FUNDING

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the agency of the U.S. state of Indiana. There are many divisions within the DNR and each has a specific role. The DNR is not only responsible for maintaining resource areas but also manages Indiana's fish and wildlife, reclaims coal mine ground, manages forested areas, aids in the management of wildlife on private lands, enforces Indiana's conservation laws, and many other duties not named here. According to the department's website, their mission is "to protect, enhance, preserve, and wisely use natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the benefit of Indiana's citizens through professional leadership, management, and education".

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) is the agency of the U.S. state of Indiana charged with protecting the environment and human health. There are many offices within IDEM and each has a specific role in environmental protection. According to the department's website, their mission is "to implement federal and state regulations to protect human health and the environment while allowing the environmentally sound operations of industrial, agricultural, commercial and government activities vital to a prosperous economy." IDEM contributes guidance during watershed management planning and best management practices implementation projects, financial assistance, and cost share opportunities for producers through grants (funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)).

The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS or FWS) is an agency of the US federal government within the US Department of the Interior dedicated to the management of fish, wildlife, and natural habitats. The mission of the agency is "working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people."

Among the responsibilities of the FWS are enforcing federal wildlife laws; protecting endangered species; managing migratory birds; restoring nationally significant fisheries; conserving and restoring wildlife habitat, such as wetlands; helping foreign governments with their international conservation efforts; and distributing money to states' fish and wildlife agencies through the Wildlife Sport Fish and Restoration Program.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources Foundation celebrates and preserves Indiana’s natural legacy by raising funds to support the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its programs. The organization serves as the official non-profit for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Indiana’s rich history embodies a system of parks, forests, and natural areas that the public is encouraged to use. The Foundation funds important DNR programs, including educational initiatives that help future generations learn about appropriate stewardship of our precious natural resources and the value of its diversity. We also fund important projects that focus on critical habitats to encourage healthy wildlife, control invasive species, and promote quality recreation opportunities through the DNR. Personal investment in these key initiatives inspires the next generation of leaders in conservation and enhances Hoosiers’ ability to enjoy more outdoor opportunities today.

The Ball Brothers Foundation is an independent, private, philanthropic organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life by building communities. This organization funds and supports these efforts through thorough examination and action. The Foundation applauds efforts to educate and participate in sound conservation practices, data gathering, and supporting of agricultural processes and other land usages that work in balance with a healthy economy and environment. Provides financial assistance for on-the-ground conservation projects and district education and outreach activities in the form of grants.

The Edmund F. and Virginia B. Ball Foundation was established in 1994 and reflects the history and tradition of its founders. The couple’s philanthropy evolved from their love of family, their individual educational experiences, their respective business environments, and their shared interest in youth programs; arts and cultural activities; conservation, health, and wellness initiatives; communications; literacy and poetry projects. They were catalysts who believed that a family’s philanthropic gifts, strategically invested in nonprofit organizations and institutions, can have a positive impact on society.

The George and Frances Ball Foundation was founded in 1937 as a private foundation endowed by George and Frances Ball. The Foundation was “organized exclusively to promote charitable, scientific and educational purposes.” The Foundation has a strong commitment to the needs of East Central Indiana. Their daughter, Elisabeth Ball, was also a major contributor to the endowment after her passing in the 1980s. The family is well known for their philanthropy and for numerous other accomplishments including championing education, collecting items such as rare children's literature, and creating the Ball Jar Blue Book.

The Community Foundation of Muncie & Delaware County, Inc. encourages philanthropy, assists donors in building an enduring source of charitable assets, and exercises leadership in directing resources to enhance the quality of life for residents of Muncie and Delaware County. . The Community Foundation offers a way to assure that one’s generosity, either by gift or bequest, will have a permanent impact on our community far beyond the donor’s lifetime. Our stylized eternal flame - designed by a community leader in 1985 - is a symbol of the lasting effect a gift of today can have for generations to come. The flame reflects three concepts central to the mission of the Foundation: Perpetuity, Intensity of Need and Commitment and The Optimism and Reality of a Better Quality of Life.

The City of Muncie is an incorporated city and the seat of Delaware County, Indiana. It is located in East Central Indiana, about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Indianapolis. The United States Census for 2010 reported the city's population was 70,085. It is the principal city of the Muncie metropolitan statistical area, which has a population of 117,671. Muncie selected as the Delaware County seat and platted in 1827. Its name was officially shortened to Muncie in 1845 and incorporated as a city in 1865. Muncie developed as a manufacturing and industrial center, especially after the Indiana gas boom of the 1880s. It is home to Ball State University. As a result of the Middletown studies, sociological research that was first conducted in the 1920s, Muncie is said to be one of the most studied United States cities of its size.

The Blackford County Community Foundation was born in 1997 when the Montpelier Community Foundation, Inc. and the Blackford County Foundation agreed to merge in order to more effectively provide a broad base of support for county-wide improvement. The first board consisted of directors from both parent foundations. Enhancing the quality of life for Blackford County residents by (a) encouraging and assisting donors, (b) providing financial management, (c) making philanthropic grants, and (d) serving as a catalyst for positive change.