Anonymous donor pledges $500,000 to support expansion of New Hope for Families

Special fund matches new gifts to Growing New Hope capital campaign until June 30

An anonymous donor has made a commitment of $500,000 in support of New Hope’s relocation and expansion project.

The unnamed benefactor quietly established a fund in September 2021 that will match new gifts to the Growing New Hope capital campaign received through June 30, 2022, on a 1:1 basis. Payments toward newly-executed pledge agreements will also be matched, if received within a specific timeframe.

“The benefactor, who asked to remain strictly anonymous, was highly motivated by New Hope’s mission and past success, and by the potential of this project to benefit local children and families,” said New Hope Executive Director Emily Pike. “In addition, the donor was deeply impressed by the profound personal commitment of New Hope’s current and past board members, as well as early support from others in the community.”

The fund made its first disbursement to New Hope in December 2021 in the amount of $233,832. Since that date, New Hope has received additional match-qualifying gifts and commitments totaling $133,519, leaving $132,649 still available for matching future gifts.

“The timing of this very generous commitment is ideal,” commented Dan Peterson, Chair of New Hope’s Capital Campaign Cabinet. “We are now within 15% of the overall Growing New Hope capital campaign fundraising goal of $5.75 million. This generous matching fund gives us a powerful tool to help us reach our goal.”

“We continue to reach out to our friends in the community, inviting them to consider making a gift to the capital campaign that will be matched,” explained Pike. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive.”

“I was so pleased to learn of this match opportunity,” said Scott Shishman, Region President of Old National Bank. “Old National Bank Foundation has supported New Hope in the past. Knowledge of the match definitely played a role in our recent funding decision.”

Individuals and families have also been quick to take advantage of the anonymous match.

“My wife Carol and I have supported New Hope since 2012, when the agency was nearly brand new,” recalled longtime Bloomington resident James Touloukian. “When we heard about the match we knew this was the perfect opportunity for us to make an impactful gift that will benefit local children and families.”

Comparison of New Hope's new facility as an artist's rendering before construction (above) and a photo of the actual site, currently under construction (below).

About New Hope for Families

New Hope for Families is currently located at 301 W. 2nd Street in Bloomington, Indiana.

On April 12, 2021, New Hope announced plans for a $5.75 million capital campaign to construct two new buildings at 1140 S. Morton Street. One building will provide emergency shelter to 12 families, representing a 70% increase in the agency’s shelter capacity. The other building will house New Hope’s early childhood care and education programs, increasing the agency’s capacity from 16 to 48 children.

Construction on the new site is now well underway and is expected to be “substantially complete” by the end of this month.

Over the past 10 years, New Hope for Families has emerged as a community leader in social services for families in crisis. New Hope is the only place in Monroe County where families with children can find emergency shelter together. New Hope provides the only emergency shelter in the state of Indiana with onsite childcare rated Level IV Paths to Quality. More than 90% of the parents who have children enrolled in New Hope’s early childhood education program were able to gain or maintain employment.

New Hope for Families