In Youth We Trust - Adult/Nonprofit Grants

To be eligible to apply for funding from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ IYWT Grant, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OR a religious organization, unit of government, or public university/college. 

Up to $19,500 will be awarded. The maximum that an organization can request is $5,000.

Who we fund:

• Nonprofit organizations providing COVID-19 related items/services/programing to youth within Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, or Stephenson counties. 
• Applicant must currently be providing before- or after-school programming.

What we fund:

• Unforeseen COVID-19 related expenses.
• Indirect costs that do not exceed 15% of the amount being requested in the proposal. Indirect costs are defined as expenses that cannot be easily attributed to the funded charitable activity but are essential to the operation of the grantee. Examples include utilities, insurance, general administrative support, and the portion of a building that is used to support the general operations of the organization. 

Some examples of potential proposals:

• Provide educational necessities such as access to internet, educational materials, and safe centers for study during and after school hours.
• Provide sanitary supplies such as clean masks, sanitary wipes, hand sanitizers, etc.

IWT will not fund:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Projects and programs that promote a religion or require participation in religious activities as a condition for receiving services. Grants may be made to faith-based organizations for other purposes.
• Projects or organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national/ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran’s status, disability, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.

The application for the IYWT Grant has seven sections: 

1. Project Information: Asks for basic information about your proposal.
2. Results: Asks  about your anticipated results, and how you intend to measure and track your results.
3. Impact: Ask about the population you intend to serve and your organizational impact. 
4. Promotion: Asks about how you plan to promote your charitable activity and your IYWT Grant.
5. Budget: Asks for a detailed proposal budget and narrative.
6. Other Information: Asks if there is anything else you would like the Council to know about your proposal.
7. Certification: States the terms and conditions for applying for and administering a grant from CFNIL’s In Youth We Trust Program.

View a PDF version of the IYWT Nonprofit/Adult Grant Application

Applications must be submitted through CFNIL’s Web Portal (same portal used for the Community Grants program) by 5 p.m. on January 10, 2021. To learn how to register and apply using the Web Portal, visit cfnil.org/grant-resources. Funds for awarded grants will be available by the beginning of February. If you are awarded the grant, there will be a grant reception held in May to honor and promote recipients. Contact Program Officer and IYWT Staff Liaison, Ciara Stahly at cstahly@cfnil.org or 779-210-8209 with questions. 
 

All proposals should  be charitable activities that serve youth directly:

• Project – The duration of the charitable activity described in the proposal has a beginning and ending date, and lasts between one week and three years. Example: Care packages to homeless youth.
• Program – The duration of the charitable activity described in the proposal is ongoing. Example: Safe centers for study during and after school hours.
• Capital/Commodity – If you are purchasing equipment, a commodity, or making a minor capital improvement that will allow you to serve or further your ability to serve youth. If a capital/commodity purchase is not the primary expense of a charitable activity, choose Project/Program as appropriate. Examples: Providing sanitary supplies such as clean masks, sanitary wipes, hand sanitizers, etc.

It is important to solidify a plan on how you will measure your results and the tools you will use. Examples: surveys, how many participants attended, or receipt for item purchased.  

You are expected to submit a final report by the following October to tell us the outcome of the charitable activity using the methods of measurements you stated in your application. If you do not submit a final report you will not be eligible for funding in the future.