www.cct.org | Our Region's Community Foundation

Applying for Grants from The Lake County Community Foundation

The Lake County Community Foundation asserts that the quality of life of Lake County can be improved through an earnest effort to bring organizations, government, businesses, corporations and civic leaders together to establish a common vision, adopt a shared set of measurable goals and pursue evidence-based activities that reinforce one another's goals as a means of addressing the most pressing needs of our community.

The Foundation's grant making is a highly competitive process. With an emphasis on being both proactive to opportunities in the community that advance its mission and responsive to urgent needs, the Foundation will focus on making measurable impact on high priority issues with its limited available funding and additional resources. The Foundation envisions a county-wide health and human service delivery system that is robust and thriving with a network of providers capable of achieving the greatest impact on the urgent needs of the most vulnerable residents of the county. With an emphasis on partnership and collaboration and using innovation and organizational strength as its compass, the system will foster transformational change in communities across the county.

Grant Priorities

Grant making in pursuit of the Foundation's mission and vision will encompass a new strategic focus on quality of life indicators as articulated in the comprehensive regional plan, GO TO 2040, along with several program areas that have traditionally received funding. The Foundation seeks to advance four overarching priorities for Lake County:

Grant Process

The Foundation follows an annual process whereby eligible nonprofits may apply for funding. All grants are awarded for one year. The Foundation does not award multi-year grants to organizations. All grants are reviewed on an annual basis and may be renewable for up to three years following staff and board review. The Foundation's process includes:

1. Online registration and submission of the Project Screening Form

Registration and completion of the Project Screening Form is required for any project/program to be considered for funding. Foundation staff will review the PSF to assess the project's alignment with the Foundation's goals and priority quality of life indicators, and will then determine whether the project advances to Step 2.

2. Online proposal

Eligible agencies with qualified projects will be notified by the Foundation if their individual project/program has been invited to submit a proposal in response to the Foundation's Request for Proposal (RFP).

3. Due diligence

Following submission, proposals will be reviewed by Foundation staff and board. This may include site visits.

4. Grant decision

The Foundation's board of directors determines the final grant awards.

5. Online reporting of outcomes

Grant recipients are required to report on outcomes at the mid-term and end of the grant cycle.

Review the Foundation's calendar for regular updates on the grant making cycle.

Online Grant System

Beginning in 2012, the Foundation will utilize a transitional online application system, part of the system used by The Chicago Community Trust. The format will be new to all Foundation applicants. Begin by registering your organization on the logon page.

For more detailed information, including the Foundation’s grant making guidelines, please visit The Lake County Community Foundation website.