
National Volunteer Week (April 20-26) serves as a reminder that volunteers are the heart of many initiatives and their generosity makes the world a better place. Nonprofits, we encourage you to use this week to express gratitude for their dedication. Whether through special recognition events, heartfelt thank-you messages, or small tokens of appreciation, we hope that you can let your volunteers know how important they are to your organization!
Blue River Community Foundation Organizing a Local Nonprofit Display Unit
Blue River Community Foundation is working on a display unit for their office that will showcase local nonprofits. If your organization has a flyer, brochure, or booklet that shares basic information about your organization, please connect with Laura Land (lland@blueriverfoundation.com / 317-392-7955).
Upcoming Nonprofit Community Events
Are you thinking of having a baby? Are you currently pregnant? Expecting a new grandchild? You won't want to miss MHP's Bump 2 Baby & Beyond: Health Fair which will include raffles, free samples, information booths & more! This free event will be held on the 2nd floor of the MHP Medical Center on Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m. - Noon.
The 4th Annual Tree Trot 5K Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, April 26 at Blue River Memorial Park.
Stop by the YMCA on Sat., April 26 for Healthy Kids Day! Learn more about this fun-filled event that celebrates kids being kids. If you want to table for this event please reach out to Amy at "Amy Klene" a.klene@shelbycountyymca.org.
MHP is hosting a workshop for new and expectant parents on Sat., April 19 (8:30am-12:30pm) at the MHP Admin Building (2325 Intelliplex Dr. Shelbyville IN 46176). Register today.
Spring has sprung! Time to order your native plants! Plant orders from the Shelby County Soil and water Conservation District (SWCD) are due April 24th. Plant pickup is May 8th.
On Saturday, April 26th, FCC, in partnership with Shelby County VC Aktion Club, will host the Shelby Shines Prom at the American Legion Lodge 70 (1125 Miller Ave, Shelbyville) from 6:00 to 9:00 PM! All people with special needs ages 16 and up are invited! RSVP at 317-398-4407 or sign up using the link on www.fccshelby.org
Shelby County Active Aging Coalition (SCAAC) is raising awareness for the fight against Alzheimers. Join them in the Longest Day Walk of Shelby County on Fri., June 20. Donations toward the event and SCAAC are also appreciated.
Shelby County Active Aging Coalition (SCAAC) invites you to Paint the Town Purple on Thurs., May 15 (4-9pm) at Capone’s Downtown Speakeasy. This Dine-to-Donate event will benefit the Longest Day Walk of Shelby County & SCAAC to help raise awareness on the fight against Alzheimers.
You are invited to the Grand Opening Celebration for the Julia and Nicholas Runnebohm Early Learning Center on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 from 4-5pm.
Nonprofit News
Shelbyville Middle School is organizing a community fair during their registration on July 21 & 22 (1-8pm). They hope to have items available for families, free of charge. Some items that they envision are the following: Haircuts, Dental Supplies, Backpack, Coats (New/Gently Used), Shoes (New), and School Supplies. If your organization would be interested in partnering with their school corporation, please contact Katie Beyer at kabeyer@shelbycs.org or 317-650-7875.
The Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP) is partnering with Purdue researchers for a statewide study of the impacts of our direct education toward meeting the dietary quality and food security needs of children and their parents/caregivers. They are seeking eligible parent/caregiver and child (5-18 years old) pairs who are interested in participating in our free lesson series, and who are willing to take part in study assessments with the research team over the course of one year. For their time, participant pairs are compensated up to $180 total ($90 each) in Amazon gift cards.
Shelby County United Fund (SCUFFY) 2025 Drive, ‘Banking on Shelby County,’ has officially launched. Their goal is to raise $925,000.
School aged children and parents/guardians can enjoy a FREE hot meal on the First and Third Thursday of each month at The Ville Church’s Community Center (1115 St. Joseph St.) from 5pm-7pm! *These meals used to be available every week. Please note the change!
With winter approaching, we want everyone to stay warm! SASS (Shelby Accessing Social Supports) boxes are now located outside at Shelby County locations. These boxes are currently filled with hats, gloves, and other winter clothing (no food!). Please share this resource with anyone who may need it.
If you have a few hours to give each month, there are volunteer openings to help get food to seniors in Shelby County. Both organizations would greatly appreciate your help!
Gleaners Food Bank needs volunteers on the third Saturday of every month at their Mobile Pantry at Shelby County Fairgrounds. The next date is Nov. 16. Distribution is from 10am-Noon; Volunteers are needed beforehand to help prepare and during to assist with the distribution. Contact Sloane Shockley Lewis for more details: sshockley@gleaners.org or 317-979-4468 cell
Survey for Nonprofits
As a Nonprofit Organization in Shelby County, we know that you are working hard and providing invaluable services to our community. Help us to learn more about your operations and areas where you could use assistance by answering these brief questions! Thank you! Laura Land, Community Engagement Officer at Blue River Community Foundation & Stephen Black, Director of Behavioral Health/Health Equity at MHP

We are excited to announce that a Serve Shelby committee is forming at Blue River Community Foundation in February 2024! If you have ongoing volunteer needs, an event where you could use some extra hands, a beautification project that could benefit from group assistance, or a dream for Shelby County that you would love to see become a reality, let us know! We have local individuals and corporations who want to get involved!
More Volunteer Needs
A volunteer crew took action at the Blue River Cross Country Course to help them prepare for the first meet on August 19. The course runs on the help of volunteers and sponsors. If you'd like to get involved as a volunteer (mowing, working events, maintenance) or be a financial sponsor, please contact them or give them a call at 317-364-1850. They’d love to have you!
Shelby County Pantry Pals host a monthly mobile pantry in partnership with Gleaners Food Bank on the 3rd Saturday of each month at Thomas A. Hendricks Elementary School and on the 4th Friday of the month in Morristown. Volunteers are needed to set up, bag produce if needed and distribute food to around 300 households at this drive through event. If you are interested in volunteering, contact Sloan Shockley Lewis at 317-925-0191 x165 or at sshockley@gleaners.org.
The Diligent Diggers Garden Club ensures that the grounds of the Shelby County Public Library remain beautiful each year! If you are a gardener and want to help the library, we encourage you to learn more or join this volunteer group. Meetings are typically held on the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm. It is $20/year to join. A plant sale is also held each year to help raise funds. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Gayle Wiley (glwiley@att.net).
Canine Castaways Rescue in Fountaintown, IN could use some extra hands to help replace old kennels, shoveling fresh gravel into outdoor kennels, weed eating, power washing and weeds sprayed.
Every year, Major Health Partners volunteers provide more than 20,000 hours of service. Whether young in age or young at heart, MHP volunteers share their hearts and talents in service to the hospital, its patients, visitors and guests - no matter where they are working!
Our Hospice of South Central Indiana is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference in the lives of Our Hospice patients and families. Volunteers provide companionship in the patient's home or care facility typically one day a week. It's a very rewarding and meaningful way to give back. Contact Kelsey Whitehead (812) 314-8031 today if you are interested or complete a volunteer application at https://www.crh.org/service-centers/hospice/volunteer
If you are looking for rewarding volunteer work, Meals on Wheels needs people to help deliver hot meals to home-bound Shelby County residents! If interested, please call: 317-398-4470.
Agape Therapeutic Riding is looking for volunteers in their classes to help their riders - no horse experience necessary! Please go to https://agaperiding.org/volunteer/ to register!
The Salvation Army of Shelbyville, Indiana serves meals to those who need it Monday-Friday. They ask organizations, groups, churches, and private citizens to prepare and serve meals on Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal Holidays. If you would like to help with a few meals or are able to make a quarterly commitment, they’d love to have you on their schedule!
Food Drives, Food Pantries & Blessing Boxes in Shelby County, Indiana
Waldron Elementary School needs non-perishable food items that can be sent home in kids back packs. There are kids who might not have much help at home fixing the food. For this reason, they could use food that they can prepare on their own such as cereal, individual cups of Mac & Cheese, Granola Bars, Poptarts, etc. Food donations can be dropped off at the Waldron Elementary School Front Office: 306 East St, Waldron, IN 46182
The shelves of the Food Pantry at Morristown High School are getting bare! They could use donations of nonperishable food items. Food benefits Morristown students.
The Waldron Church of the Risen Christ is looking for volunteers to help with unloading food for their food pantry every 2nd and 4th Monday at 10am and also every 4th Tuesday at 1:30pm. This pantry is located at 202 West Washington Street, Waldron IN 46182. You can contact 765-525-6026 for more details.
Sophomore, Michael Ballinger, recently installed two Blessing Boxes at the Morristown Elementary and High School for his Eagle Scout project. Read the full article via Shelbyville News.
The sharing shelf at the Shelbyville IVY Tech campus supplies students on the go with snacks and quick meals to keep them focused at school. Their goal is to keep the students studying, successful and staying to complete their education. The food you provide helps students meet that goal. Drop off donations at the Shelbyville Ivy Tech campus or contact Adriel at apike26@ivytech.edu to learn more about the sharing shelf.
No matter the season, local food pantries can always use donations of nonperishable food items and financial support. Here is a list of Shelby County, Indiana Food Pantries and Mini-Pantries. Shelby County Pantry Pals also helps stock local pantries if you are desiring to donate toward an organization who help those who live with food insecurity.
Nonprofit Organizational Planning: Resources and Events
Since 2018, the Kroger Co. Zero Hunger | Zero Waste Foundation has directed more than $30 million to organizations aligned with their mission to create communities free of hunger and waste.
The First Financial Foundation was created in 2017 to support programs and organizations that enhance and develop the communities in which we do business. They particularly focus on low-income communities, prioritizing: neighborhood development | workforce development and education | culture and the arts. They look for successful applicants to generally have the following characteristics: stable financial resources, community-focused mission, and a strong and diverse leadership team. They anticipate having their next open-funding period in Q2 2024.
BryteBridge, a provider of compliance and development services to the nonprofit community, announces Microgrant Program to help emerging nonprofits continue to impact their local communities. In 2023, $20,000 in cash and service grants will be distributed to nonprofits nationwide. Applications must be received before November 1, 2023. Announcements will be made on Giving Tuesday — November 28, 2023.
Grants for Veteran’s Services (GVS) is a grant program administered by the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA). Applicants must be nonprofit organizations serving Indiana veterans. More details…
The Shelbyville Central Education Foundation now has grants available for teachers in the Shelbyville Central School System! These grants will provide an opportunity for teachers to bring new ideas into the classroom and enhance the learning experience of students. (Deadlines: July 1 & November 1 - *Requests must be $1000 or under)
Shelby County Community Corrections is offering a Juvenile Grant Scholarship Opportunity (for children 17 years of age or younger). This could be funding educational needs, extracurricular activities, and/or transportation needs.
The MHP Foundation is now accepting grant applications for nonprofit organizations who support MHP's charitable initiatives. The simple, online interest form is open for submission year-round. Projects or ideas that match with their mission, inspire social determinants work, or problem-solve for established community needs will be sent an application to apply. Learn more
“If your school or non-profit organization believes in the role of fine instruments in your program, and can show evidence of need and commitment to raising matching funds, you are a strong candidate for the Classics for Kids matching grant program. Applications accepted quarterly. Deadlines: June 30, September 30, December 31 and March 31.”
The Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC, Indiana Tourism) offers grants to cities, towns, counties, nonprofit entities and others located in Indiana that are involved with tourism promotion and development. Projects that contribute to the development and improvement of local economies and communities throughout Indiana by means of enhancing, expanding and promoting the visitor industry are eligible to receive funding. (Full Details)
Throughout the year, Indiana Humanities offers a number of grants to help organizations develop and implement their own public humanities programs in their communities.
Action Grant: $3000 (Last Day of Each Month)
INcommon Grant: $5000 (Deadlines - Round 1: 2/28/23; Round 2: 8/31/23)
Historic Preservation Education Grant: $3000 (Deadlines - Round 1: 2/28/23; Round 2: 9/30/23)
Over the next three years, the Elevance Health Foundation will invest up to $90 million in partnerships and programs that address health inequities by demonstrating measurable and positive change in four key areas. They will begin reviewing applications annually as follows:
Maternal and Child Health: Each August (with a deadline of 8/31)
Food as Medicine: Each May (with a deadline of 5/31)
Substance Use Disorder: Each January (with a deadline of 1/31)
Disaster Relief: Different Deadlines - Learn More
If your Nonprofit organization is considering running a fundraising auction online, you might consider checking out Auctria.com. This user-friendly business allows an organization to get a web auction up and running easily. They will also support live events. Their pricing includes a generous free version.
The Blue River Community Foundation (BRCF) is interested in learning about how to better assist Shelby County, Indiana Nonprofits and Charitable Organizations. If you work with a local Nonprofit, please take this quick survey to share with BRCF what would be helpful to your organization.
Please note that the Duke Energy Foundation has a new Grants System and has updated their Granting Priorities.

Several organizations need volunteers on a regular basis. Make sure to browse our Nonprofit Directory to check out more volunteer needs.
Do you need volunteers?
Follow the link below to submit your opportunities and/or event(s) and its information to be added to our master calendar and page of events!
Register or Update your Nonprofit Profile
If you do not see your Shelby County, Indiana Nonprofit Organization listed or need information updated, please fill out this form.

