Piece of the PI: Newsletter

A monthly publication for the members of Prosperity Indiana

We REAP prosperity by providing Resources, Engagement, Advocacy, and Programs that support our members' work!

Rural Housing Development Summit 

September 10, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST | On the Hill Events | 24 W Rampart Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176 

This program will focus on solutions to meet the challenges of rural housing development. The Summit will strengthen the ability of rural communities to increase the quality and quantity of attainable units through zoning, community engagement, developer incentives, and development partnership strategies. 

Highlights will include: 

• Countering common objections to rural housing development.

• Creating or revising zoning ordinances.  

• Attracting developers and professional service providers for development.  

• Expanding the number of developers willing to undertake projects in rural areas.  

• Developing partnerships and leveraging resources for project funding.

Click here to register or find out more about this upcoming event. 

Join the Prosperity Indiana Board

Want to represent the farthest reaches of our state or share your unique perspective in a PI leadership role? Prosperity Indiana is actively seeking applications for new board members. While preference is given to those representing nonprofits, we welcome applications from any member.

• September 4: 2025 Indiana Health Equity Symposium, Health by Design

• September 10: Rural Housing Development Summit, Prosperity Indiana

• September 11: Housing Data Deep Dive with NLIHC for PI Members, Prosperity Indiana

• September 16: Do It For The Culture, United Way of Central Indiana

• September 30: Building Inclusive Leadership Pipelines, United Way of Central Indiana

• September 30 - October 1: Preservation Conference, Indiana Landmarks

• October 2: Imagining the Future for Church Properties, Greater Indy Habitat for Humanity

• October 22: 2025 Annual Conference, Indiana Public Health Association

Engagement

Prosperity Indiana’s 2025 Regional Meeting Tour Recap 

This Summer Prosperity Indiana traveled to Evansville, Bloomington, La Porte, Jeffersonville, Hammond, Indianapolis, and Fort Wayne. We’ve gathered around the table with communities to talk honestly about challenges, strategies, and the opportunities we can create when we work together. 

What We Heard 

• Funding uncertainty – Delays or cuts in federal funding streams are leaving organizations with gaps in their budgets, ending contracts, and forcing tough decisions on staffing and programs. 

• Housing and legal needs – From tenant protections and eviction prevention to expungement support, housing authority waitlists, and supportive housing needs, communities are struggling with overwhelming demand and limited resources.   

• Small Business Strain – Fewer startups are launching, and many existing small business owners are weighed down by personal credit challenges, tighter lending, and fewer opportunities for subcontract work. 

• Capacity Gaps – Whether due to understaffing (or hiring freezes), extremely competitive or partially funded grants, many organizations are stretched thin. Yet, the need for services continues to increase.  

How Communities are Retooling 

Even in the face of these pressures, members shared ways they are adapting: 

• Strengthening Partnerships by building coalitions that avoid silos and bringing all stakeholders to the table. 

• Sharedspace to reduce overhead and maintain services. 

• Bartering resources by trading supplies and expertise across nonprofits to fill services gaps without new funding. 

• Diversifying funding by pursuing new investors, community foundations, and partnerships with local universities. 

• Organizing locally by strengthening grassroot leaders and community stakeholders to create stronger referral networks and improve community systems. 

• Amplifying impact through more intentional storytelling and use of social media to reach funders and community members. 

Thank you to Our Co-hosts 

This tour would not have been possible without our incredible members and partners.  

• HOUSE

• Heading Home of South Central Indiana 

• Health Foundation of La Porte 

• City of Jeffersonville 

• City of Gary 

• Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance 

• United Ways of Central Indiana & Indiana United Ways 

• Brightpoint 

Looking Ahead 

While these challenges are real, so too is the resilience of Indiana’s community economic development network. We are stronger when we face these issues together. Prosperity Indiana is committed to continuing these conversations, elevating local solutions, and advocating for lasting change.

Advocacy

PI Members Policy Survey open through September 2 – make your voice heard! 

It may still be summer, but it’s already time for you and your organization to help shape the 2026 policy agenda for Prosperity Indiana! Please complete our Annual Members’ Policy Survey by September 2 to have your voice heard.  

Our annual policy priorities are 100% member-driven, reflecting PI members’ needs across housing, community development, and economic opportunity issues. While there are many challenges ahead, Prosperity Indiana's network has demonstrated that we create victories when we have a united voice in advocacy. Help us reach new wins by adding your voice to those of other members through the survey. 

PI is hiring a Policy Manager – help us spread the word! 

PI is currently accepting applications for our Policy Manager opening, and we’d love for members to help us spread the word. This position works with PI leadership to manage our three issue-based coalitions and other initiatives that build the advocacy reach and capacity of our network. 

This is a great opportunity to help advance our advocacy efforts to increase housing and economic opportunity for all Hoosiers and their communities. It’s also a great opportunity to lift up the voices and advocacy capacity of those most impacted by policy decisions at the state and federal level. We offer a supportive work culture, real work-life balance, and the chance to lead and connect with changemakers across the community economic development sectors in Indiana and nationwide. 

Please share the position description with your networks! Interviews are being scheduled now and will continue until the role is filled. 
 

Upcoming Webinar: Housing Data Deep Dive with NLIHC for Prosperity Indiana Members September 11 10-11ET  

Join PI staff and a national expert from the National Low Income Housing Coalition's research team for a discussion exclusive to PI members. Attendees will understand the housing needs of Indiana's lowest-income renters; where the numbers come from; and how members use the state/county/metro and legislative district data from The Gap and Out of Reach reports to benefit the Hoosiers and communities they serve. Register here 

Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities 

PI has been asked to help coordinate the Indiana delegation for the National Alliance to End Homelessness’ Virtual Capitol Hill Day on September 17. RSVP here to help us advocate with Indiana’s Congressional delegation! 

Also, register now for the Community Opportunity Alliance’s People & Places Conference in Washington on October 5-7 and join Prosperity Indiana staff on Capitol Hill for in-person meetings with Indiana’s Congressional delegation! 

PI & Member Jobs

• Policy Manager, Prosperity Indiana

• Associate Director, Compliance, CareSource

• Restore Associate, Habitat for Humanity GFW

• Director of Culture and Belonging, United Way of Central Indiana

• Manager of Volunteer Engagement, United Way of Central Indiana

• Marketing Director, United Way of Central Indiana

PI & Members in the News

PI Executive Director Aspen Clemons presenting at the Fort Wayne Regional Meeting.

Connect with Prosperity Indiana on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to see more of what we're out in the community doing for you!

Additional Information & Opportunities

Eviction Sealing Webinar Recording

Prosperity Indiana, in partnership with Indiana Legal Services (ILS) and the Indiana Bar Foundation’s Indiana Legal Help (IBF) hosted a webinar, Getting the Most from Indiana's New Eviction Sealing Law for Tenants, Housing Providers, and Community Organizations on August 25.

View the webinar recording and materials here.

Indianapolis Public Library Launching Workshops to Start Your Own Nonprofits

The Indianapolis Public Library is launching a series of free workshops aimed at helping individuals build and manage nonprofit organizations, starting Sept. 6 at the Central Library. The series will run until Oct. 29 and will feature sessions led by local nonprofit experts.

Learn more here.

Upcoming CSH Webinars Covering H.R.1

CSH policy experts will dive into H.R.1 and the impact on housing. Learn more about the upcoming webinars here:

"How H.R.1 Will Impact Supportive Housing Development and Preservation" on September 3, and "How H.R.1 Medicaid Provisions Will Impact Affordable and Supportive Housing" on September 4.

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