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Sophia Travis Community Service Grants

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If your agency is interested in receiving updates regarding the 2024 Sophia Travis Grant Cycle, email counciloffice@co.monroe.in.us or call 812-349-7312.

2023 Grant Cycle Information

The 2023 Sophia Travis Awards have been approved by the Monroe County Council!

38 applicants were awarded a total of $160,830!

See the award distribution list here.

2023 Applications

Areas for Support:

  • Climate Change
  • Emergency Shortages
  • Excellence in Government
  • First Responders
  • Health, Food, Nutrition, Security, and Shelter
  • Transportation Assistance
  • Veterans Assistance
  • Youth Enrichment Opportunities

Evaluation Criteria:

  • Programs must primarily serve Monroe County Residents
  • Whether the dollar amount sought will likely accomplish the stated goal of the proposal
  • Whether the funds sought will leverage additional funds or assistance
  • Support for basic operational expenses will be considered, but not given highest priority
  • Support for salaries will be considered, but will not be given the highest priority
  • Completion of all required reports from previous Sophia Travis Grant Cycles. 

Grants Committee Members

Name Title E-Mail
VACANT Community Member VACANT
Hattie Johnson Community Member hloujohnson@gmail.com
Peter Iversen County Council piversen@co.monroe.in.us
Cheryl Munson, Chair County Council cmunson@co.monroe.in.us
Jennifer Crossley County Council jcrossley@co.monroe.in.us

The Sophia Travis Community Service Grants Review Committee is composed of five members. Three are representatives from the County Council. Two citizen members are public appointments.

2022 Grant Cycle

2022 Grant Year : Award Distribution List

All applicants of the Sophia Travis Grants were requested to give a presentation in support of their organization to the Grant Committee in addition to submitting their application. 

On August 23, 2022 a meeting was held during which the Grant Committee submitted a list of award recipients to the Monroe County Council for approval. Twenty-six different local agencies were awarded grants totaling $151,220.

Award Distribution list 2008- Present

Program History

In 2008, The Monroe County Council established a fund from which to make grants to support various community projects. Resolution 2008-51 is the original resolution setting out the purposes and intent of this fund.

On September 10, 2013, the Monroe County Council adopted Resolution 2013-15, which renames the community service grant program "The Sophia Travis Community Service Grants Program." Councilwoman Travis, who served on the Council from 2004-2008, in consultation with numerous leaders and citizens of Monroe County, wrote and sponsored the resolution creating this program in 2008. She worked tirelessly to improve the lives of all Monroe County residents.

On June 14, 2016, the Monroe County Council adopted Resolution 2016-23 which amends the areas of focus to include two new areas. The first addition is "nutrition" in Section 1A, so it will now read "Food, Nutrition, Security, Shelter and Health." The second area is referenced with the addition of subsection "1H. Youth Enrichment Opportunities." With this resolution the Council wishes to encourage the development of programs that will help a broader range of needs in Monroe County.

On August 23, 2022 the Council adopted Ordinance 2022-29 amending the prior grant procedure opening up funds to a wider variety of qualifying agencies; reducing the amount of applications that are of marginal value in order to lower the administrative burden; and limiting agencies to one application at a time to assure the suitability and quality of each application. This ordinance supersedes the previous resolutions to the Sophia Travis Grants Program. 

Past Grant Presentations

Newcomers to the application process can visit Community Access Television Services (CATS-TV) website to view previous Grant presentations to aid in preparation.

If you have any questions or need help regarding the application process, please contact the County Council Office at 812-349-7312 or email CouncilOffice@co.monroe.in.us if you have any questions.

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100 W Kirkwood Ave
Suite 306
Bloomington, IN 47404
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