Charitable giving was up in 2024, according to new Giving USA report
Strong performance by companies, particularly in the tech sector, pushed corporate giving up 6%, to a record amount.
Philanthropy
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Jim Irsay loved pop culture and tied it to philanthropic gestures big and small
JIm Irsay, who died Wednesday at age 65, rubbed shoulders with John Mellencamp, Stephen Stills and Hunter S. Thompson.
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Indy Art Center seeking donations for facility upgrades
The Indy Art Center is is hoping to complete an $8.8 million capital campaign that will be used to help it renovate its Marilyn K. Glick School of Art building and outdoor Artspark in Broad Ripple.
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Q&A with JGA CEO Lee Ernst, who helps nonprofits raise money
Johnson Grossnickle & Associates helps as many as 65 nonprofit clients each year boost their relationships with donors and raise the money they need to achieve their missions.
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Riley Children’s Foundation unveils $300M fundraising campaign, its largest in history
The Riley Children’s Foundation unveiled the campaign, called “Every Child Deserves Riley,” during its Red For Our Kids Gala on Saturday. The effort has seen early success—they’ve already quietly raised two-thirds of the goal.
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Articles
Boxer Alphonso Bailey’s redemption story fuels philanthropic rally
The 1979 Shortridge High graduate fell in with the wrong crowd and eventually landed in prison. He found redemption there by embracing boxing and faith, and is now helping others through those same tools.
Bill Gates pledges remaining fortune to Gates Foundation, which will close in 20 years
The pledge is among the largest philanthropic gifts ever–outpacing the historic contributions of industrialists like John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie when adjusted for inflation.
Scouting council emerges from restructuring with new CEO, new resolve
After years of declining membership and institutional turmoil, Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America has a new leader who says the organization still offers a compelling model for young people to improve themselves and serve others.
Most adults in the US give to charity. Here’s where they donated.
The results of a new poll suggest most Americans gave at least a little to some charities in the past year but offer mixed signals for those hoping to improve giving trends.
For pair of crafty firefighters, old hoses provide the spark for something special
Scott Carr and Robert Demlow started Brotherhood Designs by repurposing retired fire hoses into American flags and honoring the legacy of those who have served.
Rose-Hulman receives $10M gift for new entrepreneurship program
The donation will be used to establish the Noblitt Entrepreneurship Program, which will provide opportunities to work with faculty on “experiences related to entrepreneurship and the principles of the free market.”
Uncertainties under Trump trouble housing providers
Frozen grants, delayed allocations and terminated funds are all examples of what Indianapolis housing providers and builders face as President Donald Trump’s administration slashes federal programs and jobs.
Progress House recovery residence completes $4M renovation, expansion
Both floors of Progress House, the oldest and largest recovery residence in Indiana, were refurbished with new or additional amenities.
Rubio says purge of USAID programs complete, with 83% of agency’s programs gone
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the programs “spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States.”
Christel House launches first major expansion since DeHaan’s death
Over the next two decades, the organization plans to add at least 9,100 students to its K-12 schools worldwide, more than doubling the 6,440 students and recent graduates still being mentored at nine schools in five nations now.
Ugandan conservationist wins $50K Indianapolis Prize conservationist award
Mwezi “Badru” Mugerwa will receive $50,000 to spend on his work to protect rarely seen African golden cats.
Lumina Foundation sets new goal for higher education achievement
The new goal is about measuring—and working to increase—the economic value of post-secondary education.
Indianapolis Foundation president steps down after less than 2 years
Lorenzo Esters joined the foundation in 2023 after the departure of longtime leader Brian Payne.
Purdue University launches $4B fundraising campaign
The campaign, publicly announced Monday, is the largest in the school’s history and its third billion-dollar-plus campaign in less than 25 years.
Bill amendment seeks to block charities from operating like true casinos
The amendment begins by renaming popular “casino game nights” to “card, dice and roulette games events.”
Butler grad donating $12M for women’s sports, leadership funds
The donation is the largest gift to Butler University’s athletic department and the largest known estate commitment in the school’s history.
Trump administration’s proposed funding freeze causes uncertainty, delays in central Indiana projects
Although the White House’s planned federal funding freeze was temporarily paused by a judge late Tuesday afternoon and rescinded Wednesday, it’s already delaying some central Indiana-based projects.
Indy refugee organization seeks private donations following federal funding uncertainty
Indianapolis-based Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc. has begun asking for financial support following a flurry of immigration-related changes President Donald Trump made last week through a series of executive orders.
Taylor University leans into Christian identity to attract big gifts
Taylor racked up the highest number of individual million-dollar-plus gifts—14—among the 57 donations in IBJ’s 2024 list of largest individual gifts to Indiana organizations.