3Rivers Credit Union Announces Big Give Grant Finalists
The initiative awards $225,000 to nonprofits as local voters decide which three organizations will receive $75,000 each.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Do you support using public community voting to decide which local nonprofits receive major grant funding?
3Rivers Credit Union has named eight nonprofit finalists for its Big Give initiative, which will distribute $225,000 in grants. Community members in Fort Wayne and beyond will determine which three organizations receive $75,000 each through a public voting process.
Why it matters
Local businesses and nonprofits often leverage collaborative funding models to scale operations and address community needs. This initiative highlights how institutions can utilize public engagement to drive capital allocation toward regional social service providers.
The Big Give initiative provides a $225,000 total grant pool, with three organizations set to receive $75,000 each. These awards are aimed at supporting eight finalists, including four based in Fort Wayne, in their efforts to expand programs and facilities.
The players
3Rivers Credit Union
A member-owned financial cooperative that provides banking services and community development funding in Indiana.
A Mother's Hope
A Fort Wayne-based nonprofit serving mothers and children in need.
Children's Autism Center
A provider of specialized therapeutic services for children on the autism spectrum.
The details
The initiative functions as a community-driven capital allocation model where 3Rivers Credit Union empowers residents to select which social projects receive funding. Finalists, including A Mother's Hope and the Children's Autism Center, have submitted proposals focused on expanding services or strengthening facility infrastructure. The winning organizations will use these grants to scale capacity, with projected outcomes including the ability to serve additional beneficiaries such as 600 children or the 7,000 individuals currently supported by the pantry finalists.
Timeline
Public voting begins on October 21, 2026.
Public voting concludes on November 4, 2026.
Market Landscape
This story follows the established pattern of the corporate-sponsored community grant challenge model, which incentivizes public participation to validate organizational impact. Such programs are increasingly utilized by local financial institutions to align regional social investment with member interests.
Business owners should monitor the successful proposals from this cohort to understand shifting priorities in regional human services. Evaluating how these grant-funded expansions affect local labor demand or service capacity can help operators better align their own community-engagement strategies.
The takeaway
The Big Give highlights the growing trend of utilizing community polling to inform corporate social responsibility budgets. Operators interested in similar partnership models should track which organizations secure funding by the close of the voting period on November 4, 2026.
Further reading
For more on how local organizations are engaging with regional social initiatives, visit Philanthropy.
Live Poll
Do you support using public community voting to decide which local nonprofits receive major grant funding?
