Mayor Joe Hogsett, The Indianapolis Foundation announce recipients of Elevation Grants

Organizations receive nearly $4.3 million to uplift Marion County neighborhoods, reduce violence

Today, Mayor Joe Hogsett and The Indianapolis Foundation announced 31 recipients for the first round of funding from the Elevation Grant Program. This round, $4,318,539 will go towards projects focused on thriving neighborhoods, empowering youth, and restoration and resilience through mental wellness. Previously known as the Violent Crime Reduction Grant Program, the Elevation Grant Program will invest $45 million in neighborhoods over the next three years to address root causes of violent crime in Indianapolis. This critical effort, made possible by supporting funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will distribute five times more money to community organizations than last year.

“Community organizations have never stopped doing the work to make our city stronger, safer, and more vibrant,” said Mayor Hogsett. “These resources will boost this great work even farther, empowering more neighbors than ever before while reducing the root factors of violence in our neighborhoods. This historic amount of funding is an investment that will pay off in the present as well as for decades to come.”

Mayor Joe Hogsett

In this first round of investments, the Elevation Grant Program prioritized support for grassroots organizations, defined as not-for-profits operating under community values with shared power and decision making, and supported by an organizational budget up to $250,000. As a result, 20 new organizations received funding from this long-standing partnership between the City of Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Foundation, including:

Centers of Wellness for Urban Women, Inc. ($111,736) – The Power of Retreat program is designed to reduce trauma, stress and mental health barriers in communities of color—stressors often exacerbated by the daily microaggressions experienced by Black and Brown people. Program services are culturally sensitive, inclusive, and designed and delivered by qualified Black community leaders, mental health providers, social service professionals and community members. By addressing trauma-induced mental health issues, The Power of Retreat aims to help people reach their full potential, reduce the likelihood of entanglement with law enforcement and improve the quality of communities.

Crown Hill Neighborhood Association w/fiscal sponsor Mapleton-Fall Creek Development Corporation ($80,000) – The Lighting the Way to Safety & Success initiative works to increase safety while reducing violence in the Crown Hill Neighborhood. Community leaders and volunteers of the Crown Hill Neighborhood will distribute over 500 dusk-to-dawn light bulbs to households to increase lighting at night.  A variety of community-led events will be organized to increase neighborhood pride and a sense of residency.

Him By Her Foundation Inc. ($186,000) – Enterprise Village™ will allow historically underserved students to access hands-on learning on how a well-functioning community operates. Participants will explore the interaction of citizens with businesses, not-for-profits and governments, while learning about social and civic responsibility. Students will also contribute to a project benefiting a community not-for-profit that will teach them about philanthropy as a component of the free enterprise system.

See the full list of grant awards below

The Elevation Grant Program will begin accepting applications for its second round on Friday, July 1. More than $8.6 million is available in this round for community-based organizations supporting work in the following priority areas:

• Thriving Neighborhoods: grassroots organizations performing resident-led solutions
• Empowered Youth & Young Adults: organizations performing longer-term crime prevention activities, including activities for young people in Marion County who have been identified as at high risk for violence or have an existing involvement with the criminal legal system.
• Restoration & Resilience: organizations addressing trauma, providing therapeutic support and healing, and/or reducing the use of drugs and/or alcohol.
• Intervention: organizations performing longer-term crime intervention activities, including reentry services, neighborhood engagement and activities for Marion County youth and adults who are currently or at risk of interacting with the criminal legal system
• Violence Reduction: organizations able to target and support individuals who are at very high risk of being involved in gun violence with integrated, evidence-based outreach activities/crisis intervention, violence interruption, cognitive behavioral therapy and/or family-based programming.

The Elevation Program is dedicated to discovering innovative approaches that allow grassroots organizations to receive the support they need to do great work. The program encourages organizations that are not 501(c)3s to partner with fiscal sponsors when applying. During the first round of funding, four grants were made possible through fiscal sponsorships.

Alicia Collins

The Indianapolis Foundation will host grantmaking clinics on Thursday, July 7, and Thursday, July 14. The clinics provide potential applicants tailored guidance to assist in the application process.

“These clinics allow staff to meet organizations where they are, especially grassroots organizations.” said Alicia Collins, senior consultant for the Elevation Grant Program. “Providing organizations with these infrastructure development opportunities gives them the necessary support for their organization to be competitive and successful with receiving a grant.

The deadline to apply for the second round of Elevation Grant Program funding is noon on Monday, Aug. 1. Learn more and apply here.

Recipients of the Elevation Grant Program: Round One

ABOUT THE INDIANAPOLIS FOUNDATION

The Indianapolis Foundation, founded in 1916, is a public charity and an affiliate of Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). As Indiana’s oldest and largest community foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation aims to mobilize people, ideas and investments to make this a community where all individuals have equitable opportunity to reach their full potential—no matter place, race or identity. It awards nearly $7 million to support current and future community needs and is governed by a board of six publicly appointed directors. Learn more about The Indianapolis Foundation.

ABOUT MAYOR HOGSETT’S VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN

Mayor Hogsett announced a comprehensive violence reduction plan in fall 2021, powered by $150 million in American Rescue Plan funds unanimously approved by the City-County Council. The plan emphasizes law enforcement investments, including $9 million in modern policing technology, 100 new IMPD officer positions, and up to 40 IMPD civilian positions to cover non-emergencies. It also addresses root causes of violence through $45 million for grassroots violence prevention organizations, 50 peacemakers to engage with those at risk of becoming perpetrators or victims of gun violence, $30 million for mental health resources, and more.