To ensure an equitable and inclusive recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chicago Community Trust is seeking ideas to provide support to local nonprofit organizations to overcome barriers and challenges they face to pursue federally funded grants or contracts.
Donor Name: The Chicago Community Trust
State: Illinois
County: Cook County (IL)
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/03/2023
Size of the Grant: $25,000 and $100,000
Details:
The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awarded more than $11 billion in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois. This historic investment provides an unprecedented opportunity for nonprofit organizations to access federally funded government grants and contracts. Federally funded grants, however, come with significant and varying applications, compliance and reporting requirements for which all nonprofits are not always well supported.
Organizations led by people of color and those rooted in Black and Latinx communities, are often less likely to be recipients of federal funds. To ensure that resources reach organizations that are rooted in and serving historically disinvested communities and those disproportionately impacted by COVID 19, the Trust seeks to support organizations doing invaluable work in communities with constrained resources and capacity to pursue government funding opportunities, administer funds once received, or meet compliance requirements.
Goals & Outcomes
Goal is to increase the community-directed flow of government funds for economic recovery to nonprofit organizations located in or serving historically disinvested Black and Latinx communities and disproportionately impacted by COVID 19. In doing so, the Trust hopes that equitable access to federally funded government grant opportunities will address patterns of inequity. Additionally, they expect learnings from this open call to inform longer-term interventions to build nonprofit strength and identify improvements to government grant and procurement processes that will reduce systemic barriers and inequities in funding outcomes and thereby better meet the needs of Black and Latinx communities.
Funding Information
The Trust will consider grants between $25,000 and $100,000. The Trust anticipates making between 10-20 grants depending on funding availability and the scale of requests received.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include nonprofits with a 501c3 status. The Trust will consider supporting organizations that are pursuing government funding opportunities in the following areas that the Trust has prioritized are critical to an equitable and inclusive economic recovery:
- Community Investment – community development, infrastructure, small business supports
- Community Safety (alternative emergency response, criminal justice reform, aid for returning citizens/people involved in the criminal legal system, victim supportive services, violence prevention/reduction)
- Household Investments (direct cash assistance, public benefits and household supportive services, economic assistance for special populations, utility assistance)
- Housing (affordable housing, homelessness support/prevention, homeownership, rental assistance)
- Workforce (employment opportunities, job training, workforce supportive services, workforce sustainability).
Eligible Activities
- Funding for the following activities to overcome barriers to securing government grants and contracts may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Modest bridge or working capital funds to fill gaps between program expenses and reimbursements – Funds used to cover expenses that are reimbursed at a later date by a government entity or grantee.
- Obtaining required or necessary certifications or licenses – Any expenses related to obtaining or maintaining certifications or licenses that help organizations become eligible for more funding opportunities. Examples include general business licenses, insurance licenses, and MWDBE certifications for minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises.
- Technical or Back Office Support – Funds used to provide technical support to organizations that enhance capacity or eligibility for funding opportunities. Types of support include training and consultants for compliance and accounting staff, project management, or technical expertise needed to apply for and manage funds.
- Reporting Requirements – Expenses related to ongoing capturing, tracking, and reporting of program metrics and other program-related data.
For more information, visit TCCT.
