Applications for the 'Empower' Grants are Temporarily Paused
To provide sufficient time to finish processing current grants and ongoing projects before year-end, we have temporarily paused new ‘Empower’ grant submissions.
We hope to reopen the ‘Empower’ grant application for new submissions later this year. However, if current grant demands extend through the remainder of 2025, applications will reopen at the start of the 2026 grant season in January 2026.
If you have questions please email Contact@HigherHope.org
Empower Grants are available to registered 501(c)(3) organizations whose missions align with supporting victims of violent crime and their communities. Applicants must demonstrate clear project objectives, sustainable impact plans, and efficient resource allocation. We partner with organizations of various sizes, from local grassroots initiatives to national programs, prioritizing those that show innovative approaches to victim support and community healing.
Review the Requirements The Empower Grant supports registered 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to serving victims of violent crimes and their families. Examples of qualifying initiatives include victim advocacy programs, community support services, educational outreach, healing resources, and direct assistance programs. All grants are open until December 31 of the current year.
*PLEASE NOTE – Higher Hope provides financial assistance for existing or planned programs. Organizations must have detailed implementation plans and clear objectives ready before applying.
IF YOU ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SEEKING FUNDING FOR VICTIM SUPPORT INITIATIVES, PLEASE READ OUR QUALIFICATIONS AND SUBMIT AN APPLICATION.
- Must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization related to helping victims of violent crime.
- Must have established programs or detailed plans for new initiatives
- Must provide comprehensive project budgets and implementation timelines
- Must demonstrate sustainable impact potential
- Must provide proof of current nonprofit status and organizational documentation
APPLY FOR EMPOWER
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
- EIN or UEI number for nonprofit verification
- Detailed project proposals and budget breakdowns are mandatory for all applications
- Applications that fail to provide required documentation may not be eligible for consideration
- Qualifying documentation includes, but is not limited to: detailed project proposals, budget allocations, impact metrics, organization history, and implementation timeline
SPOOKY SEASON MERCH IS HERE!🍂
Our Fall Essentials + Halloween collections are officially LIVE at milehighermerch.com!
Cozy up for the season with cold-weather favorites for each of your favorite shows, with plenty of color options to perfectly fit your fall vibe.
And just in time for spooky season… our annual limited-edition Halloween collection is here! 👻 Featuring the Spooky & Suspicious collection plus our Mile Higher Haunted Forest, look cloely and you might spot a few familiar Mile Higher carvings.
The Halloween collection is available ONLY through October 31st, so grab your favorites before they disappear!
Shop now at milehighermerch.com - 100% of merch proceeds go to Higher Hope Foundation to support grant funding for victims of violent crime🖤
Missed our August newsletter earlier this month? Here’s a quick recap!💜
This month, we highlighted meaningful ways to turn true crime awareness into action. From supporting families seeking justice to learning more about the realities of human trafficking and finding simple ways to support Higher Hope.
Justice for Christa Gilley: https://justiceforchrista.com/
Support Ashley Flynn’s family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/f9345-in-loving-memory-of-ashley-flynn
Watch our latest impact spotlight: https://www.instagram.com/reels/Dbb50GeO3tm/
Free ways to support Higher Hope: https://higherhope.org/blog/articles/free-ways-to-support-higher-hope/
Our community is always grateful for your support as an Active True Crime Consumer. Every share, action, and conversation helps turn awareness into advocacy and real change.
#HigherHope #TrueCrimeCommunity #VictimAdvocacy #Advocacy
Brittany McGlone was just 19 years old and preparing to begin nursing school when her life was tragically cut short. In 2006, Brittany was living with her mother in Winnsboro, Texas. She was known for making good decisions, working hard, and staying out of trouble.
On May 4, 2007, Brittany was found deceased in her boyfriend’s bed, having suffered blunt force trauma to the head.
Suspicion has long surrounded Chad Carr, the boyfriend of Jeff’s (Brittany`s boyfriend) younger sister. Carr was arrested and charged in connection with Brittany’s murder, but a grand jury ultimately declined to indict him. He was released in 2022, and no one has ever been charged in Brittany’s death.
Investigators have documented inconsistencies in Carr’s alibi, a failed polygraph examination, and a criminal history that have continued to draw attention to his potential involvement. However, despite more than two decades of investigation, Brittany’s family is still waiting for answers and accountability.
Higher Hope is committed to supporting Brittany’s family in their ongoing fight for justice. We partnered with her sister, Hope, to help share Brittany’s story on True Crime with Kendall Rae. Through a Higher Hope “Hope” Grant, we also helped fund a billboard campaign intended to bring renewed attention to Brittany’s case and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
If you have information about Brittany’s death, you are urged to contact Wood County Crime Stoppers at (903) 760-1008. Tips can be submitted anonymously, and even the smallest detail could help move this case forward. Tips leading to an arrest may be eligible for a reward.
You can support Brittany’s family and follow their continued fight for justice on the Facebook page Who Killed Brittany McGlone: facebook.com/justiceforbrittanymcglone
You can also listen to Brittany’s story on True Crime with Kendall Rae:
youtube.com/watch?v=xYCNMjknyII
#JusticeforBrittanyMcGlone #WhoKilledBrittanyMcGlone #HigherHopeFoundation #SeekingJustice
No parent should have to carry the fight for justice by themselves.
The emotional toll of advocating for a missing or murdered loved one is immeasurable, and we`re incredibly grateful that our Hope Grant could help ease that burden for Steven and Renee as they continue seeking justice for Morgan.
Thank you, Steven and Renee, for sharing your story—and for allowing us to be a small part of your journey to justice💙
Listen to Steve and Renee Patten tell Morgan`s Story on True Crime With Kendall Rae, and support their efforts at MorgansMilesToGo.com
For World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, our foundation coordinator sat down with Covered Colorado to talk about the realities of trafficking and how our Empower grant is being used to help survivors rebuild and heal.
The reality is, trafficking isn’t what you see in the movies. It has many forms and is happening in our local communities, being educated on the topic helps prevent trafficking and protect our communities.
#GlobalDayAgainstTrafficking #endhumantrafficking #victimadvocacy #supportsurvivors
Today, on Global Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Higher Hope is standing with every survivor and every organization working to end human trafficking.
By spreading awareness of the realities of trafficking, we can challenge harmful misconceptions, recognize the signs, and help protect those at risk. And by supporting survivors as they rebuild their lives, we can ensure they have the resources, dignity, and hope they deserve on their path to healing.
#EndHumanTrafficking #WorldDayAgainstTrafficking #HigherHopeFoundation #SupportSurvivors #HopeInAction
37 years is far too long to wait for answers.
As part of United Search Corps’ cross-country search efforts, made possible in part through our Empower Grant, their team is in Colorado helping aid in the search for Richard Stanley Meyer, known to his loved ones as Rickey, a 39 year old electrician and preacher.
At the time of his disappearance, he was a volunteer camp host for the U.S. Forest Service, and was en route back to where he was staying at the Columbine Campground .
Rickey, along with his 1978 Dodge Monaco, has been missing from Nederland, Colorado, since July 29, 1989.
This week marks 37 years since he was last seen — 37 years of unanswered questions and a family still searching for answers.
United Search Corps is bringing specialized search resources to Colorado in hopes of uncovering answers and, most importantly, reminding Rickey’s family that he has not been forgotten.
Because every missing person deserves to be searched for, every family deserves answers, and no case should be forgotten.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303-239-4211
#HigherHopeFoundation #UnitedSearchCorps #MissingPersons #ColdCase
We recently had the opportunity to join @unitedsearchcorps at Chatfield State Park and witness the impact of our Empower Grant firsthand during one of their water search operations.
Seeing their team in action was an incredible reminder of the expertise, dedication, and persistence these searches require. Every detail matters when bringing families closer to answers.
We’re honored to support United Search Corps as they provide critical search resources that many families wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Seeing this work in action reinforced exactly why their mission is so important and why we’re proud to support their operations.💙
#HigherHopeFoundation #UnitedSearchCorps #EmpowerGrant #MissingPersons #SearchAndRecovery
Join our community of active supporters who are making a real difference in the lives of those affected by violent crime. Your donation, no matter the size, directly funds crucial assistance for families and empowers organizations dedicated to healing and justice.
What documentation is required for an Empower Grant application?
Organizations must provide proof of 501(c)(3) status, detailed project proposals, budget allocations, and anticipated impact metrics. We also require information about your organization’s history and current programs.
How are Empower Grant recipients selected?
Applications undergo a thorough review process evaluating project impact, organization capacity, sustainability, urgency, and alignment with our mission. We identify truly impactful initiatives that demonstrate clear objectives and efficient resource use.
Is there a geographic restriction for applying organizations?
No, we accept applications from organizations both across the United States and internationally, so long as the initiatives align with our mission of supporting violent crime victims and their communities.
How does reporting work for granted funds?
Recipients may be required to provide updates on project implementation, impact metrics, and fund utilization. This ensures transparency and helps us share success stories with our community of supporters.