Responsive Grants - Project-Based Awards 

Grants awarded by the Evanston Community Foundation:

• Encourage and support new initiatives and innovative approaches to addressing community needs
• Build the capacity of local nonprofit organizations to fulfill their missions more effectively
• Encourage collaborative ventures that will strengthen the community
• Provide initial support of projects that will have impact beyond the scope and timeline of the proposed project
• Build community partnerships and resources
• Strengthen the area's nonprofit community

Responsive grants typically provide:

• Initial seed money to launch a new project
• "Capstone" dollars for a larger project that will grow over a longer period
• Support for a one-time activity or the initial phase of a new program
• May also provide funding for capacity-building initiatives 

Recent areas of proposals considered include:

• Arts and culture
• Basic human needs
• Boys
• Community development
• Early childhood education
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Housing
• Women & girls
• Workforce development
• Youth and families

Proposals must be consistent with the Foundation's mission and grantmaking philosophy and may include:

• Provision of direct services
• Planning and research
• Special conferences or workshops
• Parent involvement or participation
• Board and staff development
• Technology application
• Program evaluation

The Foundation does not offer unrestricted general operating funds.

Grants are awarded annually, with major support from Northwestern University's Dance Marathon, one of the Foundation's significant sources of funds. A Request for Proposal is distributed by early December; proposals are due in February and grants are announced in late May. The grant year runs from July through June; grants are paid in two installments, in July and in December. Grants generally are limited to one year of funding.

A committee comprised of Foundation board members, Dance Marathon representatives and community representatives evaluates proposals based on:

• Fit with the Foundation's mission and grantmaking philosophy
• Extent to which a critical concern, problem or need is addressed
• Realistic objectives and organizational capability to attain these objectives
• Appropriateness of project budget to the objectives and expected outcomes
• Strength of the plan to sustain the project over time
• Established plans to assess the results and project impact
• Importance of Foundation support to build capacity critical to the organization's stability or growth

The Foundation makes grants, conducts its programs, and hires staff without discrimination on the basis of participants' age, ethnicity, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or physical disabilities.

Other Evanston Funders

In addition to the Evanston Community Foundation, there are other local organizations that provide grants to nonprofit organizations.