chicago community trust offers new grants for programs, transition + restructuring in human services; proposals due 8/13/10

The Chicago Community Trust has announced $1.5 million in funding in a second round of Unity Challenge grants for organizations whose programs have been targeted for funding cuts by the State and the City while simultaneously experiencing increased demand for services.   Applications are due August 13, 2010.  Find:

• an overview of the request for proposals here (PDF download).
• the application here (Word Document).

Specifically, the funding will help nonprofits with

• Meeting increased needs related to aging, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, or mental health: Projects that respond to a demonstrated expansion of service caseload above previous levels because of increased client demand. This includes funding for direct services or alternative strategies for providing client services.

• Program conclusion or transition in services related to child care or youth, homelessness, aging, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, or mental health: Projects that provide for the orderly closing of programs because of loss of funding or movement of clients. This may include assisting clients with locating comparable services at another site, providing transitional or concluding services, or blending a closing program into another complementary program. 

• Agency streamlining, restructuring, or shutdown for organizations that provide services related to child care or youth, homelessness, aging, domestic violence, developmental disabilities, or mental health: Projects that create greater agency efficiency, necessitated by either the government funding crisis or the economic recession. Types of eligible projects would include agency mergers, collaborations, cost-sharing, and back-office or other service efficiencies. Proposed projects must show how agency change will lead to sustained or improved service to at-risk persons, how the project will result in a stronger agency infrastructure better equipped to weather economic hardship, and cost savings. Community-wide planning processes to address multiple local service needs will also be considered as will the one-time costs associated with closing an agency and transitioning the clients to a new service provider.

Find information and resources on mergers and other types of strategic restructuring here.

The Chicago Community Trust is a Member of Donors Forum and a sustaining benefactor.  Find details here about what Donors Forum and other organizations have been doing -- and how you can help -- to sustain the human services system in Illinois during this economic crisis.

~ Celeste Wroblewski, Vice President, External Relations, Donors Forum

Comments

[Jean Butzen]

I want to congratulate the Chicago Community Trust for developing the Unity Challenge grant program. For nonprofit leaders looking for information related to strategic re-structuring, I would like to offer my blog site, www.MissionPlusStrategy.com, where I have lots of articles, research, and postings you can download for free on the subject of strategic restructuring for nonprofits.