A. Montgomery Ward Foundation Grant

The A. Montgomery Ward Foundation is a private philanthropic entity established in 1959 by Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker, the daughter of A. Montgomery Ward. The foundation was created to support and strengthen institutions that deliver quality educational and cultural programming to residents of Chicago, Illinois, and the surrounding communities. It is one of several foundations administered by Bank of America’s Philanthropic Solutions team, which serves as trustee and manages the grantmaking process. The foundation primarily funds initiatives that fall under the categories of arts, culture, humanities, and education. While the exact types of supported programs are not listed in detail, the foundation’s historical giving indicates a focus on institutions that provide meaningful cultural enrichment and learning opportunities to underserved populations. Grants are typically awarded for a one-year duration, though some exceptions may apply at the discretion of the foundation’s administrators. Applications are accepted online and must be submitted by either of the two annual deadlines: April 1 or October 1. Proposals submitted by April 1 will receive decisions by June 30, while those submitted by October 1 will be notified by December 31. The application process is handled entirely through Bank of America’s online platform, and applicants must ensure that submissions are completed by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the day of the deadline. Deadlines are not extended if they fall on a weekend or holiday. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations that are located in and serve Chicago and its surrounding communities. The foundation does not serve a statewide or national audience and explicitly limits geographic eligibility to Illinois, particularly the Chicago area. Organizations may only submit one application per year to the Montgomery Ward Foundation. If they apply to one of Bank of America’s other discretionary foundations in the same year, they are still eligible to apply to this foundation, as it is excluded from the “one foundation per year” restriction that applies to certain others. Grantees are required to submit a post-grant evaluation report within one year of the application date, regardless of whether all funds have been spent. Reports must include information on project goals, outcomes, challenges, and a full financial summary of how funds were used. Online grantees will submit this via the Bank of America grant portal, while others may use a downloadable form if applicable. For questions regarding eligibility or application procedures, the foundation may be contacted through the shared email address ilgrantmaking@bofa.com, which is monitored by the Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions team. There is no specific contact person listed for this foundation, but it is managed out of the Illinois office by designated staff.

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