Central Indiana Community Foundation

What Central Indiana Community Foundation does

Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is a tax-exempt community foundation founded in 1997 and headquartered at 615 N. Alabama Street in Indianapolis, operating across nine Central Indiana counties. CICF links philanthropic capital with regional community needs through a portfolio of giving vehicles: Donor-Advised Funds (including a No-Minimum, No-Fee variant), Corporate-Advised Funds, Charitable Organization Funds, Scholarship Funds, and IMPACT Funds, underpinned by three investment pools (Long-Term, Balanced, Short-Term Duration) selected by fundholders. Revenue is generated primarily through administrative fees on fund balances, investment management fees on stewardship of $1.4B+ in assets, and fees for scholarship administration, grants administration, and program services provided to partner foundations.

The foundation's product surface also includes technology platforms (CICF Connect for fundholder self-service via a Salesforce-based portal and a SmartSimple-based multilingual Scholarship Portal accepting applications in English, Spanish, and Burmese) plus structured programs: Stronger Partners, Brighter Futures (a nine-month planned-giving cohort that has unlocked $66.5M+ in planned/outright gifts over five years), Executive Leadership Cohort with Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, quarterly Office Hours for nonprofit leaders, the Greater Indy Trailways initiative unifying 800+ miles of regional trails, the BY-Plus construction training program, the $63M Indianapolis Cultural Trail completed in 2013, and IMPACT Central Indiana (a social impact investment partnership with Hamilton County Community Foundation and the Indianapolis Foundation).

CICF serves four primary customer segments: individual and family donors (especially high-net-worth), nonprofit organizations receiving endowment management and capacity-building support, professional advisors (attorneys, accountants, wealth managers) and students accessing 50+ scholarship awards. Distribution is primarily direct and relationship-based (assigned Effective Philanthropy Officers) supplemented by professional-advisor referrals and self-serve digital onboarding. The foundation operates as part of the CICF Collaborative alongside Hamilton County Community Foundation, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women's Foundation of Indiana, with Charitable Advisors (acquired May 2026) operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary providing executive search, salary surveys, Not-for-profit News, and a nonprofit job board with 15,000+ postings.

Name

Central Indiana Community Foundation

Legal name

Central Indiana Community Foundation

Website

https://cicf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is a non-profit community foundation stewarding $1.4B+ in assets across nine Central Indiana counties, providing donor-advised funds, endowment administration, scholarship programs, and nonprofit capacity-building services for individuals, families, advisors, and charitable organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation & Philanthropic Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Investors, Nec (6799), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Donor-advised funds
• Philanthropic advising
• Scholarship administration
• Nonprofit support programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Administrative Fees on Donor-Advised Funds: CICF charges administrative fees on charitable funds held at the foundation. These fees fund foundation operations and services including philanthropic advising, fund management, grant administration, and compliance. Fee structures are tiered based on fund type and balance.
2. Investment Management Fees: CICF offers investment management services for fundholder assets across three investment pools. Fees support investment management staff, custodial services, and investment manager compensation.
3. Scholarship Administration Services: CICF administers scholarship applications and awards for scholarships housed at CICF and foundation partners including Hamilton County Community Foundation, the Indianapolis Foundation, and Women's Foundation of Indiana.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) is a community foundation that establishes and manages donor-advised funds, charitable organization funds, corporate-advised funds, scholarship funds, and IMPACT social-investment funds for individuals, families, corporations, and nonprofits across nine Central Indiana counties. It provides philanthropic advising, investment management across three pooled strategies, grant administration, scholarship administration, and nonprofit capacity-building programs for a $1.4B+ asset base.

Product overview

Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF) operates as a community foundation offering a comprehensive suite of philanthropic services organized around four pathways: Regional Connections, Culture of Giving, Nonprofit Support, and Nonprofit Leadership. The core product portfolio includes various fund types—Donor-Advised Funds (including a No Minimum, No Fee option), Corporate-Advised Funds, Charitable Organization Funds, Scholarship Funds, and IMPACT Funds—that enable individuals, families, companies, and nonprofits to engage in structured philanthropy. Supporting these funds are technology platforms including CICF Connect (Fund Advisor Portal) for donor grantmaking and a Scholarship Portal for student applications. CICF also delivers direct programs such as Stronger Partners, Brighter Futures (planned giving cohort), Executive Leadership Cohort, Office Hours, Greater Indy Trailways, BY-Plus construction training, Connected Communities, IMPACT Central Indiana, and the Indianapolis Cultural Trail. Through its Charitable Advisors subsidiary, CICF provides Not-for-profit News, a nonprofit job board, executive search services, and salary surveys. Grantmaking and scholarship administration services support the broader nonprofit ecosystem across Central Indiana's nine counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Charitable Advisors: CICF organization providing nonprofit sector support including executive search, salary surveys, nonprofit job board, Not-for-profit News publication, and HR peer groups.

Products and services

• Donor-Advised Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,493 organizations supported with $22.8M in grants by CICF fundholders in 2024
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Hamilton County Community FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF provides operational, philanthropic, and strategic services to Hamilton County Community Foundation as part of the CICF Collaborative. The organizations work together on regional philanthropy and community investment across Central Indiana.
• The Indianapolis FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the CICF Collaborative, The Indianapolis Foundation receives operational support from CICF while focusing on its mission serving Marion County.
• Women's Foundation of IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWomen's Foundation of Indiana (also known as Women's Fund of Central Indiana) participates in the CICF Collaborative and receives operational support services from CICF.
• IMPACT Central IndianacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvestment partnership created by CICF, Hamilton County Community Foundation, and the Indianapolis Foundation to facilitate social impact investments into community-led development, entrepreneurs, and affordable housing.
• Charitable AdvisorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable Advisors joined CICF in 2025, bringing 25+ years of nonprofit resources including Not-for-profit News, nonprofit job board, executive search services, and salary surveys.
• Parks Alliance of IndianapolismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF provides operational and administrative support to Parks Alliance, which transitioned from a supporting organization to a special interest fund of CICF in 2025.
• NextechmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF provides operational and administrative support to Nextech, which prepares Indiana students for the future through computer science, AI, data science, and teacher training.
• The District TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF provides operational and administrative support to The District Theatre, helping the performing arts organization focus on amplifying diverse voices.
• Lilly Family School of Philanthropy (Indiana University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF partners with the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and The Fund Raising School on the Executive Leadership Cohort for new nonprofit executives.
• Visit IndymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit Indy partners with CICF to lead Greater Indy Trailways, bringing together 800+ miles of trails into one connected, user-friendly resource.
• Indiana Construction Roundtable FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF partners with ICR Foundation, Home Repairs for Good, and Indianapolis Legal Aid Society on BY-Plus, a construction training program for underinvested individuals.
• Home Repairs for GoodmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BY-Plus collaborative providing construction training and development opportunities for underemployed individuals.
• Indianapolis Legal Aid SocietymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BY-Plus collaborative, providing legal support for program participants in construction training.
• Indy Hunger NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF partnered with Indy Hunger Network to expand its annual hunger study beyond Marion County to eight additional Central Indiana counties.
• Indy Arts CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF collaborated with Indy Arts Council and IEDC on a first-of-its-kind Venue Inventory and Needs Assessment for performance spaces across the nine-county region.
• Big Car CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF has been a longtime partner of Big Car Collaborative, an Indianapolis nonprofit arts organization that uses culture and creativity to build community.
• Herbert Simon Family FoundationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanded team partnership with Herbert Simon Family Foundation; co-manages Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund supporting artists in the arts ecosystem.
• City of IndianapolismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF founded the Indianapolis Cultural Trail in partnership with the City of Indianapolis, an 8-mile urban bike and pedestrian path completed in 2013.
• TEDxIndianapolisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCICF partnered with TEDxIndianapolis to host the 'Generosity for a New Era' Salon event exploring philanthropy and generosity.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greater Cincinnati Foundation: Community foundation serving the greater Cincinnati region with donor-advised funds, scholarship administration, and grantmaking to local nonprofits. A close like-for-like Midwestern community foundation peer.
• Chicago Community Trust: Regional community foundation serving the Chicago area with donor-advised funds, impact investing, and nonprofit leadership programs. Comparable to CICF in mission, product mix, and use of a multi-affiliate collaborative model.
• Hamilton County Community Foundation: Hamilton County (Indiana) community foundation that is itself a partner within CICF's Collaborative. Same product set as CICF but narrower geography; useful as a direct intra-affiliate peer.
• The Columbus Foundation: Central Ohio community foundation operating donor-advised funds, competitive grantmaking, and collaborative initiatives. Directly comparable in scale, product, and regional focus.
• The Cleveland Foundation: Oldest community foundation in the U.S., serving Greater Cleveland with donor-advised funds, scholarship programs, and competitive grantmaking. Closely mirrors CICF's regional model, fund structure, and nonprofit-support programs.

Others

• Lilly Endowment Inc. Major private foundation focused on Indiana-based causes, including religion, education, and community development. Both a significant CICF grantmaker (and donor) and a strategic partner for community foundation initiatives across Central Indiana.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: Largest national donor-advised fund sponsor, offering low-fee, self-service DAFs with broad investment options. The dominant national competitor to CICF's DAF product line.
• Schwab Charitable: Major national DAF sponsor affiliated with Schwab, providing low-cost donor-advised funds and integrated brokerage giving. A primary national alternative for CICF's prospective DAF donors.
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation: One of the largest community foundations in the U.S., offering donor-advised funds, scholarship administration, and regional grantmaking. Highly comparable business model to CICF but with national/international donor reach rather than a single region.
• National Philanthropic Trust: Independent national DAF sponsor and the largest grantmaking vehicle by assets. Competes with CICF for high-net-worth donors seeking a national DAF provider with scholarship administration capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/centralindianacommunityfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-indiana-community-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/cicfoundation
• Xx.com/cicfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Central Indiana Community Foundation