Developing educated, informed, and engaged citizens.
We support nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria:
Additionally, nonprofit organizations must follow one of these approaches:
We support community-driven plans in which organizations work together to help improve services and outcomes across our Focus Areas.
Community-wide Level: Supporting organizations leading and/or participating in community-informed initiatives addressing one or more focus areas. Priority is given to initiatives in areas showing the highest economic and racial disparities in Chicago and Suburban communities.
Citywide/Regional Level: Supporting networks of organizations or coalitions providing services that impact the well-being of a particular population. Priority is given to networks focusing on populations showing the highest economic, racial, and gender disparities in comparison to the general population. (Example, Opportunity Youth, Returning Citizens)
We currently support Quality of Life Plans, designed and led by community residents and stakeholders, in Chicago’s Little Village and Englewood neighborhoods. To date, the Communities Program has supported training efforts to increase local capacity and funded direct services that are aligned with each plan’s goals and strategies.
Grant consideration is given to those programs and initiatives that are supported by the local committees of residents and stakeholders aligned with each community’s Quality of Life Plan.
We support the following initiatives that address economic and racial disparities aligned with our Focus Areas:
Public policy and advocacy efforts increasing resources and removing disparities.
Community leadership training, engagement, and mobilization. Support of these activities is limited to our focused work in Little Village and Englewood, as well as adjacent neighborhoods with community-driven plans.
Related research and evaluation of practices.
We do not make grants to:
To apply for a grant from the Communities Program, eligible applicants may submit Letters of Inquiry (LOIs) during two open submission periods each year.
The LOI is the first of a two-stage application process. After a careful review of LOIs to assess alignment with guidelines and priorities, applicants are notified as to whether they will be invited to the second stage of the process, which is to complete a full proposal.
LOIs for Health and Wellness and Jobs and Economic Opportunity grants are accepted during the timeline below. These grants are ultimately awarded in May of the following year.
LOIs for Education grants are accepted during four weeks each year. These grants are ultimately awarded in December of the same year. The timeline is the same for Place-Based (Englewood and Little Village) grants, but those are by invitation only.
While applicants are only able to submit LOIs for program support, select organizations may be considered for general operating support. These applicants will be notified accordingly after the LOI review period.
The Communities Program will not be accepting any new LOIs for the May 2021 grant cycle (for Health & Wellness & Jobs/Economic Opportunity issue areas). Current grantees will be invited to apply as renewals.
Applications accepted: Education, Place-Based (Englewood and Little Village)
Start a new LOIFollow this link if you would like to access a new, blank LOI. You may use your existing login credentials; or, click the ‘New Applicant’ button if this will be your first time accessing our application system.
Continue working on an in-progress LOIFollow this link if you have already started an LOI. You will need to log on with the same email address and password you used to create your LOI.If you have forgotten your password, you may reset it by clicking 'Forgot Password?' in the bottom-right corner of the login window.
If you have questions about this application process, please email info@mccormickfoundation.org or call 312-445-5000.
For additional grant opportunities check out the Communities Program's sports and philanthropic partners.
Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund
Chicago Bulls Community Assist Fund
Chicago White Sox Community Fund
Cubs Charities Community Fund
United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
All gifts made to the Communities Program and partner funds are matched at 50 cents on the dollar by the McCormick Foundation. Additionally, the Foundation covers all expenses, allowing 100% of your donation, plus the match, to go directly to Chicagoland nonprofits.
Education
Health and Wellness
Jobs and Economic Opportunity
Grant Guidelines
Apply for a Grant