INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has given out millions of dollars to curb youth violence in the city in the past few years through the Elevation Grant program. But, with a recent increase in violence among young people, I-Team 8 is looking at how well the funding is working.

In October 2024, the Democratic mayor handed out $9 million to 51 organizations in the city. It’s never been known just how much each one received and how exactly they planned to use it, so I-Team 8 reached out to each one of them to ask.

Of the 51 organizations the team reached out to, 14 responded and only six were willing to say how much money they got in October.

Brightwood Community Center says they received $179,000. The Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County got $161,908. The Indiana Construction Roundtable Foundation got $211,000. New Breed of Youth got $168,000 and Outreach Inc. got $160,000. The Boys and Girls Club of Indianapolis got $190,000.

“It gave us some stability and it was up to us. It was up to New Boy. It was up to my board, to feed off of that,” Kareem Hines, the founder of New Breed of Youth Mentoring and Youth Development, said.

In 2021, Hogsett announced the new initiative, aimed at addressing the root causes of violence.

The three-year program was partially funded by American Rescue Plan funds and gave out a total of $150 million.

“I am cautiously optimistic that we are moving the in the right direction,” Hogsett said after the announcement.

Last year, IMPD recorded a 7% increase in the number of non-fatal shootings among kids. This month, there’s been public outcry among state and local leaders after a mass shooting among young people over the Fourth of July weekend left two teens dead.

“I don’t know how many times I have to say it. We are not your children’s keepers,” IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said following the shooting.

With 9 million new dollars in pockets around the city, I-Team 8 asked some of the organizations what Hogsett and the foundation have done after giving out the money to ensure it’s being used properly.

Each place was set to have one site visit and the organizations have been asked to make quarterly progress reports. Four organizations, who did not want to be identified, say they’ve had a site visit. One says they aren’t aware of a site visit.

A handful of others say they’ve been late on their progress reports and there’s been no follow up from the foundation or the mayor. Two other organizations say the person who came for the site visit did not specifically ask how they were using the money to curb violence.

Some, though, say the grant has been very helpful.

“When young people are connected to pro social activities, to mentors, to organizations in the community, we don’t have a direct connection to these young men that are dying,” Hines said.

“The elevation grant has been tremendous in helping our community try to reduce homicide rates as well as recidivism rates,” Rosalie Roy, director of outreach programs at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Indianapolis said.

I-Team 8 reached out to the mayor’s office to ask how he’s making sure the money is actually curbing violence.

“For the past several years, the Elevation Grant Program has allowed local organizations in our city to expand and enhance the good work they do to make Indianapolis a better, safer place for all,” Hogsett said. “This program is a key part of the Gun Violence Reduction Strategy by supporting community-based efforts that address the root causes of violent crime. The data shows these efforts are saving lives with gun violence continuing to trend downward since the strategy was implemented in 2021.”

Although last year marked the end of the grant program, the mayor’s public health office still has a yearly grant program that invests about $300,000 each year into violence prevention.

Statement

“In partnership with the City of Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Foundation has responsively and judiciously administered the Elevation Grant Program, empowering community-rooted organizations to expand and enhance the good work they are doing to make our city safer, healthier, and more resilient. As one component of the City’s Gun Violence Reduction Strategy, this program supports efforts that address the root causes of violent crime — from mental health support and youth engagement to economic opportunity and conflict resolution. Elevation Grant-funded organizations have served thousands of residents, including 10,000 youth who recently reported a positive change in attitude and the acquisition of new skills.”

Indianapolis Foundation

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