Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee

Apply Now! 2026 Jack Hopkins Grant Application

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time on March 10, 2026. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Bloomington Common Council Office at [email protected] or 812-349-3409.

Please review the 2026 Program Eligibility Guidelines and Instructions below before applying.

You may also read a press release about the 2026 Grant Application availability.

2026 Program Eligibility Guidelines and Instructions

The City of Bloomington Common Council’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Committee invites Bloomington area social service agencies to apply for 2026 grant funding to support critical services for Bloomington residents. This year, the Committee has $500,000 in funds available to distribute. Since its founding in 1993, the Jack Hopkins Fund has awarded nearly $7 million to social service agencies working to improve the lives of our community’s most vulnerable residents.

Please review the information below to ensure your project aligns with our funding priorities and guidelines.

New in 2026

Program Funding Conditions

On January 7, 2026, the Bloomington Common Council adopted a resolution to update the Jack Hopkins program funding conditions. The resolution states:

The Committee shall prioritize funding for programs and projects that serve City of Bloomington residents and are delivered within the city limits. Programs or services delivered outside the city limits may also be considered when the Committee finds that they provide a direct, measurable, and substantial benefit to City residents. Capital improvements however, may only be funded when the real property to be improved is located within the city limits of Bloomington.

In previous years, projects involving capital improvements to real property locations outside of city limits were given low priority. This year, those projects will not be allocated any funding.

New Online Application Process

This year’s application will be completed online using CiviForm, which is a platform that allows application materials to be accessible. Furthermore, we have streamlined the application process to eliminate submission of documentation, such as IRS determination letters and financial statements, which may be challenging to make accessible.

Project Focus

Your project should address an identified priority for social services funds, as indicated in the City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department’s Consolidated Plan, the City of Bloomington’s Homelessness Response & Housing Investment Report, or other recent and relevant community-wide surveys or assessments of social service needs.

This investment in the program should lead to broad and long lasting benefits to the community. In the words of Jack Hopkins, “priority should be given to projects or programs where investments now will have a positive, long-term spillover-effects (such as reduced susceptibility to…diseases, decreased absences from school, reducing lost time (from work) … etc.)”

Eligibility and Conditions

• This grant is restricted to organizations that are classified as Section 501(c)(3) under the Internal Revenue Code. This policy is intended to assure that grant funds go to organizations with boards that are legally accountable for implementing the funding agreements and with the capability of raising matching funds, which is an indicator of the long-term viability of the agency. Given its mission, the presence of a board, and its general viability, an exception has historically been made for the Bloomington Housing Authority.
• Each agency may submit only one application per independent request, and may submit an additional application only for a collaborative project. 
• The minimum funding request is $1,000.
• The funding request should be proportional to the number of clients served by the project.
• Funding will not be approved for capital improvements to properties outside Bloomington city limits.
• Jack Hopkins funds may never be used for inherently religious activity. Any religious activity must be separate in time or place from Hopkins-funded activity. Religious instruction cannot be a condition for the receipt of services. Any Hopkins program must be open to all without a faith test.
• Agencies must enter into a funding agreement with the City of Bloomington, with funds provided on a reimbursement basis.
• Grant funds must be expended and verified by December of the award year, unless an extension is granted.
• Any agency receiving Jack Hopkins funds must participate in the federal E-Verify program and must comply with Bloomington’s Living Wage Ordinance, if applicable.

Priorities

The Common Council prioritizes the following types of projects for funding:

• Projects that provide food, housing, healthcare, or other services to City of Bloomington residents.
• Projects primarily serving low-income populations.
• Projects primarily providing emergency services (e.g. food, housing, and mental and physical medical services).
• Projects providing services to historically marginalized populations or groups.

Scope of Funding

The following requests are in-scope:

One-time investment: Applications requesting funds for projects that address changing circumstances in the community are encouraged. Requests should involve a one-time investment that, through matching funds or other fiscal leveraging, make a significant contribution to the project. Examples include capital improvements, community health initiatives, seed funding for new programs, etc.

Operational expenses: These expenses are recurring such as outlays for personnel, rent, utilities, maintenance, supplies, client services, and other ongoing budget items. Agencies seeking funding for operational expenses should be aware that future funding may be unavailable or inadequate to cover their needs entirely and therefore should not be relied solely  for their operational expenses. Any request for operational funding should be accompanied by a well-developed plan for future funding.

Fiscal leveraging: In the words of Jack Hopkins, who originally proposed these criteria, investments “should be leveraged wherever possible by matching funds from other sources.” Agencies may demonstrate such leveraging by using matching funds, working in partnership with other agencies, or through other means.

Collaborative projects: The Committee encourages social service agencies to collaborate to address local social service needs. Agencies may submit a collaborative project application in addition to a standard application.

The following requests are out-of-scope: 

Paid time off and bonuses: Paid time off and bonuses shall not be considered eligible for Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding.

Funding of events and celebrations: Historically the Council has not funded applications that promote or implement events or celebrations. This policy is based upon the conclusion that these occasions do not engender the broad and long-lasting effects required above.

Applications from city agencies and for profit entities: Over the years the Council has not funded applications submitted by city departments. This is based on the theory that the departments have other, more appropriate avenues for requesting funds and should not compete against other agencies, which do not have the benefit of city resources at their disposal. Except on rare occasions, the Council has not directly or indirectly funded agencies that have the power to levy property taxes or whose primary revenues derive from property taxes.

Expenses incurred prior to the allocation of Jack Hopkins Funds: Expenses incurred prior to the allocation of Jack Hopkins Funds will not be considered. Agencies may only submit claims for expenses incurred after the adoption of the resolution authorizing the grant allocations for that particular funding cycle.

Collaborative Projects

The Committee encourages social service agencies to collaborate in order to solve common problems and better address local social service needs. To serve these ends, the Committee will allow agencies to submit an application for funding as a collaborative project. An agency may submit a collaborative project application in addition to submitting a standard application.

Applicants pursuing such funding should:

• Describe each agency’s mission, operations, and services, and how they do or will complement one another.
• Describe the existing relationships between the agencies and how the level of communication and coordination will change as a result of the project.
• Identify challenges to the collaboration and set forth steps that address the greatest challenges to its success.
• Describe how project responsibilities and funding will be allocated between the agencies.

2026 Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Schedule

Technical Assistance Meeting for Applicants: Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 3:00 PM

Application Deadline: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Daylight Saving Time

Agency Presentations (only for applicants for which the Committee requires additional information): April 29, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Committee Recommends Allocation of Funds: May 28, 2026 at 6:00 PM

Common Council Acts on Committee Recommendations: June 10, 2026 at 6:30 PM

General Guidance

• Attend the technical assistance meeting for applicants. While attendance is not required, it is strongly encouraged for new applicants and for agencies whose applications have not been successful in the past. Bring your questions.
• Keep your application clear and concise.
• Be bold: you will not be penalized for big asks.
• Peruse other successful applications as posted on the Committee’s webpage.
• Applications will be assessed using scoring rubric with standardized criteria to ensure fairness and alignment with funding priorities. The rubric will provide applicants with clearer expectations and allow for more structured feedback.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Bloomington Common Council Office at [email protected] or 812-349-3409.