Getting Started Criteria

If you are thinking of applying for a grant, please make sure that:

1. You or one of your programs is consistent with one of our focus areas:
   • For Community Services requests, you or your program is in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois; or
   • For Education requests, you or your program is in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois; or
   • For Jewish Community requests, you or your program is in Cook County or Lake County, Illinois.
   
   PLEASE NOTE: We accept applications by invitation only for:
   • Medical Research grants; and
   • Jewish Community grants for organizations without programming in Cook or Lake County, Illinois.
2. You are a public charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. If your organization is also classified under Section 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, please contact us before applying.
3. You have the capacity to fulfill a Circle of Service Foundation Challenge Grant. You are willing to raise funds from new donors and increased funds from existing donors, and you are able to effectively track and report on these new and additional donations.
4. During your last fiscal year, you (a) had a broad base of non-governmental supporters and (b) received at least $75,000 in private revenue. For a discussion of what private revenue is, please see our Eligible Gifts FAQs. If you are a new organization, please see our New and Startup Organization FAQs.
5. You have a board of directors (or similar governing body) consisting of at least 5 unrelated members (with at least 4 members who are not employees of the organization) that is responsible for overseeing the organization’s mission and evaluating operations.
6. Your board members make meaningful personal financial contributions to you.
7. You can clearly state your desired outcomes and your current year goals and results. If you are an established organization, you can also provide recent evaluation results (internal or external) and your analysis of those results.