Grant Application Procedures

Introduction

The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County will make grants only to tax-exempt nonprofit organizations and will rarely fund organizations outside Lake County. We give priority to specific programs rather than to general operating support. Grants will typically range from $25,000 to $100,000.

The foundation considers grant requests two times per year. Please see Submission Dates and Board Meetings section below for information about the foundation’s ongoing annual grant cycles.

How to Apply

Letters of Inquiry We require that you send us a letter of inquiry before you submit a full proposal. This will allow us to give you preliminary feedback concerning your request and its potential fit within our funding priorities. Letters of inquiry should not exceed two pages and should include a brief description of your organization, a description of the proposed program, and a program budget, including expenses and anticipated sources of support.

Proposal Application We do not use a grant application form. We accept proposals that adhere to the procedures described below. Full proposals should not exceed ten pages and should contain the following elements:

  1. A completed Application Cover Form

  2. A brief history of the organization, including a general statement of its primary functions and goals.

  3. A program description that includes:
    1. A statement of the need to be addressed
    2. A description of the population to be served
    3. A description of how the planned program will address the identified need
    4. A description of program activities that details what will occur during the grant period, including information about the type of activities planned, their frequency and duration
    5. Plans for assessing/evaluating the results and impact of the program's activities.
    6. A timeline for program activities
    7. Information on how the program collaborates, if pertinent or appropriate
    8. A description of staff roles within the program

  4. A completed Program Objectives Form

  5. A completed Budget Form that identifies the income and expenses for the program during the grant period
  6. An operating budget for the organization with income and expenses for the fiscal year in which the program will take place
  7. A list of current and projected funding sources and amounts (government, corporate, and foundation sources) for both the organization and the program for the fiscal year in which the program will take place
  8. A copy of the organization's most recent audited financial report
  9. A list of the organization's board members and their affiliations, formatted to fit on one page with portrait orientation. Please note if there are any vacant positions.
  10. Resumes of key personnel involved in the program
  11. A copy of the organization's 501(c)(3) tax exemption letter from the Internal Revenue Service
  12. A list of other organizations with which the organization collaborates

  13. Additional validation materials, such as letters of support and newspaper clippings
 

Proposal Instructions with Sample Forms

 

Cover Form
 

Program Objectives
 

Budget
  • Renewal Policy A grantee organization may receive up to five consecutive years of funding, at the foundation’s discretion. After five consecutive years of funding the organization will be asked to take a year off in seeking support. During these five years, the organization may request up to three consecutive years of funding for an individual program. The foundation realizes that there may be circumstances in which support for additional years may be appropriate. The foundation may, at its discretion, grant exceptions in response to these circumstances.

    Submission Dates and Board Meetings The Board of Directors meets two times per year to consider requests for grants.

    Proposal Deadline
    Board Meeting
    5 p.m. on August 1
    November
    5 p.m. on February 1
    May

    In the event that a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, requests may be submitted by 5 p.m. on the following business day.

    Proposals and Letters of Inquiry should be sent to:

    Angela Baran, M.S.
    Program Officer
    Healthcare Foundation of Northern Lake County
    114 South Genesee Street, Suite 505
    Waukegan, IL  60085

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