Application Questions

2026 Jack Hopkins Social Services Grant

Applications are due March 10th at 4:00 p.m. Incomplete or late applications will not be accepted.

How to apply

501(c)(3) tax exempt: Social services agencies that have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status are invited to apply for a Jack Hopkins Social Services Funding Grant. Please read the program eligibility guidelines and instructions before starting this application.

Create an account: While not required, we encourage you to create an account to complete this online application because it will allow you to save your work and edit your application.

Text Responses: You may type responses in a word processing document and then copy the text into the relevant area of the application. The text will copy as plain text with no special formatting or hyperlinks.

In previous applications, we set a word limit for narrative responses. This on-line application sets a character limit that includes punctuation and spaces. Once you have reached the character limit, you will not be able to type additional text.

Questions or Issues : If you have questions or experience any challenges with your application, please reach out to Common Council staff at [email protected] or 812-349-3409.

Applicant

Organization Name: Please provide the full legal name of the entity receiving funding.

Address

Phone Number

Email Address

Link to organization website

President/Chair of Board of Directors

Executive Director

• Phone Number
• Email Address

Grant Writer

• Phone Number
• Email Address

Project Summary

Project Name

Amount Requested ($1,000 minimum)

Number of Bloomington residents to be served by this project in 2025

Total number of clients to be served by the project in 2025

Project Description (Brief overview, one or two sentences)

Collaborative Project? Yes/No

Needs Addressed by Project (Check all that apply)

• Food
• Shelter
• Health Care
• Youth Services
• Low Income Services
• Elderly Services
• Disability Services
• Other (Please Specify)

Partners: List the name(s) of the agency partner(s)

Agency Information

Mission Statement: 1,000 characters limit (approximately 150 words)

Note to faith-based applicants: If your organization is a faith-based agency, please provide the mission statement of your proposed project, not your agency. Please further note:

• 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.

Is your organization a 501(c)(3)? Yes/No

What is the Lead Agency's Employer Identification Number?

What date was the Lead Agency's IRS 503(c)(3) Determination Letter issued?

Does the Lead Agency participate in the E-Verify program? Yes/No

What date did the Lead Agency enroll in the E-Verify program?

Number of full-time employees of the Lead Agency

Number of part-time employees of the Lead Agency

Number of volunteers of the Lead Agency

Project Information

Project Synopsis: 1,500 characters limit (approximately 200 words)

Describe the project to be funded. Begin your synopsis with the amount you are requesting and a concrete description of your proposed project.

Example - "We are requesting $7,000 for an energy-efficient freezer to expand our emergency food service program."

Address where the project will be located if different from agency address

Type of Project: Check all that apply

• Capital
• Operational

Does your project involve a capital improvement? Yes/No

Types of capital improvements include:

• acquisition of land
• site improvements
• infrastructure improvements
• construction of buildings or structures
• rehabilitation, renovation, or enlargement of buildings or structures
• acquisition or improvement of fixed machinery, equipment, furnishings, or facilities

Capital Improvement

Do you own the property at which the project is to take place? Yes/No

If you are seeking funds for capital improvements to real estate and if you do not own the property at which the project will take place, please explain your long-term interest in the property.

For example, how long has the project been housed at the site? Do you have a contract/option to purchase? If you rent, how long have you rented this property and what is the length of the lease?

Is the property zoned for your intended use? Yes/No

If no, please explain.

If permits, variances, or other forms of approval are required for your project, please indicate whether the approval has been received. If it has not been received, please indicate the entity from which the permitting or approval is sought and the length of time it takes to secure the permit or approval.

Note: Funds will not be disbursed until all requisite variances or approvals are obtained.

Operational Project

What is the nature of the operational request?

• Pilot
• Bridge
• Collaborative
• None of the above. If none of the above, please explain.

What is your plan for future funding?

Collaborative Projects

Provide a description of how project responsibilities will be allocated among the participating agencies.

Describe how funding the project will be allocated between the participating agencies.

How do your missions, operations and services complement each other?

What is the existing relationship between the agencies?

How will communication and coordination change as a result of the project?

Explain any challenges and steps you plan to take to address those challenges.

Project Budget

Please use the Jack Hopkins 2026 Application Spreadsheets: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mMxsWw3ePTMSMUEx0DKZzVKMn6f8IH0zahyhSLq_IQw/edit?usp=sharing) to complete your Project Budget, Ranked Funding Priorities, and Cost Estimates.

There are three tabs, one for each table:

• Project Budget: Include an accounting of each source of project funds well as each project expense. Each source and expense should be described. Add rows as needed for completeness.
• Ranked Funding Priorities: Rank each project each according to your priority for funding. This priority ranking will be used by the Committee should it be unable to meet your full funding request.
• Cost Estimates: For each capital project expense (whether a capital improvement or otherwise), provide at least one estimate you have received. The Committee encourages applicants to seek more than one estimate and to seek estimates from local businesses.

Once you have completed the tables, use the "Share" button in the top right part of the screen, make sure the General Access is set to "Anyone with the link," and copy the link. Then paste the link into the field below.

Other Funds: Describe the source of other project funds (grants and other sources), including whether they are confirmed or pending, and if pending, when you anticipate funding will be received.

Describe when you plan to submit your claims for reimbursement and what steps precede a complete draw down of funds.

Partial Funding: If the Committee is unable to meet your full request, will you be able to proceed with partial funding? Yes/No

Funding Criteria

Need: 1,500 characters limit (approximately 200 words)

Explain how your project addresses a previously-identified priority for social services funding as documented in Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development Department's 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan or 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan, or any other community-wide survey of social service needs.

One-Time Investment: 750 characters limit (approximately 100 words)

Jack Hopkins Funds are intended to be a one-time investment. Explain how your project fits this criterion. If you are requesting operational funds (e.g., salaries, rent, vouchers,etc), you must detail your plan for future funding.

Long-Term Benefits: 1,500 characters limit (approximately 200 words)

How will your project have broad and long-lasting benefits for our community?

Outcome Indicators: 750 characters limit (approximately 100 words)

Describe the outcome indicators to be used to measure the success of your project. The ultimate outcome of a project (e.g., reduced hunger, homelessness or addiction rates) is often not readily observable within the Jack Hopkins funding period. For that reason, we are asking agencies to provide us with outcome indicators. In contrast to program activities (what you bought or did with grant funds) and the long-term impacts of a program (the lasting social change effected by your initiative), the data we seek are the short-term, preferably quantitative indicators used to measure the change your program has created during the period of your funding agreement. Example: an agency providing a service might cite to the number of persons with new or improved access to a service.

Other Comments: 3,500 characters limit (approximately 500 words)

Use this space to provide other information you think the Committee would find useful. Any additional comments should supplement, not restate, information provided in the foregoing.

Confirmation, Certification and Submission

Application Signature

I understand that the information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. I consent to the disclosure of such information for purposes of verification related to this application. I understand that any willful misstatement of material fact will be grounds for disqualification.