Free funder guide · Indiana · Last checked 27 September 2026
Which Indiana environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in Indiana have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 13 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in Indiana that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Most of Indiana's large open foundations that pay for conservation, including Lilly Endowment, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Ball Brothers and the John W. Anderson Foundation, also gave to a church, a religious school, a YMCA or another faith-based charity in their latest filing, so they are not listed. Only one private foundation, the Laura Hare Charitable Trust, passed that screen and fits. The list leans on state water and forestry programs, Great Lakes money and community foundations instead.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In Indiana, 359 of the 555 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets that I could check tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 65%.
That leaves 196 larger Indiana foundations that say they will read an application. It is a higher share of closed doors than in Ohio (63%, 925 of 1,470), and a lower share than in Michigan (72%, 690 of 964), Kentucky (75%, 246 of 330) and Illinois (77%, 1,722 of 2,235), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with an Indiana address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (tax years 2023 to 2026, almost all 2024 or 2025). There are 556; 1 had no e-filed return I could find, so it is left out of the count. Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Illinois. Counting them too gives 65% (397 of 607).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
13 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in Indiana.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 27 Sept 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeFiling only no website; from the tax return, confirm first
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
Indiana Department of Environmental Management: Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grants
Indianapolis · statewide
Federal clean water money passed through the state for watershed management plans, education and outreach that changes land use, and cost-share for practices that cut runoff pollution. Nonprofits are eligible. Projects usually run two to three years.
Typical grant
About $3 million for about 15 or fewer projects in the 2027 round. A 40% non-federal match is required, so a $250,000 project can receive up to $150,000 (2027 solicitation).
Next deadline
The 2027 round took notices of intent by June 1, 2026 and applications by September 1, 2026. Next notice of intent about June 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Notice of intent by email to [email protected], then the full application on State Form 49367.
Indiana DNR: Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) Program
Indianapolis · publicly accessible lakes and streams statewide
Grants for lake and stream work that cuts sediment and nutrient pollution and protects aquatic habitat: diagnostic and feasibility studies, engineering design, stream and shoreline restoration, dam and logjam removal, watershed cost-share and invasive aquatic plant control. A local organization sponsors each project.
Typical grant
Engineering projects up to $100,000 per site with at least a 20% local match (its guidelines). The 2026 biological and engineering awards totaled $1,297,500 across 21 projects, for example Bullerman Drain stream restoration (Allen County) $100,000 and Fish Creek engineering design (Steuben County) $36,800.
Next deadline
Applications for 2027 grants are due December 31, 2026 Verified, moved forward from January 15, 2027. Staff ask sponsors to discuss projects with them before applying.
How to apply
State application form for the project type, emailed to [email protected]. The sponsor must be registered as an Indiana state vendor.
Chesterton · northern Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties
NOAA-funded grants to protect and restore natural, historic and cultural resources of Indiana's Lake Michigan coast. Nonprofits can lead planning, education and outreach, and applied research projects; for construction or land purchase they must partner with a public body that holds the grant.
Typical grant
Up to $100,000 for planning or applied research and up to $50,000 for education and outreach, with a 1:1 match (2026 pre-proposal guidance). The program receives about $600,000 a year from NOAA (its site).
Next deadline
Pre-proposals for the 2026 funding year were due December 5, 2025, with full proposals in March 2026. Next pre-proposal about early December 2026 Expected; the new guidance is not posted yet.
How to apply
Pre-proposal on State Form 54757, emailed to the program's grant specialist; invited projects submit a full proposal. The program strongly advises talking to the grant specialist first.
Indiana DNR: Community and Urban Forestry Assistance Grants
Indianapolis · statewide
Annual grants with the U.S. Forest Service for tree planting, tree inventories and canopy assessments, invasive species replacement, urban food forests, education and tree protection policies. Nonprofits are eligible.
Typical grant
$1,000 to $30,000, with a 1:1 match, paid as reimbursement. A separate Small Town Big Trees grant gives $500 to $5,000 in towns of 10,000 people or fewer (its site).
Next deadline
The 2026 round ran July 1 to September 11, 2026, with awards on October 12, 2026. Next round about July 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Online through the State Budget Agency's Euna Grants portal; emailed applications are no longer accepted.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Sustain Our Great Lakes
Washington, DC · Indiana part of the Great Lakes basin
Larger projects for stream and riparian habitat, nature-based stormwater infrastructure, invasive species control that protects earlier restoration, and public use of restored natural areas in the U.S. Great Lakes basin, which in Indiana means the Lake Michigan and Lake Erie watersheds in the north of the state.
Typical grant
$200,000 to $1,000,000; about $11 million available in 2026, and about 30 grants a year, roughly 23% of applications (2026 request for proposals). Indiana grant in NFWF's latest filing, which does not name the program: Shirley Heinze Land Trust $326,266 (Deep River habitat for birds).
Next deadline
About May 2027 for pre-proposals Expected. The 2026 round took pre-proposals to May 28 and invited full proposals to August 6, 2026.
How to apply
Pre-proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system; full proposals by invitation. Match is not required, but a 1:1 non-federal match scores better.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Chi-Cal Rivers Fund
Washington, DC · Calumet waterways of northwest Indiana and the Chicago region
Habitat restoration, nature-based stormwater projects and public access to restored natural areas close to, or directly benefiting, the Chicago and Calumet river systems and their tributaries. Nonprofits are eligible, and no match is required.
Typical grant
The Fund has made 76 grants totaling $17.6 million since 2013 (its site). Stormwater projects must add at least 100,000 gallons of storage a year. Indiana grant in NFWF's latest filing: Save the Dunes Conservation Fund $68,179 (prairie and river corridor restoration in Chi-Cal).
Next deadline
About August 2027 Expected. The 2026 round closed August 5, 2026, with awards announced in November; the 2027 request for proposals is not posted yet.
How to apply
Online proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system; an applicant webinar and workshop run before the deadline.
The Indianapolis Foundation: Indiana Climate and Democracy Catalyst Fund
Indianapolis · statewide
A pooled fund at the Indianapolis Foundation for climate and environmental equity work led by Indiana communities, with priority for frontline, place-based and rural groups. It pays for staff, programs, consultants and coalition building. It does not fund land conservation, recycling, animal welfare or individual behavior change programs.
Typical grant
$5,000 to $100,000; groups with budgets over $50,000 may ask for up to half their annual budget (its site). Environmental grants in the Foundation's 2024 filing, which predate this fund, include Environmental Law & Policy Center $75,000 (Indiana climate change solutions) and Indiana Forest Alliance $133,750.
Next deadline
Rolling, with quarterly decisions Rolling. The portal stays open to the close of Round 4, listed as November 20, 2026 Verified.
How to apply
Online through the Indianapolis Foundation's SmartSimple grants portal. It recommends sending eligibility questions by email to its community leadership officer first.
Community Foundation of St. Joseph County: Special Project Grants
South Bend · St. Joseph County
Twice-yearly competitive grants for nonprofits serving St. Joseph County, with "parks, recreation, and environment" one of four priority areas.
Typical grant
Not published. Recent grants on its site: Milkweed Gardens $100,000 (native plantings and green space), South Bend Greenway Conservancy $50,000 (Green Alley Project), Shirley Heinze Land Trust $40,000 (Lydick Bog Nature Preserve expansion).
Next deadline
October 1, 2026 Verified; then March 1, 2027 (deadlines are March 1 and October 1 each year). Applications open in its portal six weeks before each deadline.
How to apply
Online grant system; read the Special Project guidelines first.
Kosciusko County Community Foundation: Community Funds
Warsaw · Kosciusko County
Competitive grants for nonprofits serving Kosciusko County, a lake county, in seven areas that include the environment and recreation.
Typical grant
Not published. Its filing for the year to June 2025 includes Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation $12,802 (the filing does not separate competitive grants from donor-advised gifts).
Next deadline
Pre-grant inquiry October 15, 2026 and application November 1, 2026 Verified; then March 1 and July 1, 2027, each with an inquiry due the 15th of the month before.
How to apply
Online grant portal; staff create the first login. Groups that have not applied in the past two years must first contact the vice president of programs to set up a time to discuss the proposal.
Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County: Community Grants
Muncie · Muncie and Delaware County
Year-round community grants in five areas; "community betterment" names the environment, beautification and preservation, and recreation. It does not fund religious purposes or statewide groups unless the money benefits Delaware County only.
Typical grant
Not published; requests over $25,000 are mostly reviewed early in the year. Environmental grants in its 2024 filing: Cardinal Greenway $79,359 (operating support), Red-tail Land Conservancy $65,100 (growth and acquisition), Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District $10,000 (education and outreach).
Next deadline
Letters of intent read year-round, with board decisions in February, May, August and November Rolling. For a November 2026 decision it asked for the letter by September 11 and the application by October 12, 2026 Verified; the dates for February 2027 are not posted yet.
How to apply
Letter of intent in its online grants system; if approved, staff request an application, due within two weeks.
Steuben County Community Foundation: Environment grants
Angola · Steuben County
One yearly grant cycle covers arts and culture, environment, recreation and community development projects in Steuben County, a county of glacial lakes.
Typical grant
Not published. Grants marked "environment" in its filing for the year to June 2025: Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy $24,656, Steuben County Trails $14,628, The Nature Conservancy $10,500, Wood-Land-Lakes RC&D $7,967.
Next deadline
Cycle opens February 1, letter of intent by March 1, application due April 30 (its standing schedule) Verified. Next cycle February 1 to April 30, 2027.
How to apply
Letter of intent in its online grant portal; staff invite eligible groups to submit a full application.
Unity Foundation of La Porte County: Power for Good Grants
Michigan City · La Porte County
Small yearly competitive grants for one-time projects and needs in La Porte County, open to nonprofits, government bodies and educators.
Typical grant
$500 to $5,000; about $240,000 to 60 groups in 2025 (its site). Its 2024 filing includes Friendship Botanic Gardens $8,594, Shirley Heinze Land Trust $7,107 and Save the Dunes $6,347 (the filing does not separate these from donor-advised gifts).
Next deadline
The 2026 cycle ran June 1 to July 10, 2026. Next cycle about June 2027 Expected.
How to apply
Online application only; one application per organization per year.
No website; everything here comes from its 2025 tax filing. Its stated purpose is keeping ecologically significant undeveloped land in its natural state, and in its last three filings it has given only to Indiana land trusts and closely related costs.
Typical grant
Its 3 grants in 2025, all program support: NICHES Land Trust $220,000, Shirley Heinze Land Trust $200,000, Sycamore Land Trust $108,090.
Next deadline
None stated Filing only.
How to apply
No set form. Write to the trustee named on the filing: BMO Harris Bank NA, 3929 River Crossing Parkway, Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317-472-3570).
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
The full version
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