The Elevation Grant Program aims to address the root causes of violent crime in Indianapolis through a comprehensive approach, including neighborhood empowerment and community building.
Donor Name: The Indianapolis Foundation
State: Indiana
County: Marion County (IN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/03/2025
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The program emerged in response to rising gun violence and the urgent need to address its root causes through equitable, community-centered solutions. Since its launch, the Elevation Grant Program has evolved to meet the needs of Indianapolis neighborhoods most affected by violence, infusing best practices and evidence-based learnings that reflect the critical role of activating community rooted solutions to improve public safety.
The overarching goals of the Elevation Grant Program are to reduce violent crime—particularly gun violence—through prevention and intervention efforts led by trusted, community-based organizations; to strengthen the nonprofit ecosystem by investing in grassroots groups; and to advance public safety by addressing systemic challenges such as poverty, trauma, and disinvestment. Additionally, the program emphasizes organizational infrastructure development and aims to foster long-term sustainability, collaboration, and community resilience.
Priority populations for the Elevation Grant Program include communities disproportionately impacted by violence, especially Black and Latino males ages 18 to 35, and youth ages 12 to 18. The program also focuses on supporting grassroots and resident-led organizations that may have limited infrastructure but are deeply embedded in their communities. Through these investments, the Elevation Grant Program seeks to create safer, healthier, and more equitable outcomes across Indianapolis.
The Elevation Grant Program aims to:
- Address the numerous root causes of violent crime,
- Increase resident-led solutions, discovering new innovative efforts,
- Invest in infrastructure development for grassroots organizations, ensuring that hope, abundance, peace, resilience, and safety are expressed and elevated.
Focus Areas
- Thriving Neighborhoods
- Empowered Youth / Young Adult
- Restoration & Resilience
- Justice-Involved Supports
- Intervention.
Geographical Areas
The Elevation Grant Program prioritizes supporting organizations based in Marion County that address disparities in safety, opportunity, and outcomes for communities most affected by violence.
Eligibility Criteria
The Elevation Grant Program prioritizes supporting organizations based in Marion County that address disparities in safety, opportunity, and outcomes for communities most affected by violence. Priority will be given to programs that use evidence-based or promising strategies to reduce violence while uplifting the assets, aspirations, and hope of communities most impacted by it. These efforts should also aim to improve overall neighborhood safety. Priority programs will include those that:
- Are place-based initiatives focused on enhancing safety and reducing or preventing crime within a clearly defined geographic area (e.g., neighborhood or community).
- Are led by engaged residents and community leaders who are mobilized to address violence in their communities.
- Differentiate activities, services and programs. Activities are time-bound events or a series of engagements. Services are delivered to meet the needs of the community. Programs are structured and ongoing to address specific objectives and have measurable outcomes.
- Provide supportive services—such as employment, education, mentoring, housing, recreation, mental health care, and family services—to youth and young adults at higher risk of community disengagement without timely intervention.
- Offer wraparound services to support youth (ages 16–24) and young adults (ages 24–35) who are at risk of becoming, or currently involved in the criminal legal system, helping to build the infrastructure needed to prevent future violent crime in Indianapolis.
- Focus on individuals at highest risk of violent victimization or perpetration—such as those previously shot, involved in known gun activity, or closely connected to recent shooting victims—by providing 24/7 crisis response and continuous support, especially for individuals ages 18–35.
- Collaborate with public agencies—including the Office of Public Health & Safety, the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform, law enforcement, courts, probation, and parole—to implement coordinated crime prevention strategies.
For more information, visit The Indianapolis Foundation.
