Grantmaking 101

Carly Acree King is the Executive Director of MadJax Maker Force, where she works to support creativity, entrepreneurship, and community collaboration in Muncie and beyond. In her role, Carly focuses on building partnerships, developing inclusive programming, and connecting people with resources that help bring ideas to life.

Carly began her nonprofit career in 2007 and has experience in program development, communication, and nonprofit administration. She holds a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Public Relations Corporate Communications from Ball State University, along with certifications in Fund Raising Management, Nonprofit Leadership, and Results-Based Accountability.

Before joining MadJax, Carly served as the Relationship and Resource Director at the Nonprofit Support Network, where she helped connect nonprofits to resources, identified gaps in support systems, and worked with partners to create responsive solutions. She also served as Program Officer at The Community Foundation of Muncie and Delaware County, managing grant programs focused on rural philanthropy, land conservation, and education, while supporting nonprofits and donors in growing lasting endowment funds.

Carly brings a collaborative, thoughtful approach to her work and cares deeply about helping organizations and individuals thrive—especially when navigating complex or long-standing challenges.

Laura is a member of the Nonprofit Practice and has more than ten years of assurance and advisory experience in public accounting. Her expertise includes nonprofit financial reporting, audit preparation, outsourced accounting functions, technology solutions and implementation, and advisory services. She also has experience performing audits and attest engagements. She has experience working in several accounting systems including Sage Intacct, QuickBooks Online, MIP Fund Accounting, ACS Realm, and others. She is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor.

Laura is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Indiana CPA Society. She previously served as treasurer on the board of directors of Hancock Hope House. She previously served as a member of the finance committee at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and actively volunteers with numerous local organizations. She also previously served as a member of the Forvis Mazars Indianapolis and Bloomington offices’ community engagement committee.

She is a graduate of Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, Bloomington, with a B.S. degree in accounting and an M.B.A. degree in accounting.

Kelsey Harrington joined the George and Frances Ball Foundation team in 2018 where she currently serves as Program Impact Officer. In her role, she leads the impact and evaluation efforts of the Muncie-based organization's nearly $6 million in grantmaking each year. She also manages the Foundation’s strategic communications and facilitates the Foundation’s intermediary grantmaking as a ghost grantwriter and development lead. As a graduate of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Kelsey is passionate about community changemaking and civic engagement beyond her professional life. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Greater Muncie Chamber of Commerce, Muncie Downtown Development Partnership, and Refugee Alliance of Delaware County. In her free time, she runs a slow fashion resale business, enjoys learning new hobbies, and these days, is soaking up special moments of being a first-time aunt to her niece.

Eric Hessel started working with the Community Foundation in 2003 as a youth grantmaker and has since worked in both the direct service and funding areas of nonprofits. Prior to joining HCCF full time, Eric worked in youth programming and with the US Census Bureau, in addition to building relationships in the local community that assist in strategic and effective grantmaking decisions. Eric grew up in Pittsboro and currently lives in Carmel, IN with his two dogs.

Chad started with the Tipton County Foundation in 2014 as the education program officer, coordinating scholarships and education grantmaking. In his current role as program director, he manages the Foundation's grantmaking, works with local government and non-profits on project management and fundraising, and coordinates community leadership efforts. Chad spends the majority of his free time as a board, crew, and cast member with the local community theatre.

Phil is the senior legal council for IPA's Foundation Legal Help Desk. In his role as director at the Central Territory of the Salvation Army, Phil is the directional leader of 39 planned giving officers in 11 states who close approximately $70 million in planned gifts each year. Formerly, he served as Senior Counsel for Philanthropy on behalf of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students where he assisted approximately twenty major gift officers engaged in a $250 million multi-year campaign with a $100 million goal for planned giving. 

Phil has consulted on behalf of over 300 charitable organizations of all types. His consulting focuses on state and federal legal issues (e.g., bylaws, tax exemption applications), philanthropy (e.g., fundraising, gift agreements, policies/procedures, endowments, planned giving) and nonprofit governance (e.g., strategic planning, duties of boards of directors). He has served as an expert witness in court cases and trials on topics related to the law of philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, endowments, scholarships and related issues. 

Kortney Zimmerman is the Senior Program Officer for the George and Frances Ball Foundation. She is a two-time graduate of Ball State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education and a Master’s degree in Education Administration and Supervision. Before joining the George and Frances Ball Foundation, Kortney served as a Community Wellness Coordinator with Purdue Extension for two and a half years and was a high school Family and Consumer Sciences teacher for seven years. She currently resides in Muncie, IN with her husband, son, and two dogs. Her favorite sport is volleyball, and she enjoys spending her free time with family, attending concerts, and traveling.