Adjusting Our Budgets, Not Our Vision!

Resilience. The word has carried significant relevance for CanopyBloomington pretty much since our founding in 2021. Perhaps this is partially because Canopy was co-founded by Sarah Mincey, who has been managing director of the Environmental Resilience Institute (ERI) since most of Canopy's existence. Resilience is also part of our formal mission. Let’s just say the word and its ethos are part of Canopy's DNA!

Resilience has additional meaning for Canopy since January 20th of this year, the date of the executive orders which froze federal grant funding. The orders halted nearly all federal grants, including those funding public health, education, small businesses, and infrastructure projects.

CanopyBloomington was one of nine organizations and cities selected by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Community & Urban Forestry Department to receive grants funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Service Urban & Community Forestry Program. These grants were funded through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). To date, over $100 Billion has been awarded to projects around the U.S.

Canopy's 2024 IRA grant for $239,399 has helped the organization expand its education, community outreach, planting and tree maintenance initiatives for 2025 and beyond. The fate of this grant is currently unclear.

At the beginning of 2025, Canopy was awarded another significant IRA/USDA/US Forest Service grant through the Arbor Day Foundation, this time to expand tree planting efforts in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity around their project sites. This grant was terminated on February 24th as a result of the executive action.

So, what does this mean for Canopy?

CanopyBloomington's vision, mission and core values will not change. We were formed with an idea, a group of passionate, hard-working people and a small collective of donors who believed in the vision and mission enough to launch the organization. Though we had to very briefly pause, take a breath, assess and discuss this current situation … our sleeves are rolled up and we are finding solutions.

We will continue to grow our impact in all of the areas of our mission to engage the Bloomington community in planting and caring for our urban forest together, in order to build a resilient and equitably green city for all.

In its first three years, CanopyBloomington has enlisted hundreds of volunteers, residents and students to plant and care for 300 trees in residents' yards, the grounds of non-profit entities and public-school spaces. Along with bringing these communities closer together with the gatherings and plantings themselves, these trees bring the promise of improving the lives of current and future residents through improved air quality, lower temperatures, proximity to nature, civic pride and promoting improved physical and mental health.

Determination. Action. Impact!

Despite this current challenge, 2025 will be Canopy's most impactful year yet! Canopy will be planting hundreds of trees, engaging neighbors in the communities in which we plant, offering consistent educational programs and continuing to build resources to be made available online and in-person. We could not do this work without you.

If you are engaged with us, YOU are CanopyBloomington.

The inspired work will continue. However, the balancing of our capacity among these key areas of our mission will likely remain fluid as we navigate and secure new funding sources. Canopy existed before receiving its first federal grant and will continue to exist and thrive beyond the loss and uncertainty of our current IRA funding.

What will change is our funding streams.

In 2024, 27% of Canopy's budget came from federal grants, 26% was from reimbursements from the City of Bloomington for tree care services in public greenspaces, 13% from corporate and foundation grants and 34% from the generosity of individuals who support the work.

According to Giving USA, of the $557 Billion raised in philanthropy in 2023, 67% of that was from individuals. As Canopy looks to adjust its funding sources to make up for its predicted gaps, it will focus energy on seeking new partners in private foundations and engaging individual donors. We will re-balance our projected budget to reduce the reliance on federal funding.

Over the past several months, Canopy's Development Committee, composed of volunteer board members and executive director Ava Hartman, has been finalizing its formal fundraising plan for 2025. The committee and the board are energized and committed to finding the funding needed to keep driving the mission forward and fulfilling Canopy's 2024-2029 Strategic Plan.

With over 1200 private foundations in the State of Indiana, we are engaging relevant institutions as well as corporations with local branches, introducing Canopy and presenting our opportunities and needs. We are also looking to expand our individual donor base as our impact continues to grow in communities throughout Bloomington.

This is where you can help. If you know anyone who has the capacity to donate to Canopy, please guide them to our giving page. Or, if you yourself are interested in increasing your support for Canopy in whatever way makes the most sense for you, we are greatly appreciative. Together, we make this work happen.

Donate to CanopyBloomington

Onward!

We have momentum and the work is too important to stop. We know communities, neighborhoods, are stronger when they are engaged, and can work together. We also know trees improve the health and prosperity of our communities and positively impact lives. This work not only pays it forward but offers dividends today. We will not alter our vision or mission and look forward to continuing our work with you.

We promise to keep you informed as we navigate these current challenges. If you have any questions or want to offer additional ways in which you may be able to support Canopy, please reach out at any time.

THANK YOU