Cultural Trail raises enough money to keep Ann Dancing
Indianapolis Cultural Trail Inc. officials announced Wednesday that they’ve raised enough money to keep a popular electronic piece of public art in operation for years to come.
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Former Taco Bell franchisee giving Butler University $5 million
An alumnus and former board of trustees chairman who made part of his fortune as a major Taco Bell franchisee has pledged a $5 million gift to Butler University, the university announced Tuesday.
Annual growth in charitable giving slows as predicted
Growth in charitable giving in the United States slowed in 2018, possibly as a result of the 2017 tax reform bill, according to an annual report that tracks American giving patterns. But the decline wasn’t as big as many predicted.
Local Goodwill Foundation gets $2.4M gift from longtime volunteer
The donation will be used to establish the Miller Family Fund for Success, which will help support Goodwill’s education, health and employment programs.
UPDATE: Vonnegut museum tops fundraising goal for new building
The museum, which is currently homeless, signed a purchase agreement in February for a building at 543 Indiana Ave. It needed to raise $1.5 million to buy and rehab the building, and it passed that goal with hours to spare Wednesday.
Purdue scores $5M gift for business analytics center
A private equity firm executive and his wife have given Purdue University a donation to support the business analytics center in the Krannert School of Management, Purdue announced Tuesday.
Newfields plans fall festival, more parking, outdoor sculpture, other upgrades to campus
The art and nature campus is launching an array of projects to upgrade its offerings and public access, highlighted by an autumnal festival this fall including culinary attractions, horticulture displays, musical performances and films.
Butler lands alumni gifts for business school, athletics
Two separate donations will help fund the McGould Investment Room in the Andre B. Lacy School of Business and the Matt White Court in the Efroymson Family Gym.
IRT raises curtain on $18.5M fundraising campaign
The campaign already has collected $17 million in commitments from donors, officials said. About two-thirds of the ultimate goal is earmarked for beefing up the theater company’s endowment.
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.
Last year, 27 donors gave big gifts worth nearly $246 million
Most of the gifts—20 of the 27—went to higher education institutions. Only five were from named Indianapolis philanthropists. Two were anonymous.
Giving Tuesday has another record year despite tax law change
The worldwide online philanthropy movement, which falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving every year, generated more than $380 million in donations this year, which is more than double the $180 million raised just two years ago.
Bloomberg donates record $1.8 billion to alma mater
The contribution—the largest ever to any education institution in the United States—will allow Johns Hopkins to eliminate student loans in financial aid packages starting next fall.
Songbook Foundation to sell 107-acre Asherwood estate in Carmel
The Great American Songbook Foundation received the massive property earlier this year as a gift from Bren Simon, the widow of late shopping mall magnate Melvin Simon.
Prominent hotel developer, family foundation donate $30M to Purdue for Union Club upgrade
Purdue announced the gift Saturday during an event to celebrate homecoming and the kickoff of the school’s year-long 150th anniversary celebration, which is themed “Take Giant Leaps.”
Media School at IU gets $6 million gift, plans investigative center
The university announced Thursday that the center will focus on the production and teaching of investigative journalism.
Franklin College lands $2M gift from former Eli Lilly executive
The money will be used to create a super endowment that will help fund future projects in perpetuity, Franklin College President Thomas Minar said.
IU Health names new Carmel cancer center after $10M donor
The cancer center, which is being built on the campus of IU Health North Hospital, will be named after Joseph Schwarz, who died in March of throat cancer, and his wife, Shelly.
Ball State changes mind about maintaining ties to Papa John’s founder
Ball State University’s board of trustees voted Thursday to change the name of the John H. Schnatter Institute for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise, almost two weeks after announcing plans to keep the name.
Indianapolis schools land $7.5 million to fight drug abuse
The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation announced Tuesday that it would give $7.5 million in grants to 24 Marion County schools and districts to help fund substance-use prevention.