The Bloom Project, like many other nonprofits, has experienced a decrease in funding, requiring adjustments to operations and programming. The nonprofit focuses on mentoring boys ages 12-18 through workshops, college tours and community service projects.
Inspired by her grandfather Ezell “Bloom” Stephens, Arnetta Scruggs founded the organization to help young men in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne.
The Bloom Project helps young men, who Bloom refers to as “Kings,” through various programs such as Project King, a series of workshops teaching life skills and conflict resolution, which kicked off in Fort Wayne on Aug. 1 and will begin in Indianapolis on Aug. 15.
Other programs include Royal MENtality, which prepares boys for life after high school, and Kings Feast, a one-day workshop where boys connect with professionals and guest speakers. The Fort Wayne Kings Feast was held this summer on July 19 and the Bloom Project’s Summer Experience just wrapped on Aug. 1.
In an email interview with the Recorder, Scruggs shared how the Bloom Project has adapted to challenges, what they’re looking forward to next and how the community can support.
This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity.
What are some of the upcoming events for the Bloom Project? What are the youth participants looking forward to?
Our official kick off to the program year, with our Project King program will be August 1 (Fort Wayne) and August 15 (in) Indianapolis.
Project King is a mentoring program that emphasizes group mentoring. In Project King, our Kings are grouped with a male mentor and go through a series of workshops designed to focus on character development, professional development, emotional intelligence, civics, and more with a unique cultural lens ensuring that we are constantly placing our Kings in the center of our programming.
Many nonprofits have experienced challenges with fundraising lately. What have been your biggest fundraising challenges in the last year?
Our biggest fundraising challenges this year have been finding the right grants for the organization; obtaining those grants and the major cuts to funding of the grants.
These challenges have required us to be more strategic in our fundraising approach, strengthen our relationships with funders, diversify our funding streams, and explore new opportunities to sustain and expand our programs.
Despite these obstacles, we remain committed to ensuring that our youth continue to receive the mentorship, leadership development, and support they need to thrive.
How have these challenges affected the Bloom Project?
These fundraising challenges have impacted the Bloom Project’s capacity by creating limitations in our ability to maintain and expand staffing and mentor support. As funding opportunities have become more competitive and grant resources have decreased, we have experienced a reduction in the number of available staff and mentors who help deliver our programs and provide consistent support to our Kings.
While we have continued to provide our core mentoring, leadership development, and career readiness programs, reduced capacity has required our existing team and volunteers to take on additional responsibilities.
We remain committed to serving our youth and are actively seeking sustainable funding opportunities to rebuild our staffing capacity, strengthen our mentor pipeline, and continue growing our impact in the community.
What are the Bloom Project’s highest needs for financial or community support right now? How will incoming donations be used?
The Bloom Project’s highest needs right now are a combination of financial investment and increased community support. We believe that strong community engagement; including dedicated volunteers, mentors, families, and increased participation from young males: will help strengthen our visibility, expand our impact, and encourage more individuals and organizations to invest in our mission.
Over the past year, limited funding has affected our ability to maintain the staffing capacity needed to operate and expand our programs. We have had to reduce programming due to limited resources, and the inability to provide competitive compensation has made it challenging to retain staff and compete with organizations that are able to offer paid opportunities.
Incoming donations will be used to rebuild our organizational capacity by supporting staffing, mentor recruitment and retention, program implementation, youth activities, transportation, and other operational needs. With increased financial and community support, the Bloom Project can restore and expand programming while continuing to provide mentorship, leadership development, and career readiness opportunities for young males in our community.
With all the challenges that come with fundraising and sustainability, what are you most proud of for the organization?
I’m most proud of our family orientation culture; our organization is targeted to focus on young males ages 12-18 but we are implementing more wrap around services for the whole family. And to see parents volunteer with their sons at our service projects; it shows the impact with our making with our families. I am so proud to see our Kings graduate high school and come back to volunteer and provide wisdom to the next generation of leaders.
Where and how can people donate or support?
People can donate their treasures (funds), skills and talents by going to our website: www.bloomprojectinc.org and click the Donate button or Get Involved Button.
To become a mentor, King, or volunteer, go to https://www.bloomprojectinc.org/programs. Follow the Bloom Project on Instagram @bloomprojectinc.
Recorder Intern Deidrick K-G. Dickerson is an aspiring journalist and a student at Pike High School.
