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.
Central Indiana Community Foundation
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IBJ Podcast: Brian Payne on the Cultural Trail, equity, fighting systemic racism and leaving CICF
Retiring on June 30, Payne delves into the impact of the Cultural Trail, how CICF will change once he leaves and the challenge of measuring its progress on a goal as large as dismantling institutional racism in central Indiana.
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Payne’s dual roles at CICF to become separate jobs when he retires
Brian Payne, who is retiring from his longtime roles as CEO of the Central Indiana Community Foundation and president of the Indianapolis Foundation, said it was becoming clear that each position was growing into a full-time job.
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Effort to infuse diversity into not-for-profit boards helps, but leaders say there’s more work to do
Four years ago, CICF and the Indianapolis Foundation launched a pilot program to try to diversify local not-for-profit boards. Here’s the impact.
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Speedway B&O Trail extensions could spur development
Redevelopment experts are confident the west side will see a jolt in property values and development opportunities as plans to extend a Speedway trail both east and west move forward.
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Articles
Brian Payne to retire as leader of CICF, Indianapolis Foundation
Payne, who spearheaded development of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail and recently refocused the community foundation on equity and inclusion issues, led CICF, affiliates and its individual funds through significant growth.
Renamed crime prevention grant program awards $8.6M
The Elevation Grant Program—previously the Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program—doled out additional funds as part of the three-year, $45 million effort to address root causes of crime in Indianapolis.
CICF blazes new trail for equity and inclusion
The not-for-profit’s strategy focused on community relationship-building and equity-oriented funding has other area groups rethinking their own procedures and how they share power with those they serve.
Indy awards $400,000 to 40 community organizations for crime-prevention projects
Dozens of Indianapolis community organizations based in districts experiencing high levels of violent crime will receive grants aimed at addressing root causes of crime and violence.
2021 Forty Under 40 Alumni Award: Jennifer Baker
Jennifer Baker took a leave from her job as executive director of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana to help the Indiana Sports Corp. host the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament this spring in Indianapolis.
Cook Medical, not-for-profits to build full-service grocery near 38th and Sheridan
The 14,000-square-foot store—Indy Fresh Market—will be run by two neighborhood entrepreneurs and located in an area that is designated a food desert.
Indy-area foundation unveils strategy for dismantling systemic racism
The Central Indiana Community Foundation, which controls more than $800 million in charitable assets and helps direct the gifts from wealthy donors, laid out plans Wednesday for helping make the Indianapolis and Hamilton County more equitable for all residents.
New group pledges $500,000 to struggling minority businesses in Marion, Hamilton counties
For its first investment, Impact is partnering with Indy Chamber’s Business Ownership Initiative in its effort to deliver rapid release response loans of $1,000 to $25,000 to businesses in need.
Community foundation’s new mission: helping the marginalized thrive
The Central Indiana Community Foundation’s new five-year plan focuses on making Indianapolis a more inclusive city, a goal it hopes to achieve partly by training 5,000 community leaders and residents about institutional racism.
Not-for-profit CEO who duped board tries to make most of second chance
ProAct, an Indianapolis not-for-profit that focuses on engaging at-risk youth and corporations in public service projects, is trying to rebuild after a challenging year in which the entire board quit over disagreements with CEO Derrin Slack.
CICF, Hogsett seek $4M fund to provide wraparound services to formerly homeless
The fund is designed to tackle “the significant lack of service provider capacity” that grew after Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2017 launched an effort to provide 400 more housing units for the homeless.
Hamilton County Legacy Fund changes name, takes on new mission
The newly named Hamilton County Community Foundation plans to tackle mental health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.
CICF to tackle stench of racism
The foundation is undergoing a transformation aimed at narrowing the growing gulf between the community’s affluent and poor.
Foundation plots new life for theater
Under a Central Indiana Community Foundation plan, Theatre on the Square will cease producing shows and will instead find an arts group to manage its venue for other theater organizations.
New program lifts financial barrier that keeps new blood off boards
The Indianapolis Foundation is placing 10 individuals on 10 local not-for-profit boards—and giving them $10,000 a year to contribute to the organizations they're serving.
LOU’S VIEWS: Artist Don Gummer brings his world to Cultural Trail
Built from steel, bronze, aluminum and glass, the sculptures tend to grow larger the higher they get.
Cultural Trail opens, fuels development
The trail officially opened in May at a cost of $63 million, including $6 million for a maintenance endowment.
Gene Glick was a soldier, a builder and a philanthropic giant
Gene Biccard Glick, who died at home following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, built affordable housing sprawling across 10 states—a business empire that paved the way for tens of millions of dollars in donations to causes ranging from medicine to recreation.
Promoters of arts trail recast vision
A mural slated for one wall of the Broad Ripple parking garage will be the first new artwork within view of the Central Canal Towpath, which a group of north-side institutions would like to rebrand as the Art2Art trail.