In partnership with the Indianapolis City-County Council and the Office of Public Health and Safety, CICF has announced the first round of funding available through the Council District Crime Prevention Grants Program.
The new program is administered by The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of CICF, and will support new or existing projects, services, and programs that show potential to reduce crime in Marion County—either directly or indirectly.
Leroy Robinson
Leroy Robinson, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee, led the effort to develop the program in response to the impact of crime and inequitable access to opportunity in Marion County neighborhoods and communities. “Crime and violence don’t affect neighborhoods across our city equally,” Robinson said, “but our past efforts to prevent violence and criminal activity have not always reflected that reality. This new program is an opportunity for the Council to understand if a different approach will yield better results.”
Using Council District-level data provided by The Polis Center’s SAVI program, each member of the Council had the opportunity to select funding priorities for their District; grant funds will be awarded in alignment with those priorities and with the Council’s and CICF’s commitment to equity. Grantmaking will prioritize neighborhood- based, resident-driven, grassroots, and nontraditional organizations that empower neighborhoods to build a safer community. Individuals wishing to increase the impact of the grant program can make a contribution directed to a specific Council district here.
“What works in one neighborhood might not be the best approach in another. There is no one-size-fits-all.”
Alicia Collins
With grants ranging from $500—$40,000, Council President Vop Osili says the program is designed to reach organizations that may not have been eligible for crime prevention grant funding previously.
“We don’t want small programs or organizations excluded from the conversation around public safety,” said Osili. “And we want to support them in doing what they do best.”
Alicia Collins, director of community leadership at CICF, agrees. “The opportunities and challenges Indianapolis has in regards to preventing crime are specific to each neighborhood and community,” Collins said. “What works in one neighborhood might not be the best approach in another. There is no one-size-fits-all. This new grants program with City-County Council empowers grassroots organizations to partner with their elected officials to create specific solutions and opportunities that work in their neighborhoods and make our communities safer and stronger for all.”
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