Announcing Our 2026 Impact 100 Change Maker Grant Finalists
On June 16, 2026, 5:00pm, we will present The 21st Annual Awards Celebration with presentations by the 2026 Grant Finalists. You can read about their grant proposals below.
Following their presentations, the 2026 Impact 100 of Greater Indianapolis Members will vote, and once those votes are counted, we will announce the 2026 Change-Maker! This event is open to nonmembers and guests. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. You can also visit the Annual Celebration page to learn more about the event.
Arts, Culture & Preservation Focus Area Finalist
Harrison Center: Greatriarch Program Expansion
The Harrison Center‘s Greatriarich program serves long-term Martindale-Brightwood residents, primarily African-American seniors who risk feeling like strangers in their own neighborhood, due to gentrification and aging. Through programs designed to love and know our neighbors, we reduce social isolation, elevate their stories, and preserve their culture. Greatriarchs’ culture and history are preserved. Programs are at capacity; demand is growing. Impact 100 grant funding will add a second site for key programs and hire a Fellow to double the impact on attendance, oral history collection, and art/storytelling education.
Education Focus Area Finalist
Latinas Welding Guild Inc.: Advanced Manufacturing Certification Lab
Latinas Welding Guild’s Advanced Manufacturing Certification Lab project will expand access to welding certification and advanced manufacturing training for underserved communities across central Indiana. The project will establish a professional weld testing lab, purchase industry-standard certification testing equipment, and train instructional staff through the AWS Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) program. The lab will help youth and adults gain industry-recognized credentials while reducing barriers to certification access on the west side of Indianapolis. Through partnerships with employers, schools, and workforce organizations, the project will strengthen workforce pathways, support economic mobility, and connect participants to high-demand manufacturing careers.
Environment & Animal Welfare Focus Area Finalist
Soul Food Project: Fresh Food for Families: Expanding Neighborhood Food Access on Indianapolis’ Eastside
Soul Food Project aims to enhance its urban farm infrastructure on Indianapolis’ Eastside to combat food insecurity and create economic opportunities. Currently, our farm supports families throughout the city but faces constraints due to outdated facilities and limited storage. Funding from Impact 100 will enable us to improve post-harvest handling and significantly increase production. These enhancements will also provide hands-on training for our workforce development programs, equipping local residents with essential job skills in sustainable agriculture. Ultimately, this initiative ensures consistent access to fresh, culturally relevant produce for low-income households, fostering a healthier, more equitable community.
Family Focus Area Finalist
Indiana Diaper Bank: Indiana Diaper Bank Mobile Outreach
Indiana Diaper Bank is seeking a $100,000 investment from Impact 100 to purchase a mobile distribution vehicle that will bring diapers and essential hygiene products directly to neighborhoods with the greatest need. The vehicle will allow Indiana Diaper Bank to partner with agencies for on-site events, serve families at community hubs like daycares and food pantries, and reach underserved zip codes lacking nonprofit support. This initiative is about more than transportation—it builds trust, dignity, connection, and access to vital wraparound services to families in the communities we live.
Health and Wellness Focus Area Finalist
Morning Light: Safe Passage: A Secure and Accessible Home at Life’s End
Morning Light’s Safe Passage: A Secure and Accessible Home at Life’s End project will strengthen safety and accessibility at Indiana’s free residential home for terminally ill individuals experiencing homelessness, poverty, or isolation. Residents arrive medically fragile, alone, and without a secure place to receive compassionate care. Impact 100 funding will support a modern security system with controlled access and emergency response, along with ADA-compliant doorway expansions allowing hospital beds to safely pass through resident rooms. These improvements will maintain a peaceful, home-like environment where residents receive hospice care while protecting residents, caregivers, volunteers, and visitors.