Bloomington council awards $500K to social service agencies
At its meeting on Wednesday, Bloomington’s city council approved $499,995 in Jack Hopkins social service grants to 35 agencies. Councilmember Dave Rollo warned that inflation is eroding the fund’s value as demand grows.
Chart by The B Square with data from the city of Bloomington.
On Wednesday (June 10), Bloomington’s city council approved just under a half million dollars in funding to 35 different social service agencies, continuing the Jack Hopkins funding program’s 34-year tradition.
The exact amount of grant funding awarded was $499,995. Since its inception, more than $6 million has been awarded to local nonprofits through the Jack Hopkins social services program.
According to the city council staff memo of the topic, 39 applications were received this year, asking for around $700,000 worth of funding.
The awards this year went to 35 organizations. The top 15 awards went to: Pathways, Inc. ($43,134); Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Inc. ($40,000); The Hendricks County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. d/b/a Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers ($37,196); Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House, Inc. ($35,417); New Hope Family Shelter d/b/a New Hope for Families ($35,191); My Sister’s Closet of Monroe County ($30,000); Summit Hill Community Development Corporation ($24,980); Indiana Recovery Alliance ($18,862); Amethyst House, Inc. ($18,122); Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. ($18,000); Hotels for Hope Inc. ($18,000); Girls Inc. of Monroe County ($15,751); Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington ($14,027); Avalon Community Land Trust ($13,667); and Community Justice and Mediation Center ($12,998).
Residents serving on this year’s committee were Camryn Greer, Eddy Riou, and Katherine Ntiamoah. The councilmembers serving on the committee this year were: Courtney Daily, Isak Asare, Dave Rollo, and Andy Ruff.
As in past years, Planned Parenthood’s inclusion in the awards drew sharply divided commentary. Speaking from the public mic, Bloomington resident Carole Canfield urged the council to cut off funding, grounding her objections in religious terms and accusing the organization of misleading clients.
Joan Middendorf, speaking as a longtime local and parent, described Planned Parenthood as an organization that helps women with their sexual health, which means it is important for many women.
Some councilmembers used closing remarks to affirm their support for Planned Parenthood and for LGBTQ+ residents, explicitly including transgender community members, and tied their votes to that support.
Council member Dave Rollo supported the allocations, but warned that inflation is steadily eroding the real value of the $500,000 Jack Hopkins line even as demand for services grows. He urged the administration and council to prioritize at least keeping the fund level with inflation in future budgets.
The basic criteria for Jack Hopkins social services funding were first written down in a 1993 letter by councilmember Jack Hopkins, after whom the fund was named. Hopkins was a professor at Indiana University’s public and environmental affairs. The resolution that named the fund after Hopkins was approved by the city council in 2002, the month after Hopkins died.
The complete list of funding awards for 2026, approved by the city council at its Wednesday meeting, in order of amount, was:
Organization
Purpose
Grant
Pathways, Inc.
Operational funding for core programs in the face of federal funding cuts
$43,134
Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Inc.
Purchase food that will supplement privately donated food.
$40,000
The Hendricks County Child Advocacy Center, Inc. d/b/a Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers
Operational expenses, including salaries.
$37,196
Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House, Inc.
Essential program costs, including staff, rent, utilities, software licensing and diapers.
$35,417
New Hope Family Shelter DBA New Hope for Families
Support access to Early Learning Center.
$35,191
My Sister’s Closet of Monroe County
New facility renovations.
$30,000
Summit Hill Community Development Corporation
Purchase a service vehicle used to operate a grocery shuttle for residents of Bloomington Housing Authority RAD housing.
$24,980
Indiana Recovery Alliance
Hiring a full-time outreach worker.
$18,862
Amethyst House, Inc.
Replace damaged flooring, purchase six computers, and remove two trees.
$18,122
Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc.
Support Emergency Assistance Program, which provides direct financial assistance for basic needs and health care management services to refugees.
$18,000
Hotels for Hope Inc.
Emergency shelter expenses and case management salary.
$18,000
Girls Inc. of Monroe County
Personnel expenses, program costs and participant scholarships.
$15,751
Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington
Require electronic key access for the Lincoln Street Club’s lobby elevator.
$14,027
Avalon Community Land Trust
Support permanent, public-facing food and community infrastructure.
$13,667
Community Justice and Mediation Center
Support Eviction Prevention Project.
$12,998
Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard
Replacement of awning, as well as operational supply and upkeep support.
$12,731
Pantry 279, Inc.
Support Children’s Summer Food Program and the cost of food deliveries.
$11,039
Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County
Replacement of Makita tools, a trailer and two ladder racks for trucks.
$10,900
Monroe County Humane Association
Essential pet care services for low-income families.
$9,476
Sobremesa Foundation, Inc.
Growing fresh produce and delivering it to three Monroe County food pantries.
$9,000
New Leaf New Life
Provide essential employment tools to individuals transitioning from incarceration or substance use treatment.
$8,929
Ivy Tech Community College - Bloomington
Support Hive and Harvest food pantry.
$7,777
Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawai‘i, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky
Low-to-no cost sexual and reproductive health services for patients who are uninsured or underinsured, or living at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.
$7,500
Beacon, Inc.
Purchase two refrigerator/freezer combos, two bunk bed sets and 10 mattresses.
$7,087
Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana
Expansion of site-based mentoring for Bloomington youth.
$7,000
Wheeler Mission
Purchase a high-capacity commercial dryer.
$6,114
Community Kitchen of Monroe County, Inc.
Purchase AEDs, new tires for a vehicle, and a pallet floor jack with scale.
$5,903
Monroe County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
Training technology and office update, including conference table and chairs, TV, wall mount, dry erase boards and markers, two laptops, and two docking stations.
$5,326
Cancer Support Community South Central Indiana
Provide immediate, short-term financial relief to cancer patients actively undergoing treatment.
$3,650
Stone Belt Arc, Inc.
Facilitate Job-a-Palooza for people of all ages/disabilities during Disability Employment Awareness Month.
$3,197
New Leaf-New Life Inc. with Courage to Change Sober Living
Support New Leaf mentees who are also Courage to Change residents when they first move into a CTC residence.
$2,365
Developmental Services, Inc.
Support a year-long cooking and nutrition education program.
$2,049
Courage to Change Sober Living
Courage to Challenge program, men’s and women’s residencies.
$1,604
People and Animal Learning Services
Support Valiant Strides, an Equine-Assisted Learning program for veterans and first responders.
$1,581
Kesem at Indiana University
Fully fund Monroe County children to attend Camp Kesem free of charge.
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