FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Akilah Wilson 

Email: wilson@evanstonforever.org 

ECF LAUNCHES NEW ‘RESILIENCE GRANTS’ AMIDST FUNDING UNCERTAINTY FOR NONPROFITS 

EVANSTON, IL, February 19, 2025- The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) has just announced a new grant opportunity that will be available to applicants in 2025. These new ‘Resilience Grants’ are designed to help address especially urgent and critical needs nonprofits may come to encounter that are not easily resolved with the foundation’s existing grant offerings.

Notably, these new Resilience Grants have a turn-around-time of approximately four weeks. That is from the time applications open, to the time dollars are sent out the door, the entire process will take about a month. A large difference from the three-month timeframe ECF grant applicants are accustomed to.

This new funding opportunity comes as a direct response to the funding uncertainty many of the foundation’s nonprofit partners are experiencing during this unprecedented moment in history. 

“At ECF, our goal is to create a vibrant, just, and equitable Evanston,” said Akilah Wilson, Spokesperson for ECF. “.. and we recognize that we can’t do that without our nonprofit partners who so valiantly stand on the frontlines of many pressing issues in our community. So, as a foundation, we really see this opportunity to provide support as an honorable duty of ours. We are more than happy to leverage the resources of the foundation when Evanston is in need.” 

The Foundation's first Resilience Grants cycle will close March 6, 2025. The Foundation will announce subsequent Resilience Grant cycles on a rolling basis throughout 2025.

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About the Evanston Community Foundation

The Evanston Community Foundation’s mission is to mobilize community resources to drive systemic social change and build a thriving and resilient Evanston. We achieve this by: 

• Investing in the community with a sustainable and long-term perspective 
• Empowering leaders to foster innovation and collaboration 
• Prioritizing community voice and choice