19 organizations were awarded Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants to build capacity, improve sustainability, and enhance services for our community.
The Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County (CFBMC) has awarded $746,000 in Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants to 19 organizations addressing urgent operational needs and strengthening services across Monroe County. The awards, ranging from $20,000 to $75,000, are the first made through the multi-tier funding initiative CFBMC launched in June to support the county’s growth, resilience, and long-term vitality.
Tier 1 grants will help organizations meet immediate operational needs, build capacity, improve long-term sustainability, and respond to increased demand or emerging opportunities. Two additional tiers will fund strategic initiatives and transformative community investments. Together, the three tiers are intended to enhance quality of life, increase livability, attract and retain younger adults and families, and address Monroe County priorities.
CFBMC received 114 Tier 1 Rapid Response Grant applications representing a broad range of community needs, including arts and culture; education, learning, and youth development; health and recreation; services for individuals and families; economic and community development; animal welfare; and the environment. The Foundation awarded 19 grants after carefully reviewing how each application met the program’s goals, the urgency of the need, feasibility and readiness, and potential for long-term community impact.
“The overwhelming response to our Tier 1 Rapid Response Grants underscores the urgent demand for fundamental support to ensure Monroe County organizations can fulfill the tenets of their mission,” said Community Foundation President and CEO Tina Peterson. “In a challenging funding and revenue environment for many organizations, investing in capacity and operational stability means local mission-driven organizations have the tools needed to fulfill their purpose and sustain their ability to support programming across the breadth of community needs. We are inspired by the dedication, vision, and hard work these grant recipients are willing to commit to make transformational change possible and are honored to help fuel their impact.”
A total of $500,000 in funding was allotted for Tier 1 grants through unrestricted funds, which enable the Community Foundation to address Monroe County’s ever-changing needs through grantmaking to seize our community’s most compelling opportunities or respond to its most pressing needs. Thanks to additional field-of-interest funds established by donors, the Foundation awarded an additional $246,000 to support additional Tier 1 Rapid Response grant applications without affecting the anticipated funding available for Tier 2 Strategic Impact Grants.
Tier 1 Rapid Response Grant Recipients:
BCT Management, Inc.: Funding will support essential computer technology and internet equipment to modernize, upgrade, secure, and streamline box office, concessions, and operations at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.
Beacon, Inc.: Funding will support client database software, computers, and technology at the Shalom Center, improving client data tracking, service coordination, and housing-focused case management to resolve homelessness challenges more efficiently.
Bloomington Developmental Learning Center: Funding will support water drainage engineering assessments, outdoor grading, and water routing infrastructure to prevent future facility damage from major weather/rainfall events.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington: Funding will support security cameras and soundproof panels at the Ellettsville Club, strengthening the environment for a growing number of youth who attend afterschool programs each day.
Community Kitchen of Monroe County: Funding will support additional food prep and cooking staff to better respond to increased demand and allow supervisors to focus on management, structured inventory control, and scaling meal output across multiple locations.
Constellation Stage & Screen: Funding will support modern wireless microphone systems and related sound and video technology in the Waldron Auditorium, replacing aging equipment, improving dependability, and enhancing the audience experience.
Courage to Change Sober Living: Funding will support purchasing a residence to replace a currently leased home, reducing rental expenses, building organizational equity, and strengthening the sustainability of its certified recovery housing.
Ellettsville Police Department: Funding will support emergency response unmanned aerial systems (i.e., drone aircraft) to provide visual and thermal imaging to first responders during severe weather events and in confined-space interior operations with limited visibility.
First United Methodist Church of Bloomington: Funding will support replacing facility flooring in high-use areas used for Head Start programs, nonprofit and support meetings, a weekly food pantry, and the Bloomington Severe Weather Emergency Response Shelter.
Hoosier Hills Food Bank: Funding will support the purchase of locally sourced produce, eggs, and meat for distribution through area food pantries, helping meet increased demand for nutritious food while strengthening local farms and the resilience of the regional food system.
Kid Angles — The Early Education School: Funding will support cameras, tablets, and remote monitoring technology to enhance safety and security throughout classrooms, playgrounds, and entry points, giving staff real-time oversight and offering families added peace of mind.
Lake Monroe Water Fund: Funding will support staff and tools to expand donor development, community engagement, and fundraising efforts, building organizational capacity to increase future investments in conservation projects that protect Lake Monroe as a vital water resource.
Middle Way House, Inc.: Funding will support roof repair at The Rise!, returning five units to service and expanding safe, supportive housing for women and families affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Monroe County Humane Association: Funding will support facility renovation and kennel equipment to expand the Crisis Housing Program, allowing the organization to meet increased demand for temporary pet housing when families face an emergency.
Monroe County Public Library: Funding will support the purchase of a hybrid vehicle to replace an aging van used for outreach, including home deliveries, CATS activities, and events, improving reliable access to library resources for residents throughout Monroe County.
Pathways: Funding will support new HVAC systems for the Family Resource Center and food pantry and a commercial freezer for the early learning kitchen, replacing aging equipment and improving critical infrastructure to ensure stable, consistent services for children and families.
People & Animal Learning Services (PALS): Funding will support paved pathways between parking, barns, and program areas, improving accessibility, safety, and all-weather access for clients, caregivers, and volunteers participating in equine-assisted services and adaptive riding.
Stone Belt Arc, Inc.: Funding will establish a simulation training room with medical and support devices that staff routinely encounter, allowing new employees to gain hands-on experience and increasing their readiness to support individuals with developmental disabilities.
Tandem Community Birth Center and Postpartum House: Funding will support medical equipment, facility updates, and clinician consulting to finalize policies and procedures, helping Tandem complete birth center licensure and prepare to provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum services.
Tier 2: Strategic Impact Grants
Tier 2 Strategic Impact Grants will launch soon, with awards ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. These grants will support comprehensive initiatives with longer implementation periods and the potential for sustained community impact. Priority will be given to innovative projects, transformative responses to critical community issues, and cross-organizational or cross-sector collaborations that increase impact and effectiveness. Up to $750,000 in funding is available for this tier.
Tier 3: Transformative Community Investment Grants
Tier 3 grants will support bold, catalytic, and collaborative projects through grants of up to $500,000 each. Transformative Community Investment Grants are positioned to support high-impact opportunities such as housing, workforce development, economic mobility, talent attraction and retention, community health, entrepreneurship, innovation, or other efforts that strengthen community competitiveness. CFBMC will contact and work with a small number of organizations to develop Tier 3 concept papers. Organizations with the most promising concepts will then be invited to submit full implementation proposals.
For specific questions about eligibility and application procedures for Tiers 2 and 3, please email info@cfbmc.org and check www.cfbmc.org soon for more information.
About Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County:
The Community Foundation connects donors and resources to catalyze solutions that strengthen Monroe County through grantmaking, leadership, and strategic partnerships to drive both immediate and long-term impact. Created by individuals, families, and businesses who share a passion for Monroe County and a vision for its future, the Community Foundation has granted $52 million to more than 600 local nonprofit organizations since its incorporation in 1990. With a growing $59 million endowment, the Foundation makes a difference by connecting caring people, important causes, and community resources to address our community’s most pressing challenges and seize its most compelling opportunities.