Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS —Four Indiana independent colleges are the recipients of the 2026 Ball Venture Fund competitive grant program: Butler University, Manchester University, Indiana Institute of Technology and the University of Saint Francis.
They will share $100,000 in seed funding for initiatives to stimulate creativity and innovation and foster collaboration among the state’s 28 private, nonprofit campuses.
The grant was established by Ball Brothers Foundation (Muncie) in 1998 and is administered by Independent Colleges of Indiana (ICI). Recipients were selected by a panel of judges that included representatives from Ball Brothers Foundation and members of the ICI Presidents Council, according to a provided news release.
The 2026 recipients were chosen from a field of 25 proposals:
• Butler University (Indianapolis) will use its $25,000 to support AI Powered Pathways: Integrating iQ4 for Comprehensive Student Career Support. The project will strengthen student career readiness through AI-enabled tools designed to provide more comprehensive, personalized career guidance and support.
• Manchester University (North Manchester) will apply its $25,000 to its Launch Lab: Connections for Career Readiness. The initiative is designed to expand career readiness by creating stronger connections between students, practical experiences, and workforce preparation opportunities.
• Indiana Institute of Technology (Fort Wayne) will direct its $25,000 to its Empowering Communities Through an AI & Cybersecurity Innovation Clinic. The project will equip students with hands-on learning opportunities while helping meet community needs through applied AI and cybersecurity support.
• University of Saint Francis (Fort Wayne) will apply its $25,000 to its Diagnostic Imaging Workforce Innovation Lab. The initiative will strengthen workforce preparation by enhancing student training in diagnostic imaging and supporting innovation in healthcare education.
Independent Colleges of Indiana serves as the collective voice for the state’s 28 private, nonprofit colleges and universities. ICI institutions employ over 22,000 Hoosiers and generate a total local economic impact of over $5.5 billion annually. Students at ICI colleges have Indiana’s highest four-year, on-time graduation rates and ICI institutions produce 30 percent of Indiana’s bachelor’s degrees while enrolling 20 percent of its undergraduates, the news release states..
Founded in 1926, Ball Brothers Foundation is one of Indiana's oldest and largest family foundations. Annually, the foundation awards more than $8 million in grants to support arts and culture, community vitality, education, environment, health and public safety, and human services. The Muncie-based private foundation gives priority to projects and programs that improve the quality of life in its home city, county and state. In 2026, the foundation proudly celebrates 100 years of philanthropy and community impact.
