The Indianapolis Foundation and the Legacy Fund, now the Hamilton County Community Fund, established the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) in 1997. The principal leaders from both funds who were instrumental in CICF’s creation were Daniel Efroymson, Lori Efroymson-Aguilera, Kenneth L. Gladish, George Sweet, Milton O. Thompson, and Terri Hansen. Each organization supports its own community, yet benefits from being part of a regional foundation.

The organization has 21 board members and a staff of 47 employees who are shared with The Indianapolis Foundation and the Hamilton County Community Foundation. These individuals ensure that the organization upholds CICF’s mission to mobilize people, ideas, and investments to help create a community where all individuals have an equitable opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of place, race, or identity.

CICF and its affiliates have developed plans to address the disparate needs of Marion County and Hamilton County residents. By focusing on initiatives unique to each county CICF aims to reverse systemic roadblocks to success. It seeks to introduce more opportunities and a more equitable playing field that will make Central Indiana a healthy and thriving community, with inclusive economic growth for all its residents.

The philanthropy and its family of funds contribute more than $40 million a year to Central Indiana not-for-profits. CICF, under the leadership of President and CEO, Brian Payne, founded the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick. Through its community initiatives, CICF has had a profound impact on Central Indiana in areas of arts and culture, education and libraries, family success and neighborhood empowerment, and place-making. In 2018 CICF adopted a goal of dismantling systemic racism in Indianapolis and central Indiana and began a community conversation about race and racism.

In 2020 CICF was the steward of over $825 million in charitable assets. These funds are directed toward important causes and initiatives in both Marion and Hamilton counties. Its agenda includes family stabilization, economic mobility, criminal justice reform, neighborhood empowerment, and place-making, dismantling system racism, mental health, family and youth empowerment, and inclusive economic growth.

Revised July 2021
 
Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is a funder of the digital Encyclopedia of Indianapolis.
 

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