Building Safer Communities Micro Grants

Purpose 

The City of Hopkins seeks to provide funding opportunities for programs, communication, advocacy, and organizing led by community-based organizations and community members that promote community safety and connectivity. 

The City will prioritize efforts that are led and influenced by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and are grounded in the needs of Hopkins’ diverse neighborhoods.

This is a "low barrier" grant program intended to allow community members to apply and access grant funding. You do not need to be a non-profit to be awarded grant funds.

The micro-grant program will focus on projects that fund, inspire, and assist with crime reduction efforts based around the following themes:  

  • Providing opportunities for connectedness
  • Activities that promote wellness and help manage stress and trauma
  • Address family stability or upward mobility
  • Aim to directly prevent crime
  • Implicit bias and diversity trainings or initiatives

Programs that are inclusive, collaborative, resourceful and innovative, while reducing crime and violence within the City will be given priority.

The City of Hopkins has allocated $10,000 of money from awarded to the City from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). This grant is a one-time opportunity.

Award Limits 

The City will fund projects between $500 and $2,500.

Eligibility 

  • Projects must be connected to the themes listed under the “Purpose” section above.
  • Projects must be proposed to be completed by December 31, 2023
  • Organizations and individuals do not need to have a 501(c) 3
  • Organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $100,000 will be prioritized

Types of Organizations which are eligible:

  • Churches, temples or mosques, multifamily housing buildings, civic associations and non-profit organizations – Either geographically located in Hopkins or serving a high proportion of Hopkins Residents 
  • Neighborhood organizations and community groups
  • Individuals – Community leaders within the City of Hopkins

Apply

Apply using this online form or by completing and returning the Building Safer Communities Micro Grants Application (PDF) to PeggySue Imihy Bean. 

Applications are due by Saturday, April 15, 2023.

Timeline

  • February 15, 2023: Micro grant applications open
  • April 15,2023: Micro grant applications due
  • May 15, 2023: Micro grant applications reviewed and selected by staff
  • November 1, 2023: Applicants provide summary of project and evaluation of program
  • December 31, 2023: Micro grant program closed

Use of Funds 

Funds cannot be passed through to another organization unless using a nonprofit fiscal sponsor (3.4 cannot be used for membership feeds). Once the project is completed, receipts must be provided detailing expenditures.

All grant awardees will be publicly available information and published on the City’s website to include the amount of funds disbursed and the outcome of the project.

Project examples

The following is an incomplete, illustrative list of project types which would be eligible for funding. The City welcomes any ideas which are not listed below so long as they meet the themes provided above.

Providing opportunities for connectedness

  • Music, dance, improvisations or spoken word competitions, art, poetry, writing, and other creative actions or classes
  • Shared meals or gatherings
  • Gatherings centered on sharing diverse perspectives, connecting neighbors, or promoting healing

Activities that promote wellness and help manage stress and trauma

  • Yoga, meditation, or other wellness classes
  • Workshops focused on self-care and resilience
  • Sports or fitness classes

Family stability and addressing upward mobility

  • Leadership, mentoring and training activities for youth 14-24
  • College and career experiences for youth 14-24
  • Nutrition and food security projects
  • Projects related to housing stability
  • Projects related to access to public transportation or alternate modes of transportation
  • Career training
  • Actions that reduce barrier and build relations among diverse groups of people
  • Community education on the impact of segregation in housing, education, or other issues

Directly Addressing Crime

  • Community-based violence prevention activities
  • Safety and Security for seniors
  • Restorative Justice programs and activities
  • Gun intervention strategies

Implicit Bias and Diversity Trainings or Initiatives 

  • Training and workshops to address stereotypes and inclusion
  • Strategies that give tools for changing behavior
  • Programs that exchange perspectives of others
  • Dialogues that increase interactions with different people