Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee

About the Jack Hopkins Committee

Started by, and named after, former Councilmember Jack Hopkins, this funding program began in 1993. Since its inception, the Bloomington Common Council and Mayor have provided over $6.2 million to social services agencies for projects that have made a difference in the lives of City residents in need. The Committee is composed of four members of the Common Council and three City residents with experience in social services. 

The 2025 Committee:

• Councilmember Isak Nti Asare (Chair)
• Councilmember Dave Rollo
• Councilmember Andy Ruff
• Councilmember Courtney Daily
• Resident - Eddy Riou
• Resident - Camryn Greer
• Resident - Nordia McNish

The Jack Hopkins Social Services Grant Program 2025 Application Period is now OPEN.

The City of Bloomington Common Council’s Jack Hopkins Social Services Committee invited social service agencies serving the needs of City of Bloomington residents to apply for 2025 grant funding. This year, the Committee has $500,000 to distribute, along with past unused funding. The Committee prioritizes projects and programs where investments will have positive, long-term effects such as alleviating the effects of poverty, reducing susceptibility to disease, decreasing absences from school, reducing lost time from work, etc.

2025 JACK HOPKINS APPLICATION MATERIALS:

• Solicitation Letter and Guidelines (Please read)

• 2025 Application (Fillable PDF) 

• 2025 Application Summary

• 2025 Project Budget Template

• 2025 Elaboration of Criteria (Please read) 

• 2025 Adopted Individual Recommendation Rubric 

• An Example of a Well-Written Grant Application

PROGRAM FOCUS

The program should address an identified priority for social services funds (as indicated in the Service Community Assessment of Needs (SCAN), the City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department's Consolidated Plan, or other community-wide survey 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 effect."

Priorities

The Common Council prioritizes programs that provide food, housing, healthcare, or other services to city residents who are of low or moderate income, under 18 years old, elderly, affected with a disability or are otherwise disadvantaged.

1. City Residency - Programs must primarily serve City residents.  Individual programs have occasionally been located outside of the City but, in that case, funds have never been used for capital projects (e.g. construction, renovation, or improvement of buildings).
2. Low Income - Programs primarily serving low-income populations are given a high priority.
3. Emergency Services - Programs primarily providing emergency services (e.g. food, housing, and medical services) are given a high priority.
4. Marginalized Groups - Programs providing services to historically marginalized populations or groups are given a high priority.

SCOPE OF FUNDING

The Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Program seeks to encourage innovation and address changing community needs.  Further, the Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Program recognizes that, in the current economic climate, operational funding may be essential to a non-profit organization's continued provision of services. The Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Program will consider requests for both one-time investments and operational expenses.

One-Time Investment

Applications requesting funds for projects that address changing circumstances in the community are encouraged.  Requests should provide a one-time investment that, through matching funds or other fiscal leveraging, make a significant contribution to the project. EXAMPLES – capital improvements.          

Operational Expenses

Applications requesting operational expenses will also be considered.  These expenses are recurring rather than non-recurring.  EXAMPLES -  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 the same expense in subsequent years, and therefore should not rely on Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding for their operational expenses from year to year.  Any request for operational funding should be accompanied by a well-developed plan for future funding.

* Paid Time Off and Bonuses - Paid time off and bonuses shall not be considered eligible for Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding.

NOTE:  Over time, the Committee has worked to further refine each criterion with more particularity. This refinement is captured in the Committee's Elaboration of Criteria (linked below). Agencies should consult this document in preparing their applications.

Questions?  Contact Council staff at council@bloomington.in.gov

Timeline for the 2025 Jack Hopkins Funding Cycle (important dates for agencies in bold):

• MARCH 14 - Technical Assistance Meeting for Applicants (Friday, March 14, 4:00pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Allison Conference Room (#225); presentation slides from meeting.

• MARCH 21 - APPLICATIONS DUE (Friday, March 21, must be received no later than 4:00pm)

• APRIL 15th- Committee Application Review Meeting (Tuesday, April 15, 6:00pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Kelly Conference Room (#155)

• APRIL 22nd - Agency Presentations for invited applicants (Tuesday, 6:00pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, McCloskey Conference Room (RM #135)

• MAY 6th - Committee Pre-Allocation Meeting (Tuesday, May 6, 6:00pm) -  [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Kelly Conference Room (#155)

• MAY 16th - Committee Allocation Hearing (Friday, May 16, 4:00pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Kelly Conference Room (#155);

• MAY 20th- Committee Debriefing Meeting (Tuesday, May 20, 6:00pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Kelly Conference Room (#155);

• May 21st - Council Action on Committee Recommendations (Wednesday, May 21, 6:30pm) - [Zoom link]; Showers City Hall, Council Chambers (#115);

• Early June – Funding Agreements Due

• Date TBD - HAND Technical Assistance for Grantees ([Date], [Time]) - [Zoom link]; Location, [Meeting room]