Courtney Tillotta keeps a frame on her desk with three photos in it: one of her stepfather, one of her cousin and one of her grandma. They all died within the same month in 2020.
As a leader for Indiana Donor Network’s program that offers free grief support groups, she wants to use her work to make them proud.
Her stepfather, Bill, was a tissue donor.
“Life is really not fair. But how do we move forward with that in a positive way, and how can I continue to honor them every day?” she asked. “That’s a big part of why I continue to do what I do.”
Tillotta and her team members are social workers and have certificates in thanatology, which is the study of death and dying. They help out when a family doesn’t know how to get a death certificate or arrange a funeral.
They run four grief support groups open to mothers, men and donor families. They also offer one-on-one support. Those sessions, Tillotta said, start by listening to understand what the grieving person is going through.
“Each person’s grief journey is unique in and of itself, just like a fingerprint,” she said. “Because that relationship was unique.”
And for different journeys with grief, different support options can be helpful. We gathered a list of groups for a variety of people: kids, parents, LGBTQ+ folks and anyone who needs support.
Grief support groups around Indianapolis
Indiana Donor Network
Open to: Families of organ donors
Anyone whose loved one died and chose to be an organ donor is welcome to join free grief groups at Indiana Donor Network. The monthly meetings are virtual, and each one goes over a different topic, such as getting through holidays or building relationships after loss.
Right now, you can join a men’s group, mother’s group or a general group for families of donors. Soon, they plan to open one that’s open to anyone, regardless of whether they have a connection to organ donation.
Brooke’s Place
Open to: Kids and young adults ages 3-29
Brooke’s Place is focused on kids who are experiencing grief. Their support groups, led by staff members or trained volunteers, gather peers from similar age brackets. Brooke’s Place offers groups for ages 3-5, 6-9, 10-12, teens and young adults 18-29.
The groups meet at four locations: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Christ Indianapolis United Methodist Church, ROCK Community Center at Eastern Star Church and Kingsway Church in Avon.
The twice-monthly meetings start with a pizza dinner. Then, participants spend an hour and 10 minutes telling stories about the loved ones they’re grieving, drawing, writing or expressing themselves by tearing up a phone book or punching a pillow.
Brooke’s Place suggests a $30 donation per family each month, but no one is turned away if they can’t pay.
Related
Grieving children, young adults find solace at Brooke’s Place
The nonprofit, which is expanding to the south side, allows youth to play games, release frustration and build community.
Grief Share
Open to: Anyone
Grief Share is a national network with groups that meet in seven spots around Indy, usually at churches. You can join at any point during the 13-week program. It’s free to attend, but they use a book that costs $25. The book and curriculum are based on Christian principles, but the group is open to anyone of any faith.
Each meeting starts with a 30-minute video. Then, group members discuss what they’re experiencing or the topic from the video.
Riley Children’s Health
Open to: Anyone experiencing the death of a child
Riley Children’s Health offers all kinds of support to help family members through the loss of a child: grief workshops, individual counseling, a resource guide, and grief support groups for adults and kids.
They also host Camp Good Grief, a free annual camp for kids dealing with grief. This year’s Indianapolis camp is on Aug. 29. You can register online.
MLK Center
Open to: Anyone
At the MLK Center, you can join a monthly support group to share your story and hear from others going through the grieving process. Starting in October, the group will meet at 10 a.m. the last Saturday of each month at the Beloved Community Outreach Center, 3950 N. Illinois St. The community center also offers one-on-one sessions.
Queer Grief Indy
Open to: LGBTQ+ folks
Queer Grief Indy runs peer support groups for six-week periods. Check their Instagram page or join their email list to get updates about the next Grief in Color cohort.
Community Health Network
Open to: Anyone
In-person support groups in Indianapolis will start in the fall and run for six-week periods. Groups are free, but you have to register. To sign up, call 317-621-4646 or email Julie Leet at jleet@ecommunity.com.
There are also virtual groups for the loss of a sibling, spouse, parent or adult child. To join virtual groups or schedule an online session with a counselor, email intouch@ecommunity.com or call 317-621-4646. This support is free.
Military OneSource
Open to: Active-duty service members and their families
If you’re in the military or lost a loved one in the military, you can get free short-term counseling services through Military OneSource. Support is available in person, online or over the phone.
A correction was made on Aug. 13, 2026: An earlier version of this story misspelled Courtney Tillotta’s last name.
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations. Sign up for our free newsletters.
Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
