Colts, Kicking The Stigma To Open Applications for 2025 Action Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Thursday, January 30, 2025 

Indianapolis – Kicking The Stigma, the Indianapolis Colts and Jim Irsay family’s initiative to raise awareness about mental health and end the stigma surrounding mental illnesses, will begin accepting applications for the 2025 Kicking The Stigma Action Grants this weekend.

Kicking The Stigma created the Action Grants in 2021 to distribute to nonprofits and organizations to raise awareness around mental health and increase access to evidence-based mental health care in Indiana and beyond. Since then, more than $6.4 million has been donated to more than 60 organizations.

In 2025, there will be two separate grant opportunities:

Community Action Grant

The Community Action Grant is open to nonprofits and organizations working in the mental health space. Organizations may apply for up to $25,000 in funding.

Initiatives must align with one of Kicking The Stigma’s five key focus areas: Behavioral Health Workforce Development, Equitable Access to Treatment & Resources, Grassroots Peer-to-Peer Programming, Awareness & Anti-Stigma Initiatives and Youth Mental Health.

Applications for the Community Action Grant open Sat., Feb. 1 at KickingTheStigma.org/Action-Grants.

  • Step 1:  Interested organizations should visit KickingTheStigma.org/Action-Grants to fill out an “Interest Form,” providing a high-level overview of its program. The deadline to complete the Interest Form is Feb. 28.
  • Step 2:  A review team will evaluate all Interest Forms and select qualified programs to move on to the formal application process. Those selected to move on in the process will receive notification no later than Mar. 31.
  • Step 3:  The review process will take place in May and June, with formal grant announcements in late summer.

Legacy Action Grant

The Legacy Action Grant will be offered to select organizations within the Kicking The Stigma network with the goal of creating larger-scale impact in the mental health sector. Organizations will be contacted directly by a Kicking The Stigma representative for this opportunity.