JANUARY Non-Profit GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
The City of Chicago, nonprofit organizations, and private organizations are accepting grant applications from businesses and nonprofits. If you are interested in growing your business check out some of the opportunities below and open grant funding.
The City of Chicago Nonprofit Capacity Building Program
The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) has launched The City of Chicago Nonprofit Capacity Building Program (NCBP). This program was designed to provide access to curated coaching and education programs for Chicago area nonprofits in an effort to support nonprofit organizations gain access to capital, funding, and other resources to counteract the effects of the pandemic. Here are some of the program offerings:
Readiness Summit: Informs organizations so they can prepare to apply for grants and contracts funded by the Chicago Recovery Plan and other economic recovery funding.
Webinars: Webinars feature different topics related to applying for grant opportunities.
Workshops: Held weekly, workshops provide an opportunity to connect with your peers and subject matter experts to discuss specific organization challenges.
One-on-one counseling: A one-on-one meeting with a subject expert who can help you with specific grant application issues.
The Nonprofit Capacity Building Program is designed to empower your organization through…
Technical Assistance: Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced hand with the City's RFP system, our guidance ensures your success when applying for Recovery funding.
Capacity Building: Scale your operations with insights and coaching from experts who understand your unique challenges.
Networking: Forge meaningful collaborations with fellow nonprofits, experts, and potential partners, establishing a robust support network.
Equitable Recovery: Join us in contributing to Chicago's recovery plan by fostering equitable and thriving communities through your nonprofit's impactful work.
ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES:
BoardLead
BoardLead is the signature program of Cause Strategy Partners. Their network is designed to help your organization meet talented board members who are passionate about helping you drive your mission forward while also gaining access to governance resources – all at no cost to nonprofits. Reduce friction in your board development process by creating a compelling board member recruitment profile on our BoardLead platform. Represent your nonprofit to corporations and potential board candidates in ways that attract the diversity and depth of talent you seek. Experience a faster and easier way to attract and elect exceptional new board members. They vet potential board members for cause alignment and readiness to serve, and train them for effective board service. They also vet the companies candidates work for to ensure values and mission alignment.
For more information and to apply for the BoardLead network: https://causestrategypartners.com/boardlead
Capital One Café – Southport
Capital One Café has meeting rooms available for nonprofits to book, free of charge. You can book this free meeting space dedicated for nonprofit organizations and student groups directly through their LiquidSpace portal. The room itself fits up to eight people.
** Please note that these free conference rooms are available to registered nonprofit organizations. Capital One has a fundamental belief that the non-profit community is a valuable part of our society and we aim to allow as many non-profits as possible to use our free space; however, Capital One reserves the right to decline organizations. Religious and political groups are not permitted to use the community space. In addition, each reservation will be limited to a total of two hours maximum per day. More than two hours will require an exception.**
To reserve this space, please follow this link: https://liquidspace.com/us/il/chicago/capital-one-chicago/meeting-room-2?StartTime=&ReservationStart=&WorkspaceCapacity=&Amenities=&SpaceTypes=0&ReservationMethod=0&SortOrder=0&ReservationLengthMinutes=60&src=srp#wp-hourly
Canva Pro for Nonprofits
Canva for Nonprofits has everything you need to create powerful marketing campaigns. Create social media posts, presentations, infographics, websites, reports, posters, flyers and signage. With over 500,000 nonprofits in our community, we at Canva want to continue to empower nonprofits to achieve their goals with free access to Canva's premium features.
https://www.canva.com/canva-for-nonprofits/
Forefront
Forefront is Illinois’ statewide association representing both grantmakers and nonprofits, as well as their advisors and allies. Their mission is to build a vibrant social impact sector for all the people of Illinois. They provide education, advocacy, thought leadership, and facilitate collective action around issues that are important to their Members and to the sector. For a full calendar of Forefront events: https://myforefront.org/events/
Upcoming January events:
Administrative Partnership Models for Arts Nonprofits (Webinar) – Thursday, January 11th @ 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
In a world of rapid leadership transitions and a wildly shifting fiscal landscape, nonprofit organizations are finding new ways to collaborate that promote organizational and artistic sustainability. Arts organizations often champion artistic collaboration, and this session will move the conversation forward by exploring models for administrative and structural collaboration, including shared staff, co-location, program transfers, and mergers/acquisitions.
For details and registration: https://myforefront.org/event/administrative-partnership-models-for-arts-nonprofits-webinar/
Introduction to Fundraising Planning (Webinar) – Tuesday, January 23rd @ 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Does your organization need help directing its fundraising efforts? Planning focuses your organization by setting fundraising priorities and helps give staff and board members a roadmap to success. This introductory class will provide you the basic steps for developing a fundraising plan, including tips on: Making your case for support, diversifying your organization’s fundraising base, and creating a plan of action.
For details and registration: https://myforefront.org/event/introduction-to-fundraising-planning-webinar-3/
Savvy Fellowship:
Savvy is a 12-week virtual fellowship program for young professionals seeking to be part of the new generation of impact entrepreneurs. No cohort. No application deadline. Designed for applicants ages 18-40.
For more information and to apply: https://savvyfellows.com/
COHORT OPPORTUNITIES:
Allstate Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Center, Nonprofit Management Essentials
This program was developed for emerging nonprofit leaders and those new to the sector. The content is designed to broaden awareness across a breadth of management topics in a flexible, online offering. Learn from faculty and practitioners and apply these nonprofit management essentials to your position. Nonprofit Management Essentials is fully funded by The Allstate Foundation and powered by content from the Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management.
GRANT FUNDS:
Awesome Foundation
Application Deadline: Rolling
The Awesome Foundation is an ever-growing worldwide community devoted to forwarding the interest of awesome in the universe. Created in the long hot summer days of 2009 in Boston, the Foundation distributes $1,000 grants, no strings attached, to projects and their creators. At each fully autonomous chapter, the money is pooled together from the coffers of ten or so self-organizing “micro-trustees” and given up front in cash, check, or gold doubloons.
https://www.awesomefoundation.org/en
Clean Energy to Communities Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
C2C connects local governments, tribes, electric utilities, and community-based organizations with national laboratory experts and customized, cutting-edge analysis to achieve clean energy systems that are reflective of local and regional priorities.
https://www.nrel.gov/state-local-tribal/clean-energy-to-communities.html
Flexible Funding Program
Full Application: Dependent on flexible funding typ
Equitable investment in neighborhoods cannot happen without the leadership of community-based organizations. That means these organizations need access to funding that is focused solely on the state of the organization rather than its programs and initiatives. The Flexible Funding Program provides three distinct types of “flexible” dollars to organizations in Black and Latinx neighborhoods.
To receive Flexible Funding support, the organization must be Black or Latinx-led, and its work must align with the Trust’s Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment strategy.
https://www.cct.org/grants/opportunities/flexible-funding-program/
Illinois Art Council Agency - Artstour & Live Music
Application Deadline: Rolling
Artstour & Live Music provides support to eligible Illinois not-for-profit organizations seeking to present Illinois performing artists, companies, or groups for performances, collaborations, or short residencies held in conjunction with performances. This program can not be used to support events that are part of a regular series by organizations already receiving Program Grants in the discipline of Presenters.