$5 million to address Indianapolis violence goes to 27 organizations

The fifth round of Elevation Grant recipients were announced on Wednesday. The funds will provide 27 groups with more than $5 million to address violence and improve safety throughout Indianapolis.

The Elevation Grant Program is a part of Mayor Joe Hogsett’s three-year violence reduction strategy.

At a press conference announcing the grants, Hogsett touted the progress made since the program started.

“Over the course of the first four rounds of Elevation Grants, violence has fallen,” he said. “The numbers continue to go down. We are not declaring victory, but the numbers are moving in the right direction.”

According to officials, Indianapolis has seen a 31% reduction in criminal homicides and a 20% reduction in non-fatal shootings over the first two years of the violence strategy’s implementation.

Brookside Community Development Corporation is a two-time Elevation grant recipient. Robin Duncan, a re-entry coordinator for the organization, said the grant will help provide resources to the Brookside community.

“We have already seen a positive impact from the Elevation Grant, and we are confident that the funding we receive from round five will allow us to continue to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve,” Duncan said.

Since 2022, more than 116 organizations have received a total of $31 million. Around $10 million has been granted to nonprofits serving youth in Indianapolis.

The Central Indiana Community Foundation, or CICF, helped facilitate the grants.

There will be one more round of Elevation Grants. For a list of recipients, visit cicf.org.