A. Montgomery Ward Foundation Grant

The A. Montgomery Ward Foundation is a philanthropic entity established in 1959 by Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker, the daughter of A. Montgomery Ward. The foundation was created with the purpose of enriching the lives of individuals in Chicago and its surrounding communities through support for institutions that deliver high-quality educational and cultural programming. Rooted in a legacy of civic responsibility and cultural advancement, the foundation operates under the management of the Illinois office of Bank of America. This grant opportunity is focused on funding initiatives that fall within the categories of arts, culture, humanities, and education. The foundation aims to enhance the cultural and intellectual life of the greater Chicago area, reinforcing community structures through investments in organizations that have a lasting impact on residents. Projects supported typically have a one-year duration and must demonstrate a clear benefit to residents of Chicago and nearby regions. Applications to the A. Montgomery Ward Foundation are accepted twice per year. The two annual deadlines are April 1 and October 1. Decisions for the April 1 submission cycle are rendered by June 30, while decisions for the October 1 cycle are finalized by December 31. There is no mention of a pre-application process, letter of inquiry, or preliminary proposal, and the standard procedure involves a complete application submission by the applicable deadline. The foundation serves a geographically restricted area, with eligibility limited specifically to organizations based in or serving Chicago and its neighboring communities in the state of Illinois. This regional limitation is strictly enforced, meaning that applicants must provide services or programming that directly benefits the designated areas. The opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis but does recur biannually. While the grant's funding limits, award floors, and total program funding are not explicitly stated in the available materials, the grant is clearly structured to support multiple institutions on an annual basis. There is no indication of a required matching component. Questions or discussions about the grant and application procedures should be directed to the Illinois Grantmaking Office at Bank of America via the email address ilgrantmaking@bofa.com. Applicants are advised to include the foundation name in the subject line of any inquiries. The foundation does not list application questions publicly, nor does it provide a time estimate for completion or tips for best practices. However, a downloadable set of procedures is referenced on the website, and applicants may use these documents, in PDF or Word format, to gain a more thorough understanding of the submission process. No examples of previous recipients or funding outcomes were provided in the source material.