AWS Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The AWS Foundation supports social enrichment, education and employment, transportation, early diagnosis and system navigation and improved housing for disabled individuals in Indiana.
IP TAKE: This Indiana funder prioritizes organizations that work with people who have Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, fragile X syndrome or fetal alcohol syndrome. Letters of inquiry are accepted throughout the year.
PROFILE: Established in 2007, the AWS Foundation is an independent organization created by corporate changes made in the operation of AWS/Anthony Wayne Services, which is now called Benchmark Human Services. It serves the local disabled community by providing grants to community partners and engaging the community through awareness and advocacy efforts. The foundation aims to "help children and adults with enduring intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities live as independently as possible, be included in the community and function at their highest potential.” It funds local efforts for the social enrichment, education and employment, transportation, early diagnosis and system navigation and improved housing for disabled children and adults.
The AWS Foundation’s social enrichment grants fund social, creative and recreational programs for people with disabilities. Advancing education and employment grants go towards life skills and meaningful employment programs. The funder supports accessible transportation options, as well as programs that help diagnose disabilities as early as possible to aid families and caregivers. The foundation is also interested in providing safe and affordable housing for local disabled people. AWS provides program, capital and operating support to its grantees. The foundation’s Gilmore Inclusive Arts Grant supports special projects that engage people with disabilities in local art communities. Mighty Money is a mini-grants program that welcomes applications all throughout the year for requests of $2,500 or less.
Grants range between about $10,000 and $500,000. Grantmaking focuses on the following counties in Northeast Indiana: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, Kosciusko, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. Past local grantees include the Autism Society of Indiana, Arts United and the Byron Health Center. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records.
This foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry from nonprofits. Organizations can access the LOI application online for their first formal grant requests, requests of $50,000 or more, capital support of any amount and multi-year requests. There are four application deadlines per year, and applications open two weeks before due dates. Direct general questions to the staff at Info@awsfoundation.org or 260-207-5656.
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