The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) offers Community-Led Grants to support grassroots organizations and emerging nonprofits prioritizing racial equity in their mission, vision, and values. These grants are designed for general operating support, allowing organizations the flexibility to address systemic inequities within the Evanston community. The program follows a participatory grantmaking model, ensuring that funding decisions are made by a diverse committee of community members directly impacted by these issues. The grants are available in two cycles—Fall and Spring.

The purpose of these grants is to provide unrestricted and flexible funding that strengthens the nonprofit sector, fosters innovation, and sustains essential community-led initiatives. By involving local leaders in the grant selection process, ECF ensures that resources are directed to organizations best positioned to make a lasting impact. The approach promotes equity, transparency, and accountability by centering the voices of those most affected by systemic challenges.

Funding is available for general operating support, which can be used for a variety of organizational needs, including staffing, program implementation, and operational expenses. While the grants are primarily unrestricted, ECF reserves the right to apply specific funding conditions in compliance with its policies and fiduciary responsibilities.

Eligible applicants include grassroots community groups and nonprofit organizations that are committed to advancing racial equity within Evanston. Applications are reviewed by grant committees composed of Leadership Evanston alumni, Advocates for Action, and other community leaders from diverse racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds. This selection process ensures that funding decisions align with the needs and priorities of the Evanston community.

For the Spring 2025 grant cycle, applications are currently open and will close on February 18, 2025, at 11:59 PM. Interested applicants should submit their proposals through the online application portal before the deadline. While ECF seeks to fund as many organizations as possible, funding is not guaranteed, and applicants should be aware that demand may exceed available resources.

Applications will be evaluated based on their alignment with the foundation’s mission, the demonstrated need for funding, and the potential impact of the proposed work. Successful applicants will receive general operating grants that help sustain their organizational efforts and further their work in addressing systemic inequities.