Nonprofit Growth &Sustainability (NGS) grants focus on enhancing the capacity and sustainabilityof nonprofit organizations in Evanston. A primary goal of the Evanston Community Foundation is to foster a robust nonprofit sector in the city. For nonprofits to thrive, they must be able to maintain their ongoing efforts and strengthen their capabilities to expand. We help support this work by offering our General Operating Grants and Capacity Building Grants.

This checklist will help you evaluate if you are eligible for a general operating grant. If your organization does not meet the eligibility requirements for the General Operating grant opportunity, we suggest you check out our Capacity-Building or E-Town Innovation Opportunities. 

Please review the following information carefully before beginning an application. For general operating grants, organizations must:

• Have an Evanston address AND serve the Evanston community
• Have been in existence for at least three years (or be the result of merging organizations with at least a three-year history
• Have received and successfully completed at least two ECF grants in the last four years  
• Demonstrate strong commitment to racial equity through the organization’s mission, vision, values, and work 
• Applicants must have at least one paid staff member
• Have a current strategic plan and/or strategic framework as well as a method for measuring progress and community impact
• Demonstrate effective board governance