Community Grants Program 2024

The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln is inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for its Community Grants Program. This program aims to support charitable initiatives within specific geographic limitations, aligning with the Foundation's mission to strengthen the communities in the Land of Lincoln. The grant program seeks to fund projects that address community needs and enhance the quality of life for residents within the designated counties. The target beneficiaries for this program are the residents of Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, and Sangamon Counties in Illinois. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, faith-based organizations (provided proposals benefit all regardless of religion and are not religious in nature), public or private schools (for projects exceeding their budget funding), and some government entities or municipalities. The program focuses on supporting a wide array of community-benefiting projects. While specific impact goals and expected outcomes are not explicitly detailed in terms of measurable results, the program's general objective is to foster community improvement and address local challenges. The funding information indicates multiple grant awards of up to $5,000 each, implying a strategy to support various smaller-scale projects that collectively contribute to broader community well-being. The selection criteria suggest a priority for well-structured proposals from eligible organizations that demonstrate a clear benefit to the community. The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this program, appear to center on broad community support and capacity building for local organizations. By offering grants to a diverse range of entities, the Foundation likely aims to create a ripple effect of positive change across the specified counties. The theory of change seems to be that by providing financial resources to local organizations, these organizations can then effectively implement programs and services that directly benefit the community, thereby contributing to the overall strength and vitality of the Land of Lincoln.