Our Story
The Kansas City Community Bail Fund was founded in May 2019 by Chloe Cooper and Lauren Worley, two social workers who were working for a Kansas City housing program helping formerly homeless youth and families. While fleeing from a violent domestic situation, one of their clients, "Shay," was jailed for a charge related to self-defense. Shay lost her job and an educational opportunity, and was at risk of losing her housing, because she couldn't come up with the $5,000 bail. After an unsuccessful search for resources to help Shay post bail and get legal assistance, Chloe and Lauren started a GoFundMe on her behalf. They raised several thousand dollars in just a few short weeks - but not enough to cover bail. Fortunately, thanks to court advocacy and letters written to the judge, Shay was released on a signature bond. She was then transferred to Wyandotte County where she had a hold for an outstanding warrant for an unpaid non-moving traffic violation. KCCBF paid her bail, and Shay was released until her trial.
After the tragic murder of George Floyd in May of 2020, people all over the country started donating to bail funds--including the KC Bail Fund--in support of their work to free protestors from jail. The KC Bail Fund grew rapidly, thanks to the generosity of these activists and compassionate citizens, and the organization now pays bail for an average of three clients per month. Chloe Cooper has led the organization as executive director since 2021. The Kansas City Community Bail Fund is recognized as a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
The Kansas City Community Bail Fund is a member of the National Bail Fund Network, an organization composed of more than 90 community bail and bond funds across the country. This umbrella organization provides ongoing educational opportunities and support services to its members.