Proposals are due by Friday, September 6, 2024 at 5:00 pm Central Time.

Drop-in Application Assistance Meet-Ups

South Chicago, Chicago Public Library
9055 S. Houston Avenue
Saturday, August 17, 10am-1pm

North Pulaski Branch, Chicago Public Library
4300 W. North Avenue
Thursday, August 22, 2-5pm

West Englewood, Chicago Public Library
1745 W. 63rd Street
Saturday, August 24, 9:30am-12:30pm

Blackstone Branch (Kenwood), Chicago Public Library
4904 S. Lake Park Avenue
Saturday, August 24, 1:30-4:30pm

Rogers Park, Chicago Public Library
6907 N. Clark Street
Wednesday, August 28, 4-7pm

Virtual Office Hours

• Register online for a 20-minute virtual office hours appointment.

Webinars

• View Budget Template Webinar for instructions on how to use the Budget Template
• Basics of Fiscal Sponsorship Webinar, August 19, 2024, 2:00-3:30pm | Register online
• View the Application Assistance Webinar for information on how and what you need to apply (recorded August 9, 2024)

Fiscal Sponsorship Information

Fiscal Sponsors must have missions in alignment with your projects, must have nonprofit designation (501c3 or 501c6), and be in Chicago.

• Candid Learning: Fiscal Sponsorship
• Chicago Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights: Ins and Outs of Fiscal Sponsorship. This is part two of the 2021 Advocacy By The Book training series, provided by Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights with support from Woods Fund Chicago, Field Foundation of Illinois, and the Conant Family Foundation.
• What You Need to Know About Fiscal Sponsorships, seminar by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, 2017 (55-minute video)
  • 11:10  Webinar begins
  • 15:45  Benefits/risks for fiscal sponsors
  • 13:23  What to look for in a fiscal sponsor
  • 20:45  Pros and cons of having a fiscal sponsor for your project
  • 25:47  What the agreement should cover

  •  26:18  How funds will be released

  • 27:47  Administrative fees

  • 44:50  Tax reporting

  • 45:50  Insurance

  • 47:00  Things to keep in mind

• Fiscal Sponsorship: a 360 Degree Perspective (PDF)
• Find a Fiscal Sponsor that Fits, by Linda Fowells on Candid Learning, 2016
• Additional places to find a fiscal sponsor
  • Special Service Areas (what is an SSA?)
  • Special Assist Agencies - representing the interest of small, minority and/or women-owned businesses.
  • Business and Community Development Corporations – a searchable database (select the Chicago, IL – based organizations)
  • Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights also has valuable resources on fiscal sponsorship and more!
• Sample Agreement (PDF)

Templates and Examples

Applicants are not required to use these if they already have existing documents with the needed information in their own format. EXCEPTION! There are Excel spreadsheet links in the Cybergrants application that applicants must use: Project Personnel Demographics (everyone must fill out and submit) and Board and Staff Demographics (for organizations only). They are only available in the application.

• Budget Template (.xlsx)
• Blank Resume Template (Word doc)
• Resume Example (PDF)
• Bio Example (PDF)
• List of Experience Example (PDF)
• Fiscal Sponsor Statement of Commitment Template (PDF)
• Partner Statement of Commitment Template (PDF)

Instructions and Tips

• Watch a previously recorded webinar on creating Marketing Plans, or review the presentation
• Using Excel Through Google Spreadsheets (PDF)
• Sign up for interview (optional) by Friday, August 16.