The Evanston Community Foundation handed out a record $337,500 in responsive grants to 26 not-for-profit organizations Thursday night at its annual Grant Awards Celebration and Annual Meeting at The Merion.
The foundation’s vice president for programs, Marybeth Schroeder, told the audience that the grants advance the foundation’s strategic goals of equity, collaboration, and a thriving nonprofit community.
“We’re proud to work with these creative and dedicated organizations in Evanston,” she said.
Recipients included Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, Books & Breakfast, Center for Independent Futures, Warren W. Cherry Preschool, Children’s Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County, Children’s Home & Aid Society of Illinois, Connections for the Homeless, Curt’s Café, Erie Family Health Center, Evanston Scholars, Evanston Symphony Orchestra Association.
Also, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Girls Play Sports, The Harbour, Housing Opportunities for Women, Impact Behavioral Health Partners, Interfaith Action of Evanston, McGaw YMCA, The James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, North Shore Senior Center, Northlight Theatre, PEER Services, Services for Adults Staying in Their Homes (SASI), Y.O.U. (Youth & Opportunity United), Youth Job Center, and the YWCA Evanston/North Shore.
Board Chair Diana Cohen last night presented the annual Jim Kogen Foundation Spirit Award for exemplary board leadership to Michael Brody, immediate past chair.
The foundation was launched in 1986 by the United Way of Evanston, utilizing funds from the sale of an office building. It serves as a repository for a number of community and family funds, which it invests to increase available funds to distribute in the form of grants.
According to its most recent annual report, the foundation experienced a 16.1 percent return on its investments last year, as its total assets grew some $3.4 million to $20.5 million.
ECF also sponsors Leadership Evanston, a program designed to develop leaders for Evanston governmental and philanthropic organizations.