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Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County
Founded in 1985 with early backing from the Ball family's philanthropic entities, the Foundation anchors local charity in Muncie, Indiana. David Sursa served...
Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County
Founded in 1985 with early backing from the Ball family's philanthropic entities, the Foundation anchors local charity in Muncie, Indiana. David Sursa served as its inaugural President, and the organization now operates under President & CEO Marcy Minton. It is a product of a specific place and the legacy of industrial wealth from the Ball brothers, though it pools assets from a broad set of local donors rather than a single fortune. The Foundation's strategy stretches well beyond standard grant-making cycles. It pursues a multi-asset posture that includes buyout, distressed debt, early-stage ventures, growth equity, mezzanine, and even natural resources. On the direct side, it runs a Micro Business Loan Program and holds the 302 E. Jackson Street commercial building in downtown Muncie. Major funding flows through state partnerships, most notably the Lilly Endowment Inc.'s Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT) initiative, which channels matching grants into Indiana community foundations. The Foundation collaborates closely with the Ball Brothers Foundation and the George and Frances Ball Foundation, forming a dense local philanthropic partnership network. The total portfolio is estimated at $93 million (Altss estimate). This is deployed across a mix that looks more like a small, opportunistic institutional investor than a typical community grant-maker. The Foundation participates in professional networks that shape its practices, including the Council on Foundations, Indiana Philanthropy Alliance, and PEAK Grantmaking. Casey Stanley currently chairs the Board of Directors. The Foundation's structural differentiator is its embedded physical presence: it owns and operates a specific commercial property at 302 E. Jackson Street as part of its endowment, making it not just a financial intermediary but a direct downtown landlord. This hybrid position — part endowment, part real estate operator, part micro-lender — distinguishes it from community foundations that function strictly as pass-through grant-makers or pooled fund managers.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
1985
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Muncie
Corporate office
Muncie, Indiana, United States
Principals
Marcy Minton
President & CEO
Casey Stanley
Chair of the Board of Directors
David Sursa
Inaugural President
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment and grantmaking decisions at the Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County?
Marcy Minton serves as President & CEO, responsible for overall strategy including investment oversight and grant programs. The Board of Directors, chaired by Casey Stanley, provides governance and fiduciary oversight. The foundation's professional staff manages day-to-day grant cycles and donor relationships.
How is the foundation's investment portfolio structured?
The foundation manages an endowment-style portfolio spanning public equities, fixed income, and alternative assets. Altss-tagged strategies include buyout, venture capital, distressed debt, natural resources, and fund-of-funds. Investment management is handled through external managers and commingled vehicles, not direct principal investing.
What is the relationship between the Community Foundation and the Ball family foundations?
The Ball Brothers Foundation and the George and Frances Ball Foundation are separate, family-rooted philanthropies that co-locate in Muncie. They operate as collaborative partners alongside CFMDC in the local Funders Forum, but the Community Foundation functions independently as a donor- and community-driven public charity, not a Ball family office.
How does Lilly Endowment's GIFT initiative shape the foundation's growth?
GIFT (Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow) provides matching grants that multiply locally-raised endowment dollars. CFMDC participated in the most recent GIFT VIII phase, using the matching structure to incentivize donor contributions and sustainably grow grantmaking capacity without diluting its community-controlled governance.
Does the foundation make loans or only grants?
In addition to standard grantmaking, CFMDC operates a Micro Business Loan Program that provides capital to small enterprises in Muncie. The foundation also manages commercial real estate — including its downtown office at 302 E. Jackson Street — as part of its broader asset base, though real estate represents a minor component of total holdings.
What geographic area does the foundation serve, and are any grants made outside it?
CFMDC's mandate is restricted to Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana. All grants and scholarships — exceeding $3 million annually — are directed to organizations and students within that border. There is no programmatic activity outside the county.
How can a donor establish a fund or contribute to existing endowments?
Donors can open donor-advised funds, designated funds, scholarship funds, or unrestricted community endowment funds with the foundation. The minimum initial contribution varies by fund type; CFMDC staff assists with asset transfer, charitable intent documentation, and legacy planning. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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