Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – Hope Found of Northeast Arkansas is set to expand its prevention and advocacy services after securing a significant grant.

The organization, whose mission is to end human trafficking, announced on Facebook Jan. 27 that it was selected as a Rising Nonprofit Grant recipient by the Arkansas Community Foundation (ACF). The designation is awarded to only nine organizations across the state.

The selection comes with a $30,000 award aimed at strengthening organizations that are tackling the state’s toughest modern challenges.

Megan Brown, co-founder and executive director of Hope Found, said the grant is more than just funding; it validates their work in fighting human trafficking and exploitation in the region.

Upon hearing the news, Brown told JRN that she thought she was being told that she could apply for the grant, not that they had been chosen to receive it. Needless to say, she was emotional.

“I definitely cried,” she said.

The Rising Nonprofit Grant was created to celebrate ACF’s 50th anniversary. According to a news release, the foundation sought out emerging nonprofits that demonstrated innovative approaches to community issues.

Brown said that from the conversation she had about receiving the grant, the foundation saw how Hope Found had gathered the community to rally around and support them.

“We’ve had a lot of challenges that we’re dealing with, and it was nice to be recognized; that was just an honor,” she said.

According to Brown, staffing has been an issue recently. With only a few staff members on board, many of the decisions fall on a few people.

“My current advocate is getting burnt out, and I desperately need to hire another advocate. We weren’t financially bringing in enough money to do that. We were just bringing in enough money to get by,” she said.

While specific budget allocations are still being finalized, Brown indicated the priority is funding staff salaries to ensure victims receive high-quality care.

“It’s more than just paying for a victim’s hotel stay, rent, clothing items, or food. They also need that advocate in their life,” she said.

The investment also helps with the influx of victims the organization serves. As Brown said, within the past couple of years, their focus was geared more toward minors due to having one advocate. They have a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Children and Family Services, who send referrals for potential victims, among other groups.

“We’re constantly getting referrals from them, from the juvenile department, probation, in order to serve minors that either are victims or at a super high risk of being victims, because they’re running away a lot, or they’ve been caught talking to people online or sending nude photos. As long as kids have access to devices and social media, you’re going to constantly see the uptick and kids getting exploited,” she said.

Looking beyond immediate needs, the ACF said the grant is intended to help organizations like Hope Found build a foundation for long-term sustainability.

Brown told JRN they are creating a strategic plan to help them plan the next three to five years. She said they don’t need to start any new programs, but rather, they need to hire more people. In particular, she would like to get an advocate who can focus on adults and one who can focus on labor trafficking.

“We’ve done some sting operations in the past with the law enforcement and illicit massage businesses, so we know that there’s labor trafficking that’s happening here, but we haven’t really been able to build those relationships with the people that are getting exploited and taken advantage of,” she said.

With the grant on Hope Found’s résumé, Brown said the organization is looking to the community to match this momentum. She hopes people will reach out and have the organization teach others how to protect their loved ones.

“Helping us raise more awareness and being more educated, that’s how you’re going to be able to stop human trafficking, but of course, we can’t do the work without financial supporters. So, we are always looking for monthly donors to come alongside us and support our events by purchasing tickets,” she said.

For more information on Hope Found’s mission and how to get involved, click here.