Perry County
Community Foundation
The Community Foundation is a charitable resource devoted to our local community. We help people make meaningful gifts that improve life in Perry County, Indiana today and for generations to come.
The Community Foundation can help you...
Greater Good Together
The Perry County Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation Alliance, a network of nine community foundations serving counties in southwestern Indiana. The Alliance provides management and administrative expertise to county-wide community foundations, empowering each to promote philanthropy, build endowment and improve wellbeing in our local communities. Learn more!
Recent News
The Perry County Community Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2025 Community Good Grants Program. Nonprofit organizations serving Perry County are invited to apply now through Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Community Good Grants are awarded to charitable partners addressing a wide range of local needs. Funding is available to support programs and projects that make a meaningful impact in Perry County communities. Organizations can find detailed grant guidelines and submit their application online . For questions or assistance, please contact Emily Alvey, Regional Director of Community Engagement and Impact, at 812.547.3176 or ealvey@communityfoundationalliance.org. To learn more about the Perry County Community Foundation and stay updated on grant opportunities, follow us on Facebook .
The Perry County Community Foundation distributed more than $63,000 to 26 local Perry County students from its Community Scholarship Program. These scholarships are funded by generous donors who have established a scholarship fund with the Perry County Community Foundation. This year’s recipients were celebrated and recognized at the Rise & Shine Scholars event with fund founders, recipients, and parents. Congratulations to the Community Scholarship Program recipients! J. Matthew Moore Memorial Scholarship - Abby Mae Throgmorton, Cannelton High School Buehler Foods Scholarship - Addison Huber, Tell City High School Wendell and Loretta Werner Scholarship - Alden Marion, Tell City High School Perry County FOP Scholarship - Aubreigh Gogel, Perry Central High School Robert E. Boyles Scholarship - Bria Garrett, Cannelton High School John Marion Walker Scholarship - Caleb Gehlhausen, Perry Central High School Sam Reed Scholarship - Cambree Dupont, Tell City High School Sergeant Heather J. Glenn 338 Scholarship - Clara J Foertsch, Tell City High School Robert Ress Memorial Scholarship - Daelynn E Jacob, Tell City High School Branchville Correctional Facility Memorial Scholarship - Eli Underhill, Perry Central High School Charles S. (Blackie) and Rose H. Paulin Scholarship - Halie Michelle Biever, Purdue University Global Birch and Ruth Shafer Scholarship - Jada Etienne, Perry Central High School Loren and Bernice Lanman Scholarship - Jada Lindauer, Tell City High School Mildred Wempe Memorial Scholarship - Jada Lindauer, Tell City High School Cecil and Olive Foster Scholarship - Jadyn R. Schwartz, Perry Central High School Birch and Ruth Shafer Scholarship - Jazlyn Mahaney, Tell City High School Zachary Kleemann Memorial Scholarship - Jazlyn Mahaney, Tell City High School Rose Hazel Gabbert Paulin & Charles S. (Blackie) Paulin Scholarship - Joseph Mogan, Perry Central High School The Harriett & Don Neill "Perry County Values" Scholarship - Kallie Gayer, Perry Central High School Loren and Bernice Lanman Scholarship - Makayla Hulse, Cannelton City Schools Mildred Wempe Memorial Scholarship - Makayla Hulse, Cannelton City Schools Birch and Ruth Shafer Scholarship - Mallory King, Perry Central High School Gene and Christina Schwindel Scholarship for Perry Central High School - Naomie Delene Schultz, Perry Central High School York Family Scholarship - Reagan Borden, Perry Central High School Earl and Hazel Etienne Scholarship - Rose Jacob, Tell City High School Sam K. Oberhausen Memorial Scholarship - Rose Jacob, Tell City High School Stacey Peak Memorial Scholarship - Sarah Sander, Tell City High School Mark "Flash" Kleeman Memorial Scholarship - Savannah (Lucy) Whistle, Perry Central High School Jamon L. Burchett Memorial Scholarship - Savannah (Lucy) Whistle, Perry Central High School John Williams Memorial Scholarship - Savannah (Lucy) Whistle, Perry Central High School Old National Tell City Scholarship - Savannah (Lucy) Whistle, Perry Central High School Edgar and Evelyn Whitcomb Scholarship - Trista Jones, Perry Central High School Perry County 4-H Scholarship - Trista Jones, Perry Central High School Loren and Bernice Lanman Scholarship - Wyatt Sitzman, Perry Central High School
A broad spectrum of diverse demand for a wide variety of professionals and professional services exists in southern Indiana, representing an array of actionable growth opportunities and potential market development. These opportunities were recently strategically documented in a comprehensive report funded by the Community Foundation Alliance and the Harrison County Community Foundation. The planning report, conducted in partnership with the Indiana First READI region, profiles and pinpoints specific growth opportunities for entrepreneurs in several categories, according to Jill Carpenter, President and CEO of the Community Foundation Alliance here. “Based on direct primary research conducted across multiple counties, the Indiana First Quality of Life Economic Impact Analysis report reveals market potential and entrepreneurial gaps on a county-by-county basis, demonstrating areas of real demand,” said Carpenter. “A careful review of key areas can yield some significant potential market growth for the right companies, professionals, and entrepreneurs.” The economic development executives in the First Indiana region noted that they intend to mine the report to determine opportunities for scalable market growth and talent attraction. The report offers an analysis of the potential economic impact for addressing and improving defined issues throughout the region. “This report can be a workbook for professionals looking to expand, relocate, or start up a business in multiple categories,” said Chris Pfaff, CEO of Knox County Indiana Economic Development. “It provides actionable data on what services and capacity presently exist within our counties and region, and what services residents travel outside of the county or region to buy or obtain.” “Those gaps represent a definable opportunity to be evaluated and captured,” he added. “It can serve as a talent attractor and entrepreneurial opportunity of the first order for our region.” The information is expected to help the region enhance its state and local investments from the READI program and other private investment opportunities. “In order to get feedback from each county, key stakeholders were invited to participate in community conversations regarding essential services in their county in addition to a public survey facilitated by consultants,” said Julie Moorman, President and CEO of the Harrison County Community Foundation. “We are appreciative of the input from community stakeholders in helping identify gaps in essential services and sharing their input of quality-of-life amenities in their communities.” The 191-page report, assembled by TPMA (Thomas P. Miller and Associates), includes significant data analysis and identified specific opportunities to enhance the quality of life in five southern Indiana counties, sketching out gaps that can be filled through initiative planning and growth, infrastructure investments, and elevation of talent opportunities. Actionable potential engagement highlights for growth range from healthcare and essential services to entertainment and dining, as well as professional and technical services. "The report confirms what we’ve heard anecdotally for years—many Perry County residents travel outside the county for veterinary services," said Erin Emerson, President and CEO of the Perry County Development Corporation. "Now, by pairing local insight with concrete data, we can make an even stronger case that additional veterinary services could thrive here - this is just one of many opportunities highlighted in the analysis that align with the needs of our community." The full report, which analyzes needs, assets, and potential advantages of Harrison, Knox, Perry, Pike, and Spencer counties, is available on the Southwest Indiana Development Council website in the Indiana First section: https://swidc.org/indiana-first/ The full report profiles current inventory of essential services and quality of life amenities for each county and includes recommendations for addressing growth needs. The research and planning report and related activities were funded by the Community Foundation Alliance and the Harrison County Community Foundation. Community Foundations in Pike, Perry, Knox, Spencer and Harrison counties served as partners for the planning and development of the comprehensive report. About the Community Foundation Alliance Community Foundation Alliance is comprised of affiliate Community Foundations serving nine counties throughout southwestern Indiana in Daviess, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties. Through the establishment of endowed funds created by caring donors to benefit community causes, the Alliance works to improve the quality of life in affiliate counties by providing annual grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to local students. For more information, please visit https://www.communityfoundationalliance.org/ About the Harrison County Community Foundation Harrison County Community Foundation was founded in 1996 by the Harrison County Commissioners, with an initial donation from Caesars Southern Indiana. HCCF’s mission is to inspire and assist everyone in experiencing philanthropy, producing positive and sustainable growth in Harrison County. To date, HCCF has awarded over $133 million in grants, scholarships, and other support to Harrison County nonprofits, entities, and award recipients. The Foundation serves in a community leadership role to help grow Harrison County into the best place to live, work, and raise a family. For more information, please visit https://hccfindiana.org/ About Indiana First Representing the Indiana counties of: Harrison, Knox, Pike, Perry, and Spencer, the region was awarded $15 million from the state’s READI program, intended to accelerate projects that will enhance the area’s quality of life, and increase competitiveness for economic growth. For more information, please visit https://swidc.org/indiana-first/
