We are thrilled to announce an important step forward in making our grant application process more accessible and inclusive! Beginning in 2025, the Evanston Community Foundation will offer not one but two fully bilingual Community-Led grant application cycles—a Spring Cycle and a Fall Cycle. ECF has sunset the E-town Innovation and Nonprofit Growth & Sustainability Grants and re-envisioned our open grant cycle process to lift up the practice of community-led grantmaking and prioritize flexible, unrestricted support to eligible community partners including nonprofits and grassroots community groups who are addressing systemic inequities and share ECF's commitment to advancing racial equity in the Evanston community. This change reflects our commitment to meeting the needs of our community and ensuring that resources are accessible to our community. We are also committed to providing thoughtful and compassionate guidance throughout all our funding efforts.  

What Makes Community-Led Grants Unique?

At ECF, our Community- Led grant funding decisions are made with our community, not for our community. We have dedicated grantmaking committees made up of people of diverse identities and lived experiences who all live, work, play, and learn in Evanston. These community members are deeply engaged in social justice, civic engagement, and lifelong learning. These committees review the applications and recommend grants to be funded by ECF.

Additionally, our Community-Led grants also provide unrestricted, general operating funds to support nonprofit organizations and grassroots community groups that are deeply committed to advancing racial equity. In alignment with our five-year strategic plan: Ubuntu in Action, these grants are available to groups that demonstrate alignment with racial equity principles in their mission, vision, values, and daily work. By focusing on unrestricted funding, we aim to give organizations the flexibility they need to achieve their goals and respond to emerging challenges. 

Why Two Grant Cycles?

The addition of a second grant cycle each year brings several key benefits for applicants and our community: 

1. Accommodates Diverse Fiscal Year Schedules: Organizations operate on varying fiscal year timelines. With two application cycles, applicants can choose the one that aligns best with their planning and budget needs. 
2. Supports Staff Capacity and Community Engagement: Spreading the workload across two cycles allows our community-led grant committee members to thoroughly read and review all applications and staff to better support applicants/This ensures a more seamless process and fostering stronger relationships with applicants. 
3. More Opportunities: A second cycle means less time between opportunities for organizations looking to reapply. 

A Fully Bilingual Process

Accessibility is at the heart of this initiative. Both grant cycles will be fully bilingual, ensuring that our local Spanish-speaking organizations can engage with the application process in the language they are most comfortable with. This step removes barriers to participation and reinforces our dedication to inclusivity. 

Looking Ahead

The Spring Cycle will open on January 13, 2025, followed by the Fall Cycle in August, 2025. Detailed application guidelines, timelines, and resources will be available on our website soon. Whether you are a returning applicant or considering applying for the first time, we encourage you to stay connected and take advantage of this exciting new opportunity. 

Together, we can continue to drive systemic social change and build a thriving, resilient Evanston. If you have any questions about the new grant cycles or the application process, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. 

Let’s work together to make our vision of a vibrant, just, and equitable community a reality!