Daviess County
Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a charitable resource devoted to our local community. We help people make meaningful gifts that improve life in Daviess County, Indiana today and for generations to come.
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Greater Good Together
The Daviess County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, a network of nine community foundations serving counties in southwestern Indiana. The Alliance provides management and administrative expertise to county-wide community foundations, empowering each to promote philanthropy, build endowment and improve wellbeing in our local communities. Learn more!
Recent News
The Daviess County Community Foundation awarded more than $227,000 to 19 local nonprofits through its Community Good Grants Program. These grants support projects that strengthen the Daviess community and improve the quality of life for local residents. “At its heart, the Community Foundation is here to build a stronger future for Daviess County,” said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. “When our donors invest through the Foundation, they’re helping local organizations tackle real issues and create lasting impact.” 2025 Community Good Grant Recipients $5,000 to American Red Cross Southwest Indiana Chapter for financial assistance to disaster survivors in Daviess County by supporting recovery needs such as replacing medications, clothing, baby diapers, temporary housing, and more $4,200 to Bread of Life Ministry Inc. for the cost of two semi loads of donated food product that will be distributed to partnering food pantries in Daviess County $13,100 to Children & Family Services, Corp for Hope’s Voice clients with the emergency rent and utility assistance, and Grasshopper Group staff with the cost of Attachment Based Expressive Arts training $5,422 to Christ United Methodist Church for new handbell tables, new foam pads, travel bags, new table covers, mallets, and a mallet bag $4,200 to Daviess County Partnership Inc. for the cost of adding ten additional entities to Charity Tracker $53,618 to Daviess County Peer Recovery Services Inc. for the local match requirement for Daviess County IRACS program which will directly support peer recovery specialists, reentry planning, evidence-based group programming, 30 days of post-release peer support, and transportation needs of participants $5,000 to Daviess-Martin Joint County Parks and Recreation Department for the purchase of a permanent, commercial grade shade structure, site preparation, and professional installation to meet safety and ADA accessibility standards at West Boggs Park $200 to Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra for the cost of admission for Daviess County students attending the concerts $20,000 to First Choice Solutions for the purchase of essential material supplies to help families meet critical needs for their babies, the Bright Course educational curriculum for English and Spanish speaking clients, and medical supplies to continue offering free testing, treatments and prenatal vitamins at no cost to clients $5,000 to Friends for Animals, Inc. for a $50 voucher to help pet owners with the cost to spay or neuter their pets $6,000 to Junior Achievement of Southwestern Indiana for the cost program administration, curriculum materials, volunteer training and recruitment, insurance, and program evaluation $25,000 to Odon Lions Club Foundation for the cost of the walking bridge, gazebo, shelter house, and walking path project $5,000 to Odon-Winkelpleck Public Library for books for the mobile library $10,000 to Pet Friendly Services of Indiana for expanding Pet Friendly Services of Indiana’s Spay-Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) for income-qualified dog owners in Daviess County to spay or neuter their dogs $24,130 to RSVP of Daviess County for a portion of personnel costs and the full expected budget for vehicle insurance and gasoline for the year $8,250 to Senior and Family Services, Inc. for the purchase of the Oliver Speadseal system which includes new delivery bags, trays and sealing film for the next two years, and the cost to deliver the sealing machine for the Meals on Wheels program $3,000 to Tri-State Food Bank for the purchase of fresh produce, dairy, proteins, and shelf-stable items to ensure balanced, nutritious food boxes for each distribution $249 to Washington Community Schools for a NexPlayground for Washington Intermediate School $30,000 to Youth First, Inc. for the Youth First School-Based Social Work Program that provides free access to expert mental health support to students in eight K-12 Daviess County school buildings The Community Good Grants Program is just one of the powerful ways the Foundation connects local generosity to real community needs. Grants are funded through endowments established by donors who are deeply committed to the future of Daviess County. Why This Matters The Daviess County Community Foundation is more than a grantmaker. It’s a trusted local partner, connecting people who want to make a difference with the causes and organizations that make our community thrive. Each gift is invested for long-term growth, creating a permanent resource for local needs both now and for generations to come. To learn more about how you can give back or create your own fund, contact Savannah Linenburg at slinenburg@communityfoundationalliance.org or 812.254.9354.
Daviess County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the recipient of the 2026 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Daviess County: Caitlyn Kribs, Barr-Reeve High School. Lilly Endowment Community Scholars are recognized for their community involvement, academic achievement, character, and leadership. "The Daviess County Community Foundation was extremely impressed with this year’s Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship applicants. Their academic achievements, commitment to community service, and inspiring future goals demonstrate a bright potential to positively impact Daviess County—both now and in the years ahead," said Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact. Each Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides full tuition, required fees, and up to $900 per year for required books and equipment for four years of full-time undergraduate study leading to a baccalaureate degree at any eligible Indiana public or private nonprofit college or university.
The Community Foundation Alliance is proud to announce that applications are now open for its Community Scholarship Program, offering hundreds of opportunities for students across Southwest Indiana and in select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. These scholarships, made possible by generous local donors, provide financial support for students pursuing college, university, technical programs, or other post-secondary education paths. “Our scholarships reflect the belief that investing in students is investing in the future of our communities,” said Melinda Waldroup, Chief Program Officer of the Community Foundation Alliance. “We want every eligible student in Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky to have access to these opportunities and feel confident applying.” Scholarship Program Highlights Wide Range of Awards: Hundreds of scholarships for graduating seniors and high school graduates across Southwest Indiana and select areas of Illinois and Kentucky. Simple Application Process: Scholarships can be completed through our online Community Scholarships Common Application. Select special scholarship opportunities can be found on each community’s website. Deadline: Applications are open today and close on January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. How to Apply Visit communityfoundationalliance.org/scholarships. Review the 2026 Scholarship Guidebook. Find your community and click through to its website. Review all available scholarship opportunities and their eligibility criteria for your community. Complete the 2025–2026 Community Scholarships Common Application. Receive your automatic matches to scholarships you qualify for. Submit all required materials, including essays and recommendation letters, by January 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Start your application early! All supplemental materials must be submitted by the deadline, so build in plenty of time for each step. Give your references time to complete their recommendations, allow yourself enough time to write thoughtful essays, and request your transcripts early so your Guidance Counselor has time to process them. If you have any questions or need additional resources, please contact the staff member in your community. Kentucky & Illinois Michele Gates, Program Assistant mgates@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.429.1191 Daviess County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.254.9354 Gibson County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.386.8082 Knox County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.886.0093 Perry County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.547.3176 Pike County Laura Hazelman, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact lhazelman@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.890.4469 Posey County Amy Smith, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact asmith@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.838.0288 Spencer County Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.649.5724 Vanderburgh County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.422.1245 Warrick County Alysia Rhinefort, Regional Director of Community Engagement & Impact arhinefort@communityfoundationalliance.org | 812.897.2030
