Programs
Our Programs
The Community Foundation values its role as a catalyst, convener and collaborator, bringing other funders and
nonprofits together around vital issues and adding key support to make positive change possible.
We center our work around what we know about community needs.
Building Dynamic Boards of Directors
Required training for board members of nonprofit organizations seeking grants from HCCF. This program will be offered four times in 2024, there is no cost to participants upon completing the training.
Dictionary Project
Designed to reach students as they transition from learning to read, to reading to learn, the Dictionary Project provides a free copy of “Webster’s Dictionary for Students: Special Encyclopedic Edition” to third-grade students. In 2024, HCCF delivered 510 dictionaries, and since joining the program in 2008, HCCF has proudly distributed 8,656 free copies to every third-grade student in the county.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Encourages a love of reading by providing preschool children a free age-appropriate book in the mail each month up until their fifth burthday. HCCF began sponsoring this program for Harrison County children in 2008 and since then has distributed nearly 300,000 books. Approximately 1,500 participants received a book as part of DPIL in 2023, with over 449 new sign-ups.
Fundraisers Group
The Fundraisers Group is free and open to any nonprofit organization serving Harrison County. Meetings are held on at HCCF on the first Wednesday of every other month at noon. Topics covered have included marketing, charitable gaming, nonprofit accounting, volunteer management, and more.
Grants
All nonprofit agencies providing services to residents of Harrison County are eligible to apply. HCCF will only allow a grant application from a 501c entity that has been in business a minimum of two years from the date of their most recent IRS Letter of Determination. Other eligibility requirements apply.
Jump Start Preschool Program
Harrison County Community Foundation (HCCF) started the Jump Start pre-K pilot program in 2013. The pilot occurred on a small scale with a handful of providers and a small pool of students. In 2023, HCCF provided $136,173 in support for preschool services. Since its inception in 2014-2015, Jump Start has funded 712 students through May 2023, and HCCF has funded $3,302,904 for preschool services
Scholarships
Since 1998, the Harrison County Community Foundation has provided funds each spring to each of the high schools for non-renewable scholarships. Since 1997, HCCF has awarded just over $14 million in total scholarships. Our Adult scholarships total is $462,000. In 2024 alone, HCCF awarded $681,500 in scholarships to high school seniors in Harrison County.
Step Ahead Council
Monthly gathering of representatives from nonprofits serving Harrison County to share information and find ways to collaborate.
Youth Philanthropy Council
An opportunity for teens to learn about philanthropy and nonprofits as well as make grant recommendations on YPC grants. HCCF partners with Leadership Harrison County (LHC) for YPC to be a part of the LHC Youth Program, involving young leaders from all Harrison County High Schools. In 2023, YPC awarded St. Joseph Catholic School $2,000 for a greenhouse and garden supplies, Corydon Central Vanguard $925 for percussion equipment, Lanesville High School $625 to support After Prom, Blue River All-Stars 4-H $1,500 for Blankets for Veterans project, and Blue River All-Stars 4-H $500 for Carnival for Cancer supplies.