Grants
Benton Community Foundation was created to have great impact in our community. Our grant dollars over the years have touched so many families, addressing needs and exploring new opportunities in our community. Along with grants that are awarded each year from our designated funds to specific charities, the Foundation accepts open requests for project that benefit our community.
GRANT APPLICATIONS– OPEN
Get your grant guidelines by clicking here ——Community Grant Guidelines
Get your grant application by clicking here——Community Grant Application
Grant Application Deadline: Opens 2026
- Grant-Cycle 1: The deadline for submitting applications is April 24, 5pm. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by [Mid-June].
- Grant-Cycle 2: The deadline for submitting applications is September 25, 5pm. Applicants will be notified of the status of their application by [Mid-November].
Requests of $2,000 or less Deadline the 1st of each month-recipient notification in 45 days
Community Grants
Step 1: Contact the Community Foundation via email or telephone to discuss your request. Our staff can help you better understand our funding priorities and be sure all of the necessary information is provided in your request.
Step 2: Complete the appropriate grant request process.
- Requests of $2,000 or less: Submit a letter (1-2 pages) to the Foundation describing your request. Be sure to include:
- Description of the project
- Total cost of the project, amount requested from the Foundation
- Explanation of the desired outcomes, include data and description
- Timeline of the project
- List of other community partners involved in the project
- Letter must be signed by the governing body of the organization (i.e. non-profit board, school board, county council, etc.)
- Requests exceeding $2,000: Complete the grant application and submit, along with required attachments, to the Foundation.
Step 3: Submit your grant request through one of these three ways:
- Hand-deliver to the Foundation Office, located within the Demeter Building at 98 S 100 E, Fowler
- Mail to Benton Community Foundation at PO Box 351, Fowler, IN 47944
- Email the request to andrea@bentoncf.org
Step 4: If approved, recipients are required to submit a final report. The report should be emailed to andrea@bentoncf.org, within 30 days of the conclusion of the project.
Letters 2 Santa
Santa loves to spread holiday cheer to our local organizations the week before Christmas each year. Community members are invited to write a letter to Santa to nominate their favorite organizations.
Letters 2 Santa Closed- Opens November 4th, 2026
2025 Letters 2 Santa Recipients
- Backpack Program-Prairie Crossing
- Benton Central-Helping Hands
- Benton Community Food and Service Co-Op
- Benton County Toy Shop
- Borrowed Time-EAP
- Boswell Free Methodist-Community Out Reach
- Boswell Public Library
- Corner CupBoard-Ambia
- Earl Park Public Library
- Glimmers of Hope
- Mary T. Klinker Restoring Hope
- Otterbein Public Library
- Sacred Heart Elementary School
The Cookie Jar
Applications are accepted for projects that (primarily) benefit the health and/or well-being of women or girls in our community. 15 years, Cookie Jar Grants totaling over $100,000 have been awarded to provide books for children, after school program for local youth, programs for teen pregnancy, and cancer screenings and assistance to local residents.
Cookie Jar Grant Applications will be open August of 2026!
Marilyn Fischbach Reading & Writing Grants
Each fall, certified elementary teachers in our community are invited to apply for funding to enhance their classroom. Awarded in memory of beloved educator Marilyn Fischbach, grants can support a variety of expenditures. Past awards have supported professional development, literacy tools, technology, and much more.
Marilyn Fischbach Reading & Writing grant application-opens in August of 2026
2025 Marilyn Fischbach Reading & Writing Grants awarded over $5,800!
Congratulations to the following Benton County Elementary Schools.
- Otterbein Elementary
- Prairie Crossing Elementary
- Sacred Heart Elementary
2025 Grant Awards
- Building and Trades-Benton Central($23,000)
- Oxford Fire Department($21,000)
- Benton Honor Guard ($10,000)
- Fowler Youth Baseball($5,000)
- Boswell Fire Department($5,000)
- Oak Grove Heritage House($4,000)
- Otterbein Public Library($2,700)
- Fowler United Methodist Church($2,000)
- Otterbein United Methodist Church($2,000)
- Benton County 4-H Council($2,000)
- Mental Health America($2,000)
- Boy Scouts-Benton($2,000)
- Boswell Public Library($1,200)
- Benton County 4-H Fair($1,100)
- Benton Central After Prom($1,000)
