Fostering communities of educated, informed, and engaged citizens.

Apply for a Communities Grant

Grant Guidelines

We support nonprofit organizations that meet the following criteria:

Have 501(c)3 federal tax-exempt status, or use a fiscal sponsor for that purpose
Serve residents of the Greater Chicago metropolitan region with a priority on Chicago's south and west sides
Demonstrate a strong financial position
Use data to inform practice and track impact
Address at least one of our focus areas: Education, Health and Wellness, or Jobs and Economic Opportunity

Additionally, nonprofit organizations must follow one of these approaches:

Networks

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)

Place-Based

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.

Systems-Building

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:

Capital campaigns or endowments
Public, private, or charter schools
Government agencies
Individuals

Grant Application Process

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 four weeks in October. These grants are ultimately awarded in May of the following year.

LOIs for Education and Place-Based (Englewood and Little Village Only) grants are accepted during four weeks each summer. These grants are ultimately awarded in December of the same year.

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.

May 2019 Grant Cycle

Applications accepted: Health and Wellness, Jobs and Economic Security

October 1, 2018	LOI submission period begins
January 11, 2019	LOIs due
February 28, 2019	LOI applicants notified via email (invitation to full proposal or decline)
March 21, 2019	Full proposals due (for invited applicants)
May 2019	Applicants notified of grant decisions

Start a new LOI
Follow 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 LOI
Follow 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.

December 2019 Grant Cycle

Applications accepted: Education, Place-Based (Englewood and Little Village only)

The LOI submission period for this grant cycle will begin in summer 2019. Key dates will be posted here in spring 2019.

If you have questions about this application process, please email Ava Schneider or contact her by phone at 312-445-5031.

Apply for a Grant with a Communities Program Partner

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 Care

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago

Your donations go 150% further

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.