Community impact is at the heart of what Forward Wayne County does, but what exactly does it look like? Throughout July, the Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County shared real examples of community impact and success from the past year, highlighting the connection between the two organizations and how they work together to keep Wayne County moving forward.
First, A Refresher
If you’re unfamiliar with Forward Wayne County or how its work is connected to the Wayne County Foundation, here’s a quick refresher.
Established in 1979, the Wayne County Foundation works to foster private philanthropic giving, strengthen community spirit, and improve the quality of life in Wayne County now and for future generations. The Foundation serves as a catalyst for addressing critical community needs through grantmaking, donor stewardship, and collaboration among funders and service providers. It also provides donors with a flexible, lasting way to accomplish their philanthropic goals while championing private giving for the public good.
Forward Wayne County was created by the Wayne County Foundation in 2019 to align community resources, foster a vibrant economy, and promote prosperity across Wayne County. As a community development driver, Forward Wayne County uses a Collective Impact approach to convene stakeholders, connect ideas and resources, and evaluate outcomes to drive lasting change. Its work is focused on creating measurable progress in areas such as population growth, personal per capita income, assessed gross values, and other community development metrics.
Together, the Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County bring different but complementary strengths to the work of building a stronger Wayne County.
Investing in Places and Spaces
Some of the most visible examples of community impact this year can be found in the places where community members gather.
Creitz Park Pavilion celebrated its grand opening in May and has quickly become a community favorite for concerts and entertainment. Through GIFT VIII, the Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County helped secure Lilly Endowment funding to help bring this space to life.
Additionally, the Whitewater Gorge is undergoing a major transformation of its own. From a riverwalk to a bouldering garden to a nature playground and more, exciting changes are on the horizon. The Wayne County Foundation and Forward Wayne County, through GIFT VIII, are proud to be part of the coalition of partners bringing this community-driven vision to life.
Investing in Neighborhoods
Last November, the Wayne County Foundation announced its first impact investment: a $1 million commitment to support neighborhood revitalization efforts in Richmond’s Vaile neighborhood.
The investment, made in partnership with Intend Indiana, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC), and the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County (EDCWC), advances our long-standing mission to strengthen local communities, enhance the spirit of community and to improve the quality of life in the Wayne County, Indiana, area now and for future generations.
Unlike traditional grantmaking, impact investing is designed to generate both a financial and a social return, allowing for reinvestment of those returns into future community projects for years to come.
Investing in Capacity
Big visions need funding behind them, and that’s where Lilly Endowment’s GIFT IX comes in. Through its Community Support Grant component, the Foundation received $1.5 million in flexible funding designed to meet compelling, near-term needs across the county. Through Forward Wayne County, that investment is going toward recreational amenities, downtown improvements, placemaking strategies, and stronger nonprofit Main Street organizations. The building blocks that help communities thrive at the local level.
Investing in Planning and Voice
Community impact doesn’t always have to look like individual projects. It’s also about making sure a community is prepared for what’s next. An example? Wayne County’s Countywide Strategic Investment Plan for 2026-2033, led by Forward Wayne County and Wayne County Government. The plan marks an important milestone for the county, positioning its communities as places of innovation, and hubs for recreational amenities and quality of life in East Central Indiana.
The Common Thread
Look closely at each of these projects, and you’ll notice the same partnership at work every time. The Wayne County Foundation providing resources and long-term vision, and Forward Wayne County driving that vision into action across our communities. A pavilion. A riverwalk. A neighborhood of new homes. A grant that strengthens nonprofits and downtowns. A plan that prepares us for the future. This is what community impact looks like. Not one single achievement, but many coordinated efforts, built on a shared mission and carried out together.
