Frequently Asked Questions
The Foundation will send delinquency/overdue notices to the grantee. If continued attempts by the Foundation to receive the required reports fail, the Foundation will close the grant for non compliance. All payments will be suspended and the organization will no longer be eligible to receive grants from the Foundation.
The average size and duration of grants varies by project and program area. Please view the grants listing pages for examples of grants awarded.
No. The Foundation accepts requests via the Fluxx Online Portal.
Entrepreneurship Training, Health and Rehabilitation Services, and Intellectual and Developmental Disability Service Organizations.
The Foundation’s primary geographic focus is the Chicago metro area. Only programs within the United States will be considered, which excludes all international programs.
The Foundation’s guidelines do not allow funding for advertising books and tickets. General solicitations and annual appeals will not be considered.
The Foundation cannot make grants directly to individuals for any purpose (e.g. to start a small business, pay school or college tuition, cover medical bills, pay off debts, buy or build a home). Applicants must be registered not-for-profit organizations.
We typically fund programs; in special cases general operating support is provided.
You will receive an email acknowledging your request. A program officer will contact you with additional questions or comments.
There are no deadlines for the submission of LOIs or proposals. Requests are accepted year-round and considered at quarterly board meetings. We generally recommend initiating your request three to four months prior to the date of the board meeting.
The Foundation Board meets quarterly, usually in March, June, September and November.
If an applicant is invited to submit a proposal, staff will likely conduct a site visit to learn more about the program or project.
Yes, the budget format is explained in the Fluxx online portal.
Budgets can be amended with prior written approval from the Foundation.
Reporting assists both the grantee and the Foundation evaluate program effectiveness. The Foundation requires periodic narrative and financial reports as described in grant agreements. The narrative reports should concisely review programs, identifying both strengths and areas for improvement, with particular focus on deliverables identified in the proposal. Budget reports must reveal sources of income and expense related to the project. Any significant variances in budgeted to actual expenses must be explained in the budget recap of the grantee report or in a budget narrative.
If a progress report is late, the grantee should contact the Foundation and request an extension. The next scheduled payment on the grant, dependent on the report, will be delayed until the report has been received and approved.
