The Evanston Community Foundation is seeking proposals for capacity-building and program grants from nonprofit organizations serving the Evanston community.
The Foundation’s responsive grants program makes investments in organizations and projects that are poised to make a difference in the community by strengthening nonprofit organizations and their programs.
Funding guidelines, application procedures, and the eGrant application link are available online. Applications must be filed electronically through eGrant.net by Monday, Feb. 1.
[block:dfp=mr2i]
Last year’s responsive grant cycle awarded nearly $290,000 to 30 organizations and programs, setting a record for the largest amount awarded by ECF in a single grant cycle.The maximum grant request considered is $20,000, and the average 2015 grant size awarded was $9,600.
Responsive grants represent nearly a quarter of the Foundation’s total anticipated 2016 investment in the community through competitive and strategic grants and all distributions from endowments, including designated and donor advised fund programs.
ECF’s President and CEO Monique Brunson Jones said, “Our board prioritizes investments that will be self-sustaining after the funding period, encourages collaborative proposals that build and develop community resources and partnerships, and seeks to invest in work that strengthens the capacity of organizations to achieve long-term results.”
This year applicant organizations are encouraged to include administrative overhead as part of their project budget. This reflects the Foundation’s commitment to investing in the sustainability of nonprofits.
ECF program staff is available to meet with grant seekers for office hours. The office hours schedule is listed on the www.evanstonforever.org website. Please contactgrants@evanstonforever.org or call 847-492-0990 to schedule an appointment.
Grant awards will be announced in May.
To qualify, an organization must be a 501(c)3, school or government entity, or have a fiscal sponsor that qualifies as a nonprofit 501(c)3. The applicant must provide services to the Evanston community and address issues, concerns or opportunities in the Evanston community.
For more information contact Program Officer Rebecca Cacayuran at grants@evanstonforever.org or 847-492-0990.