Pam Blevins Hinkle Creative Catalyst Fund

IU Research Indianapolis

Founded in 1996, Spirit & Place is a community-centered initiative at IU Indianapolis that catalyzes civic engagement through the arts, humanities, and religion. Spirit & Place builds authentic relationships and co-creates programming and capacity-building opportunities that address and reflect community needs and values. More than 60 percent of this work is funded through community contributions, which help support an 11-day festival, civic reflection dialogues, and other enriching activities.

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IU Research Indianapolis

Founded in 1996, Spirit & Place is a community-centered initiative at IU Indianapolis that catalyzes civic engagement through the arts, humanities, and religion. Spirit & Place builds authentic relationships and co-creates programming and capacity-building opportunities that address and reflect community needs and values. More than 60 percent of this work is funded through community contributions, which help support an 11-day festival, civic reflection dialogues, and other enriching activities.

Additional Info

Pam Blevins Hinkle served as director of Spirit & Place for 20 years. Under Pam’s leadership, Spirit & Place advanced multiple strategic shifts that diversified programs and audiences, expanded accessibility for community partners and audiences, and supported innovative projects such as the Community Innovation Lab and Powerful Conversations on Race dialogues.

Reflecting on her two decades of service, Pam shared: “My time with Spirit & Place has been one of the greatest joys of my life. It’s been a true privilege to work alongside so many remarkable colleagues and community partners whose creativity, scholarship, and imagination continue to knit our communities together in inspiring ways. I leave with deep gratitude and confidence in the ongoing promise of Spirit & Place as a vital site for public discourse, civic experimentation, and community building."

Gifts to the Pam Blevins Hinkle Creative Catalyst Fund will sustain Pam's powerful legacy by supporting expenses incurred by Spirit & Place at IU Indianapolis for activities that strengthen community creativity and collaboration. This could include:

  • Providing additional financial support to independent or small organizational partners to cover festival event expenses
  • Hosting collaborative and creative workshops for community partners
  • Purchasing training resources, such as design-thinking materials, for both staff and partners
  • Sending staff to professional development opportunities that enhance their ability to coach and support partners
  • And more

Your gift will honor Pam's extensive contributions to Spirit & Place by helping partners and staff explore new ideas, build capacity, and create meaningful, accessible civic experiences rooted in the arts, humanities, and religion. Thank you for your generous support!

Your giving matters

One of the greatest barriers to meaningful community impact is often not a lack of ideas—it's a lack of resources and support to bring those ideas to life. I know the Pam Blevins Hinkle Catalyst Fund will empower individuals and organizations with bold ideas to connect people, inspire dialogue, and strengthen our communities.

Pam Francis Circular Indiana Board President

Important Disclosures

Please note, the name and purpose of the fund displayed on this page constitute the authorized description of the fund by the Indiana University Foundation, Inc. Your gift supports the fund as described herein.