What began as a community vision for connection and play is now a reality. Sheets Family Park is open for families, neighbors, and visitors to enjoy together.

A new effort to strengthen childcare access in Steuben County is gaining momentum. The Steuben County Early Childcare Coalition officially launched this week with $80,000 in seed funding and support from a wide range of community partners.

 In Steuben County, more families, retirees, and young professionals are finding a place to call home. Thanks to the support of REMC Operation Round Up and the hard work of the Steuben County Economic Development Corporation (SCEDC), our community has taken important steps to better understand housing needs and prepare for the future.

SCCF awarded more than $3.7 million in grants over the past fiscal year, the majority of which supported nonprofits right here in Steuben County. As a visual representation of its mission, SCCF personally distributed more than $375,000 in designated and agency fund grants to local nonprofit organizations during its Annual Public Meeting, held Thursday, August 21, 2025, at the Steuben County Event Center.

Steuben County Community Foundation teams up with Community Foundations of DeKalb, LaGrange, and Noble Counties to host a regional grant writing workshop series facilitated by Dr. Kelly Corey. Designed to build confidence and capacity among nonprofit professionals, the three-part series offered practical tools for securing funding and sustaining impact. 6-Part AI Workshop to come this fall!

On June 19, 2025, the Steuben County Community Foundation was filled with laughter, music, and appreciation as we hosted Sweet Thanks: Celebrating Volunteers & Nonprofits. This open-house-style event was our way of saying thank you to the incredible individuals and organizations who make Steuben County a stronger, more connected place to live. SCCF couldn’t fulfill its mission without the incredible volunteers and nonprofit leaders who donate their time and talent to our community.

With support from a $15,000 grant from the Steuben County Community Foundation, Easterseals Northeast Indiana launched an exciting initiative that’s helping to level the playing field for individuals with disabilities. In 2024, the ES Gaming project brought together youth and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) from Steuben County and beyond to build confidence, workforce readiness, and friendships through online gaming.

Youth philanthropy pod Forever Improving Steuben County Together (FIST) recently presented their annual review to area school administrators, local government leaders, and members of the Steuben County Community Foundation (SCCF) board and staff.

This fall, FIST opened its grant cycle from August 1st to October 31st to grant a total of $7,243.54 to six local nonprofits & seven initiatives that aligned with FIST’s mission statement.

Ten F.I.S.T. members travelled to Alabama to learn how to be better leaders and to communicate with other youth pods from different parts of the United States.

The Steuben County Community Foundation has received a grant of $3,007,200 from Lilly Endowment Inc. through the Community Leadership Implementation Grants component of the eighth phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VIII) initiative.

The Steuben County Community Foundation is pleased to announce Ashland Benner of Fremont High School as the recipient of the 2025 Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Steuben County.

“Sheets Family Park has been designed with everyone in mind,” said Carmyn Hottell, Director of Community Engagement & Leadership at the Steuben County Community Foundation. “It’s a place where kids, families and individuals of all abilities and backgrounds can come together to play and feel a true sense of belonging with one another.”

The Steuben County Community Foundation celebrated another successful year in helping the community prosper thanks to the generosity of its citizens and donors.

The Steuben County Community Foundation recently hosted an Effective Communications workshop at Trine University for local non-profit organizations at Trine University.