitlement local units of government. Applicants may partner with a non-profit to conduct eligible project activities. Awarded communities will administer programs that directly fund repairs on owner-occupied residential properties such as roof repairs or replacements, ADA modifications, select electrical upgrades, and more.

  • Timeline: Applications close November 14, 2025
  • Learn More>>

Community Development Block Grant Planning Grant Program

The Planning Grant Program leverages Community Development Block Grant funding to encourage communities to plan for long-term, holistic improvement. Applications for the following types of plans will be open as part of the fourth quarter round:

  • Comprehensive Plan
  • Water Utility Study
  • Broadband Readiness Plan
  • Economic Development Plan
  • Downtown Revitalization Plan
  • Environmental Assessment Plan
  • Historic Preservation Plan
  • COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan
  • Public Facilities Feasibility Study

Applications close November 14, 2025. Learn More>>

Farm to School Grant Program

The Farm to School Grant Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service supports projects that improve access to local foods in Child Nutrition Program (CNP) sites while integrating agricultural education. Eligible initiatives may include sourcing more local produce for school meals, creating school gardens, launching farmers’ markets, or expanding farm-based learning opportunities. These projects aim to connect students with healthy, locally-grown foods while strengthening community food systems.

  • Award Range: $100,000 – $500,000
  • Timeline: Applications close December 5, 2025
  • Learn More>>

America250 Grant Program

The Indiana Arts Commission is accepting applications for arts projects, in any discipline that celebrate American history and connect participants to that history in recognition of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Grants will support eligible expenses of a public-facing short-term arts project or arts activities which can include but are not limited to artist fees, program supplies, and facility rental.

  • Award Range: Up to $5,000
  • Timeline: Applications are due December 15, 2025
  • Learn More >>

Rural Placemaking Studio 2026

The IU Center for Rural Engagement and the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design are seeking community applicants for the 2026 Rural Placemaking Studio. This program connects IU faculty and students with residents who seek to enhance their communities though art and design. Eligible applicants include community organizations, volunteer groups, Main Street communities, and other groups dedicated to stewarding vibrant public spaces.

  • Timeline: Applications close on December 18, 2025
  • Learn More >>

GEICO Philanthropic Foundation Community Funding Program

The GEICO Philanthropic Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations nationwide that deliver programs to support and uplift communities. Its funding priorities include expanding access to education, particularly in STEM, early childhood learning, and safety. The Foundation also invests in community engagement efforts that address issues such as financial literacy, food insecurity, environmental conservation, animal welfare, and health and wellness. 

  • Award Range: Not specified
  • Timeline: Applications open October 1, 2025 and close December 31, 2025
  • Learn More >>

Grants to Support Education, Arts, and Community Impact

The Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation is offering grants to support programs in education, the arts, and community outreach, with an emphasis on projects that demonstrate measurable community impact and innovative approaches.

  • Award Range: $1,000 – $82,000
  • Timeline: Applications close December 31, 2025
  • Learn More >>

U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Safe Places to Play Program

The U.S. Soccer Foundation and Musco Sports Lighting support the Safe Places to Play program, aiming to provide children with accessible, high-quality soccer spaces that foster both physical activity and personal growth. Through the Soccer Fund, they offer ongoing financial support for lighting projects (including Mini-Pitch Systems™ and larger-scale soccer facilities) ensuring more youth have the opportunity to play safely, anytime. 

  • Award Range: Equal to the cost of lighting
  • Timeline: Deadlines for applications are September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2025
  • Learn More >>

T-Mobile Hometown Grants

The T-Mobile Hometown Grant program funds community projects in areas with populations less than 50,000. The program supports projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. Projects should be shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving Hometown Grants funding. Eligible projects include adaptive uses of older and historic buildings into community gathering spaces, improvements to outdoor parks or trails, technology projects for the public library and more.

  • Award Range: Up to $50,000
  • Timeline: Applications will be open on a quarterly basis through 2026.
    • Spring: Applications open January–March
    • Summer: Applications open April–June
    • Fall: Applications open July–September
    • Winter: Applications open October–December
  • Learn More >>

Agricultural Leadership Grant

The CHS Foundation is offering Agriculture Leaderships Grants to support programs that strengthen rural communities and prepare the next generation of agricultural education, leadership training, and career development for students from high school through early professional stages.

  • Award Range: $1,000 – $1,430,000
  • Timeline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

FundPlay Software Grant

FundPlay Foundation, originally formed as a philanthropic initiative within the youth sports management platform LeagueApps, works to support youth sports organizations across the country that use sport as a vehicle for youth development. The Foundation’s Software Grants provide technology, training, and support to sports-based youth development organizations across the country. Grants include a free license to LeagueApps’ youth sports management software, a small cash donation for the organization, free coach training for staff from Positive Coaching Alliance, and other benefits.

  • Award Range: Cost of license to LeagueApps and other benefits
  • Timeline: Not specified
  • Learn More >>

Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants

The Water and Waste Disposal Predevelopment Planning Grants from the US Department of Agriculture provides funding to help eligible rural, low-income communities plan and developing funding for the agency’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program. The goal of this program is to support the provision of clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and stormwater drainage for households and businesses in rural areas.

  • Award Range: Up to $60,000 with a 25% cash match requirement
  • Timeline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program

The Water and Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program from the US Department of Agriculture provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Long-term, low-interest loans and grants combined with a loan are available.

  • Award Range: Long-term (up to 40 years), low-interest loans
  • Timeline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Jeffris Heartland Fund

The Jeffris Family Foundation’s Jeffris Heartland Fund supports historic preservation projects in small towns and cities in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The Fund provides matching grants for advanced planning studies for historic preservation projects preparing for a capital campaign and a restoration project. Grants cover 50% of the cost of a Historic Structure Report, and must be matched dollar-for-dollar with cash from other sources. Projects must be located in small towns and cities with a population under 150,000 that are not within a major metropolitan area, and the historic site must be on (or be eligible to be on) the National Register of Historic Places.

  • Award Range: Up to 50% of the cost of a Historic Structure Report, with a 1:1 matching requirement
  • Timeline: Preliminary inquiries accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

CreatINg Places Grants

CreatINg Places is a place-based grantfunding program from the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority (IHCDA). The grant supports projects that activate underutilized public spaces or create new public spaces. The program aims to generate public interest and involvement in the development and implementation of place-based improvements by incentivizing small, public donations with a matching grant from IHCDA if and when their funding goal is reached by a set period of time.

  • Award Range: $5,000 – $50,000 with a 1:1 fundraising match requirement
  • Timeline: Applications are available now and accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program

The purpose of the Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program from the US Department of Agriculture is to provide funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. Projects supported through this program must demonstrate substantial community support, and facilities must serve the rural area where they are or will be located. Rural areas must have no more than 20,000 residents, according to the latest US Census Data. Examples of essential community facilities include healthcare facilities, including hospitals, nursing homes, or dental clinics; public facilities, such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars, or street improvements; community support services, such as childcare centers, transitional housing, or community centers; and public safety services such as fire departments and vehicles or police departments and vehicles.

  • Award Range: Unspecified, applicants may apply for a loan, a grant, or a combination of both
  • Timeline: Applications are available now and accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program

The Community Heart & Soul Seed Grant Program provides start-up funding for resident-driven groups in small cities and towns looking to implement the Community Heart & Soul model. Community Heart & Soul is a resident-driven process that engages the entire population of a town in identifying what they love most about their community, the future they want for it, and how to achieve it. 

  • Award Range: Up to $10,000 with a 1:1 cash matching requirement
  • Timeline: Applications are available now and accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Next Level Jobs – Employer Training Grant

The Employer Training Grant offers employers $5,000 per employee who is trained, hired, and retained for at least 6 months in seven priority sectors: Advanced Manufacturing, Technology and Business Services, Transportation and Logistics, Health and Sciences, Building and Construction, Agriculture, and Early Childhood. 

  • Award Range: $5,000 per employee, up to $50,000 per employer
  • Timeline: Open now and ongoing
  • Learn More >>

Next Level Jobs – Workforce Ready Grant

The Workforce Ready Grant is a grant program for individuals that covers the tuition and fees of qualifying certificate programs across Indiana. Trainings are available in the following industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Building and Construction, Health and Life Sciences, Information Technology and Business Services, Transportation and Logistics, and Early Childhood. 

  • Award Range: Cost of qualified training
  • Timeline: Open now and ongoing
  • Learn More >>

School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network: Principal Student Support Services Grant

The School-Based Healthcare Solutions Network (SBHSN) is offering a new grant opportunity for public school principals interested in implementing student mental health support services. Grant funds must be used to expand access to mental health support services for students with a documented history of chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, or declining academic performance. The grant provides a fully funded mental health professional for each school campus who will deliver evidence-based mental health support services directly to students. In addition, qualifying schools are eligible for up to $5,000 per year, renewable for five years, to support student service initiatives aligned with the program’s objectives.

  • Award Range: Fully funded mental health professional, plus and additional $5,000 per year, renewable for five years
  • Timeline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis
  • Learn More >>

Children’s Book Project Grant

The Children’s Book Project Grant, from the Pilcrow Foundation, is a 2-to-1 match grant for rural libraries to purchase up to $1,200 worth of new, quality, hardcover children’s books. 

  • Award Range: Up to $1,200 with a 2-to-1 matching requirement
  • Timeline: Applications are due every April 1 and October 1
  • Learn More >>