From time to time, the Board of Directors may make limited funds available to assist organizations in "urgent" situations. These emergency grants will be smaller in size and limited to one time funding - a maximum of $25,000 per grant. Urgent funding may go to not-for-profit organizations focusing their efforts on improving the health of Illinois children that might not be eligible for funding through the RFP process or Engagement Funding for one of the following reasons:
The funds may be needed to insure continuation of services as the result of an unforeseen financial crisis; or,
The funds may be needed to respond to a rapidly emerging unserved or underserved need.
Restrictions for Emergency Funding
As with our regular RFP program, there are specific restrictions for applying for these funds:
1. Each organization eligible for discretionary funding must be a 501(c)(3) organization determined to be a public charity under section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Internal Revenue Code or a governmental entity described in Code section 170(1) or 511(a)(2)(B).
2. It must be applying for funds through this program because of one of the above stated two reasons.
3. The proposed initiative must be focused on improving children's health within the state of Illinois.
4. No more than 10% of the funds requested may go towards indirect costs.
5. The applicant should truly NEED the emergency funds requested - unrestricted funds held in reserve or with related organizations will be considered when making a decision on the request.
6. ILCHF will not provide discretionary funds for individuals, provide funds to lobby legislation or influence public elections, fund capital campaigns, endowments or general medical research.
Applying for Emergency Funds
Organizations that need to apply for this type of emergency funding should contact a member of the Foundation's staff to discuss the situation - please go to Contact Us to email a staff member. A short write-up on the proposed request may be submitted to assist during the conversation. Please include:
A brief background on the applicant organization - its history and goals, major accomplishments, number of children served annually through its programs, their ethnicity, and the geographic regions of the state covered.
The approximate start date and duration of the proposed activities.
The specific amount of funds requested and why the request should be considered an "emergency."
Please be prepared to submit electronic versions of additional documents should our program staff require them:
A copy of the organization's overall operating budget
A copy of the proposed budget for the request (please use this standard Budget Worksheet for your request)
A copy of the organization's most recent IRS Form 990
A copy of the organization's most recent audited financial statements
Evidence of not-for-profit status - IRS letter of determination, letter from school superintendent verifying school status, letter from mayor's office/city or village controller verifying a department's status, etc.
Requests for Emergency Funding will be reviewed as they are received. Those organizations submitting requests will receive a reply within 60 days of ILCHF receiving their inquiry. For questions, please email us at info@ilchf.org or call 630/655-2873.
For questions about this site or its contents, please email us at info@ilchf.org or call 630/655-2873.