Pacers Foundation (Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever)

Mission:

The Pacers Foundation is dedicated to building collaborative initiatives to encourage Indiana’s youth in making winning life choices.

We are not a traditional corporate foundation, supported solely by our corporate parent. We strongly believe that helping Indiana’s youth to make winning life choices requires all of us in the community to do our part. Therefore, we invite you to join us in this effort by making a financial contribution to Pacers Foundation and/or volunteering your time to help the non-profits we fund. In our view, the community’s greatest challenges necessitate the community’s best solutions. Join us and be part of the solution.

We invest in our community by:

Making grants of cash and in-kind contributions to non-profit groups throughout Indiana that share our mission and “fit” within one of our Grant Funds.
Collaborating with groups in the community – corporate, non-profit and/or government – to develop initiatives that further our youth-focused mission and leverage the resources of all groups involved for greater community impact.
Awarding scholarships to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and community leadership. part, upon the results achieved with the prior grant. Finally, as discussed above, we do provide both general operating and project-specific support.

Grantmaking Objectives:

The five Funds described in our Grant Making portfolio were established based upon service gaps identified through a community needs assessment conducted in Indiana. That is, Pacers Foundation's funding priorities are based upon current research about what Indiana youth most need and not the issue "in fashion" at the moment.

Most importantly, underlying our grant making is the belief that our most vulnerable youth can make winning life choices if provided with the opportunity, resources and support to do so. They can Be Healthy & Fit, Be Educated, Be Drug-Free, Be Tolerant and Be YOUnique:

Be Healthy & Fit Fund
Pacers Foundation supports the efforts of Indiana groups that help

Overweight and obese youth and/or those who are at serious risk of becoming overweight to make healthier choices with respect to diet and exercise;
Overweight and/or obese youth cope with the psychosocial effects of, and the stigma associated with, being overweight or obese; and
Educate schools and families about the root causes of obesity and the importance of nutrition and exercise in preventing and fighting obesity.

As such, school-based programs, health centers (including mental health programs focused on the psychosocial effects of childhood obesity), organizations focused on fighting and/or treating obesity, and groups focused on educating others about obesity should consider applying. This does not mean, however, that we will not fund other types of organizations focused on youth obesity. The bulleted points above simply refer to our priorities in this area.

Be Educated Fund
Pacers Foundation supports the efforts of Indiana groups that help

Struggling students to stay in school; and
Out-of-school youth to re-engage in the learning process.

As such, mentoring and/or tutoring programs, alternative schools and after-school programs with an emphasis on learning should consider applying. This does not mean, however, that we will not fund other types of organizations with a focus on youth education. It simply means that our priorities are to keep struggling students in school and to reengage out-of-school youth in the learning process.

Be Drug Free Fund
Pacers Foundation supports the efforts of Indiana groups that help

Young substance abusers to achieve and maintain their sobriety;
Youth who are at serious risk of substance abuse to stay drug and alcohol free; and
Educate high-risk youth about the potential consequences of drug and/or alcohol abuse (chronic dependence and links to criminal behavior, high-risk sexual activity, etc.).

As such, substance abuse treatment programs, substance abuse education programs, counseling programs, after school programs that focus on creating positive alternatives to "the streets," and other similarly focused groups should consider applying. This does not mean, however, that we will not fund other types of organizations focused on youth substance abuse. The bulleted points above simply refer to our priorities in this area.

Be Tolerant Fund
Pacers Foundation supports the efforts of Indiana groups that

Teach tolerance and respect for diversity;
Focus on breaking down racial, ethnic, religious and other barriers by bringing youth from "all walks of life" together and exposing youth to cultures and "ways of life" other than their own; and
Carry out anti-bullying and anti-stigma programs.

As such, school-based programs, faith-based programs, and other non-profit organizations focused on encouraging youth to Be Tolerant should consider applying. This does not mean, however, that we will not fund other types of organizations focused on teaching tolerance. The bulleted points above simply refer to our priorities in this area.

Indiana Fever's Be YOUnique Fund
Pacers Foundation supports the efforts of Indiana groups that

Help girls build self-esteem during the crucial preteen and teenage years;
Promote positive body imagery among girls; and
Educate girls about dating violence and/or provide services to those who have experienced such violence.

As such, school-based programs and other non-profit organizations focused on encouraging girls to Be YOUnique should consider applying. This does not mean, however, that we will not fund other types of organizations focused on empowering girls. The bulleted points above simply refer to our priorities in this area.

Geographic Areas of Priority
We make grants to youth-focused groups located in Indiana.

Grant Size, Duration and Type
We make grants in the range of $5,000 - $20,000. Our grant making philosophy is such that if grantees have achieved or are achieving the results set forth in their grant applications, we tend to fund groups beyond one year. However -- and this is important -- grantees should not depend on receiving a grant year after year. Current grantees must submit a new application for consideration each year.

What We Do Not Fund
Pacers Foundation does not provide support for: individuals (outside of our scholarships and Roger Brown Legacy Fund), emergency funds, political candidates or parties, fundraisers , or corporate memberships. Furthermore, we will not consider grant applications that fall outside of the subject areas of our five Grant Funds described above.

Geographic Areas Served:	Indiana (statewide)
Revenues:	$957,421
Grants Disbursed:	$336,343
Net Assets:	$1,256,864

Pacers Foundation Website

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