Confirmed in Compliance
with National Standards for
U.S. Community Foundations

The DuPage Community Foundation is pleased to announce the following application deadlines for its 2010 General Grant Program:

Applications received after the above mentioned deadlines will not be accepted. Additionally, applicants should note that only one application per organization may be submitted to the Foundation within a calendar year.
 
First time applicants are strongly encouraged to call or e-mail Barb Szczepaniak at (630) 665-5556 or Barbs@dcfdn.org before beginning the application process. 

Eligibility
 
Grant applications to the General Grant Program will be accepted from non-profit charitable organizations that:

• Are public charities classified as exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code
• Are located in DuPage County

In the environmental category only, grant applications will be accepted from some governmental agencies including: public schools, park districts, Forest Preserve District and public libraries.  
 
Previous grantees must have complied with all reporting requirements and be in good standing before submitting another grant request.  2009 grantees who have not yet submitted a final report at the time of application submission must include a final report (if project has been completed) or an interim report (if project/program has not yet been completed).  If an interim report is included with the application, a final report from the 2009 grant will be due no later than May 1, 2010 for Health and Human Services grants or November 1, 2010 for Arts & Culture, Education and Environmental grants. 

Final Report Form
Interim Report Form

Restrictions
 
The Foundation does not generally award grants from its General Grant Program to:

• Organizations located outside of DuPage County
• Individuals
• Governmental agencies, including supporting foundations*
• Direct support of religious activities (secular activities provided by religious organizations may be eligible for grant funds)
• Endowments
• Disease-specific organizations
• Private foundations and private operating foundations
• Public, parochial, private or charter schools (pre-k through 12th grade)*

*Restriction does not apply to environmental grant applications.   
  
    

Application Review Process 
 
The Foundation Grant Committee consists of Foundation Trustees, community volunteers, and the director of grants.  The Committee meets several times to review and evaluate all applications received and to conduct site visits when appropriate.  The Committee then makes grant recommendations to the full Board of Trustees for approval. 
 
All grant applicants will be notified in writing whether or not a grant has been awarded.  Notification letters will be sent out in mid-May for Health and Human Services grant requests and mid-November for Arts and Culture, Education and Environmental grant requests. 

Application Questions
   
Please contact Barb Szczepaniak, director of grants, at (630) 665-5556 or barbs@dcfdn.org with questions concerning the grant program, the application process, or program category selection.

Grant Guidelines
 
When applying for a grant, please note the following:

• Only one application per organization may be submitted within any calendar year
• Applications may be submitted for existing or new projects, programs, or operating purposes
• Priority in the health, human services, arts & culture, and education categories will be given to organizations which deliver effective existing programs to assist underserved populations, offer new approaches to solving problems, or create opportunities for organizations to collaborate
• Priority in the environmental category will be given to organizations that effectively address current and future environmental needs/issues in DuPage County through improvement of existing or development of new programs, educational outreach, and collaborative efforts
• Grants will be in amounts up to $15,000 and are awarded for a one-year period
• Applications that do not contain all the requested information may be denied
• Applications will be accepted into the program category that best fits the specific program for which funds are being requested
• Once submitted, applications may be moved into a different category at the discretion of the director of grants

The chart below provides broad program descriptions as a guideline to the applicant.  When applying, category selection should be based on the program's content, not necessarily on the type of organization.

Example: If a human services organization is providing after-school tutoring to at-risk children, funding for this program would be in the education category.

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How to Apply 
 
In order to be considered for a grant, grantseekers must submit TWO (2) copies of the application with all of the requested information. Applications must be received in the Foundation office by 5 p.m. the day of the published deadline.  E-mailed and faxed applications will not be accepted.  Each copy of the application must contain a) a signed application cover sheet, b) narrative form, and c) attachments.  Check box to indicate completeness.  Incomplete applications may not be accepted.

A.) Application Cover Sheet (downloaded from this site)

B.) Narrative Form (Three pages or less, which answers the questions below.  As you answer your question, please repeat the question and respond in order listed.)

1. What is the overall purpose or mission of the organization? Include a brief history.
2. Did anything significant happen this year to impact your operations?
3. What amount is requested?  Include brief description of project/program to be funded.
4. What specific need does this project/program address?
5. How will this grant be used?  Who and how many will directly benefit?
6. How do you plan to evaluate the progress and success of your project/program?  Describe the strategies and tools that you will use in measuring the outcome.
7. What other agencies are you working with on this project/program, if applicable?  Describe the partnership or activities.
8. Is this a new, continuing, or one-time project/program?
9. What are you plans for fully funding and sustaining this project/program?
   Specify other funding sources or steps you have already taken to get additional funding for this project/program.
10. Does your organization serve DuPage County exclusively?  If not, what percent of the population served are DuPage residents?

C.) Attachments (Label each attachment with the corresponding letters below):

    A.   List of board of directors, with addresses
    B.   List of management and pertinent staff members
    C.   Budget for project/program relating to the grant request 
          including anticipated expenses 
    D.   The organization's current fiscal year operating budget and its two prior 
          fiscal years' actual income and expenses
    E.   The organization's financial information entered into the Organizational Financial
          Summary Form (downloaded from this site)
    F.   The organization's most recent audited statement, including a balance sheet
          and the income and expense detail 
                     -If an audited statement is not produced, then the organization's most 
                      recent internal year-end financial statement, including a balance sheet 
                      and the income and expense detail, and the most recent IRS Form 990
    G.   The organization's IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
    H.   Completed Grantee Interim or Final Report if you received a Foundation grant 
           in 2009 (downloaded from this site: Final Interim)

Funds
  
Grants are made from the earnings of permanent endowment funds established by corporations, foundations, individuals and organizations wishing to make a lasting contribution to the people of DuPage County.

General grants will be funded from earnings on the following funds: 

• Unrestricted Funds:
• Cleve E. Carney Fund
• Lois L. and Edwin F. Deicke Fund
• Elizabeth D. Eben Memorial Fund
• General Endowment Fund
• Jack and Virginia Knuepfer Fund
• John W. Squire Fund
  

• Field-of-Interest Funds:
• Arts Fund
  Founding donor: WPWR-TV Channel 50 Foundation (1994).  For artistic endeavors including, but not limited to, performing arts, art exhibits, and arts education.
• Basic Human Needs Fund
  Founding donors: First Annual Benefit attendees (1993).  For agencies responding to emergency housing, food, clothing and health care needs of low-income residents.
• The Alben F. Bates and Clara G. Bates Foundation Fund
  Founding donors: The Alben F. Bates and Clara G. Bates Foundation (2005).  To support the residents of Elmhurst.
• Children and Youth Fund
  Founding donor: Richard and Carole Cline (1988).  For physical, emotional, educational and intellectual needs of children and youth.
• Ruth and High Christ Fund
  Founding donor: Ruth Christ (2000).  For disadvantaged children and youth.
• Environmental Fund
  Founding donor: Molex Incorporated (1991).  For efforts to improve and/or preserve the quality of the natural environment.
• Health Fund
  Founding donor: Central DuPage Health System (1995).  For broad health needs in the community.
• Martha McCormick Hunt Fund
  Founding donor: Brooks and Hope B. McCormick Fund (1988).  Primarily for conservation and the protection of the natural environment.
• Wesley E. Luehring Foundation Fund
  Founding donor: The Wesley E. Luehring Foundation (1999).  For charities located in or serving the Itasca area.

• Sindelar Family Fund
  Founding donor: Peg Sindelar (2002).  For education and health.

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