For a competitive grant, when should an organization submit a letter of inquiry?
Do these LOI deadlines apply to all Trust grant programs?
What happens after we submit a letter of inquiry?
Does the Trust award multi-year grants?
My organization's mission fits with more than one of the Trust's program areas. What should we do?
My organization does not have tax-exempt status. Can we still apply?
My organization received a Trust grant in the past. Are we eligible to apply again?
The Trust has traditionally made competitive grants in five main areas: arts, basic human needs, community development, education and health. In June 2011, following a strategic planning process, the Trust will be launching a revised set of grant priorities. The Trust also works with several special grant programs created to meet the interests of donors or civic partners. Each of these grant programs has its own guidelines, application and review process.
The Trust will not make competitive grants for:
- Scholarships
- Individuals
- Sectarian purposes (programs that promote or require a religious doctrine)
- Support of single-disease oriented research, treatment or care
- The sole purpose of writing, publishing, producing or distributing audio, visual or printed material
- The sole purpose of conducting conferences, festivals, exhibitions or meetings
- Reducing operating deficits or liquidating existing debt
How does my organization apply?
Check our eligibility requirements to ensure your organization is a candidate for funding, then select the funding priority in which your program fits. The application process begins when you submit a letter of inquiry (LOI) to the Trust.
For a competitive grant, when should an organization submit a letter of inquiry?
The Chicago Community Trust accepts LOIs three times a year: March 15, July 15 and November 15. If the deadline date falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be the next business day. More information on the upcoming schedule is available in the "How to Apply" section.
Do these LOI deadlines apply to all Trust grant programs?
No – Management and Organizational Development (MOD) grant requests are accepted throughout the year after consultation with a program officer. Grants from Trust initiative and affiliate programs maintain their own, separate schedules.
What happens after we submit a letter of inquiry?
Letters of Inquiry are reviewed and evaluated by Trust staff within six to eight weeks after the deadline. Applicants will then receive email notification that either invites or declines them to submit a full application.
Does the Trust award multi-year grants?
The Trust does not make multi-year grants.
My organization's mission fits with more than one of the Trust's program areas. What should we do?
The Trust does not encourage submission of more than one LOI for each deadline. A conversation with a program officer is required before the Trust wiould accept multiple LOIs.
My organization does not have tax-exempt status. Can we still apply?
The Trust funds nonprofit agencies with evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that are not classified as private foundations. The Trust also accepts letters of inquiry from agencies that operate under a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Our grants management staff verifies the nonprofit status of all applicant nonprofits and fiscal sponsors using Guidestar.
Letters of inquiry are reviewed and evaluated by Trust staff within six to eight weeks after the deadline. If you submitted a letter of inquiry more than ten weeks ago and have not received a response, please email the grants management staff at grants@cct.org.
My organization received a Trust grant in the past. Are we eligible to apply again?
If your agency has completed the requirements of all previous Trust grants, including the final grant report, you may submit a letter of inquiry. Please review the Trust's current funding opportunities to be sure your program still fits within our priorities.
Why does the name of a fund appear on grant record forms?
The Chicago Community Trust endowment is, in fact, a union of numerous gifts, bequests and other contributions from many individuals, families, businesses and other organizations. Income from these various donor sources is used to fulfill grants and is, therefore, identified.
Does the Trust publicize grant awards?
While the Trust does not necessarily expect every grant recipient to invest in publicizing the grant, the primary responsibility for publicizing a grant award rests with the grant recipient. The Trust greatly encourages recipients to publicize their award and their good works. Any publicity, publicly distributed material or public display that refers to a Trust grant must be approved by the Trust’s Communications and Community Relations staff. Grant recipients will receive a copy of the “Publicity for Grant Recipients” guidelines, which outlines the approval process.
In addition, all grants made by the Trust will be noted in the Trust’s publications and may be subject to additional publicity by the Trust.
If our proposal is declined, can our organization reapply?
A grant-seeking organization whose full proposal has been declined through the Trust’s three times a year process must wait one year before making a new request for any program or project. The organization can, however, continue to submit letters of inquiry to the Trust’s affiliates.
If information in our pending proposal has changed, what should we do?
Any change that may affect the Trust’s evaluation and decision of a proposal should be brought to the attention of the Trust program officer as soon as possible. When in doubt, please don’t hesitate to contact the program officer.
Does the Trust release information about grant applicants to other funders?
The Trust’s evaluation of an organization and/or its proposal may, on occasion, be shared with other funding sources unless the applicant specifically requests that it not be.
The Trust does not publicize grant requests it declines, but it may share the reasons for that decision with other funding sources unless the applicant specifically requests that it not.
If your organization does not want its information shared with other funders, please contact the Trust’s grants management staff at 312.616.800 or email grants@cct.org.
I have more questions about applying. How can I seek additional help?
Contact our grants management staff at grants@cct.org.
I’m not seeking a grant; I’m looking for a way to give. Can the Trust help?
A key component of the Trust’s mission is to support philanthropy by assisting current and prospective donors in identifying appropriate giving vehicles, finding worthy charity recipients and planning an efficient and effective way to reach their philanthropic goals.
Please visit our resources for donors for more information about how the Trust can help facilitate your desire to improve Chicago’s future.
