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Honest truth? Cities don't just magically turn vibrant on their own; it takes actual people rolling up their sleeves and digging into the dirt. For roughly five decades, we’ve been bringing together local neighborhoods, small businesses, and everyday Indy residents to turn forgotten corners into living, breathing spaces where both local ecosystems and human neighbors can actually thrive.
Every single year—rain, shine, or crisp autumn air—around 30,000 volunteers join us to pull off about 500 community projects across the city. That’s a whole lot of native trees planted, litter cleared, and park benches painted.
We haven't always gone by the same handle, mind you. Way back in 1976, we started out as "Indianapolis Clean City." By 1997, though, our mission had outgrown simple litter pickup, so we rebranded as Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (or KIB, as most folks call us). Today, we operate as a 501(c)(3) non-profit and an award-winning affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, Inc., but our focus stays locked squarely on our own backyard.
Our vision is pretty straightforward:
Strong, Connected Blocks: Neighborhoods that feel safe, lively, and cared for.
Thriving Greenery: Landscapes that bloom right alongside the communities around them.
Empowered Locals: Giving people the tools—and the agency—to shape their own environment.
Underneath all the shovels, soil, and saplings, six specific values keep us grounded: teamwork, responsibility, excellence, openness, balance, and joy. That last one—joy—is non-negotiable. Because if you’re not having a little fun while making your hometown a better place to live, what's really the point?