Common Council Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee Accepting Applications for the 2024 Funding Cycle

The City of Bloomington Common Council's Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee invites social services agencies serving the needs of City of Bloomington residents to apply for 2024 grant funding. This year, the Committee has $350,000 to distribute. Applications are available at the Committee’s webpage https://bloomington.in.gov/council/jack-hopkins. Applications are due by Monday, 1 April 2024 no later than 4:00 pm.
 
Named in honor of former Council member Jack Hopkins who helped establish the program in 1993, the program is dedicated to funding projects that improve the lives of the City’s most vulnerable residents. Vulnerable residents include those who are low-to-moderate income, under 18 years of age, elderly, people with a disability, or otherwise disadvantaged. Since the program’s inception, the City has allocated over $6 million to local social service agencies.
 
The Committee is composed of four members of the Bloomington Common Council and three City residents with experience in social services. Council members serving are: Isak Nti Asare (Chair), Hopi Stosberg, and Andy Ruff (with one seat yet to be filled). The citizen appointments are: Eddy Riou, Camryn Greer, and Nordia McNish.

Committee Chair Isak Nti Asare advises that "The committee recognizes the relentless dedication and hard work of social service agencies. These organizations are the backbone of our community, tirelessly striving to make a difference in the lives of those they serve. Our commitment is to ensure that their efforts are supported, enabling them to extend their reach and impact even further. It's not just about funding; it's about acknowledging their invaluable role and fostering an environment where their work can thrive and expand."
 
Criteria
In general, applications must meet the following criteria:

• The program should address an identified priority for social services funds (as indicated in the Service Community Assessments of Needs (SCAN) Report, the City of Bloomington housing and Neighborhood Development department's 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, or other community-wide survey of social service need);
• The funds should provide a one-time investment that, through matching funds or other fiscal leveraging, makes a significant contribution to the program;
• This investment in the program should lead to broad and long-lasting benefits to the community.

Interested applicants should further consult the Committee's funding criteria as outlined on the Committee's webpage: http://bloomington.in.gov/jack-hopkins. All meetings of the Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee are open to the public.