North Central Health Services (NCHS), affiliated with River Bend Hospital, offers capital grants through its Community Benefit Grantmaking program. These grants are intended for tax-exempt nonprofit organizations serving specific counties in Indiana and are focused on improving health outcomes and developing healthy communities. NCHS prioritizes capital projects that reflect strong organizational capacity, financial stability, and the potential for significant, sustainable impact on community health.

Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits and serve at least one of the following Indiana counties: Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Warren, or White. NCHS does not consider applications from individuals, municipalities, religious or political organizations, public or private educational institutions, foundations, or organizations with taxing authority. The grants must be for capital projects only—operational expenses, reimbursement for past purchases, or improvements to non-owned property are not eligible.

Grant funding is aligned with priorities identified in the 2024 River Bend Hospital and NCHS Community Health Needs Assessments. Ideal projects are those that enhance health outcomes, address unmet community needs, promote collaboration, show broad community support, and demonstrate the potential for long-term sustainability. Preference is given to projects that are creative, non-duplicative, and efficient in resource use. Applicants requesting over $250,000 must already have secured at least 10% of project funding from other sources to demonstrate community support.

The grant process begins with the submission of a letter of inquiry (LOI), which is accepted year-round. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to contact NCHS at (765) 423-1604 before submitting a letter. The LOI should include information about the organization, the community need being addressed, the proposed solution, estimated project cost, details of any partners, and the funding amount requested. Letters should be addressed to Michelle Kreinbrook, Director of Community Benefit and Outreach, at NCHS headquarters in West Lafayette, Indiana.

If the LOI is accepted for further review, the applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal, which must include detailed financial documentation, bids or quotes for capital purchases, and appraisals where applicable. The type and level of financial documentation required varies by the amount requested. For example, requests over $250,000 must be accompanied by audited financial statements. Final grant decisions are made based on demonstrated organizational success, collaboration, operational effectiveness, and sustainability planning.