Standards for Excellence: Planning Strategically

Step 1 of 3

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The Nonprofit Resilience Hub is a collaborative resource supporting Illinois nonprofits in building long-term sustainability and resilience. Hub programming is available to all Illinois nonprofits that meet the following criteria:

Illinois based, 501(c)(3) organization;
Annual budget of $10 million or under; and
Impacted, or at risk of being impacted, by federal actions.

Information shared through this form will be used only to connect you with the most appropriate Hub partners and resources. Please do not include any details about specific legal matters or individuals.

Once you submit this form, you’ll receive a confirmation email and a link to schedule a 30-minute consultation with a Hub team member.

Section 1 – About Your Request

1. Which areas would you like to discuss? (Select all that apply)*

Budgeting / Financial Management
Creating or revising your annual budget, setting up financial dashboards, scenario planning for funding changes, or improving internal controls and reporting processes.

Governance or Board Development
Clarifying board roles and responsibilities, recruiting or onboarding new members, developing committees, or improving how your board supports fundraising and strategy.

Strategic Restructuring / Mergers / Collaborations
Considering shared services or back-office functions, collaborating with another nonprofit on programs, exploring a merger or fiscal sponsorship, or assessing alignment between organizations.

Organizational Sustainability / Planning
Developing a strategic plan, succession planning, identifying capacity gaps, or adapting programs in response to community needs or funding shifts.

Legal Assistance
Questions about DEI, 501(c)(3) compliance and best practices, and federal funding certification requirements. This form is for general inquiries only. Please do not include confidential information. For legal consultations only, please follow this link to the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee form.

Funding Diversification
Developing a fundraising strategy, building donor relationships, exploring grants or corporate sponsorships, or assessing fee-for-service opportunities.

Other (please describe below)

Other – Areas to discuss*

2. Briefly describe the challenge or question you’re facing.*

Please do not include confidential or case-specific legal details.

3. How are current federal actions impacting your organization or the people you serve?*

Loss, delay, or risk of losing federal funding

Loss or reduction of other funding

New or increased compliance, certification, or reporting requirements

Our mission, programs, or communities are facing increased scrutiny

Target of government inquiry or enforcement

Increased need for services because of federal actions

Other (please describe below)

Other – Current Federal Actions Impacting Organization*

4. How urgent is this issue for your organization?*

Emergency (need help as quickly as possible)
Use this if your organization is facing an immediate or critical issue that must be addressed right away — for example, a legal deadline, funding crisis, or other situation that threatens your operations if not resolved within days or weeks.

Pressing (must be addressed within 3 months)
Choose this if the issue is not an emergency but still requires prompt attention to stay on track — such as an upcoming renewal, compliance matter, or urgent financial planning need.

Time-sensitive (within 6–12 months)
Select this if the matter is important but can be planned for in advance — for example, an upcoming transition, strategic planning process, or anticipated structural change.

Ongoing / emerging issue
Use this if the need is part of your organization’s ongoing work or a challenge you’re beginning to explore — such as improving systems, strengthening fundraising, or evaluating long-term sustainability.

Other
Select this if none of the above fit. You’ll have a chance to describe your situation in your own words.

Other – Urgency*

5. How did you hear about the Nonprofit Resilience Hub?*

Forefront

The Chicago Bar Foundation

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee

BDO

Presentation / Webinar

Funder

Local news or social media

Internet search

Referral from another nonprofit or peer

Other (please specify below)

Other – How did you hear about the Nonprofit Resilience Hub?*

Section 2 – Organization Snapshot

6. Organization Name*

Please enter the full name and do not use acronyms.

Organization Website*

My organization does not have a website

7. Is the organization federally tax-exempt?*

Yes, through its own 501(c)(3) status

Yes, through another 501(c) provision

Yes, through a fiscal sponsor

Unsure

8. Year founded (approximate okay)*

9. Employee Identification Number (EIN)*

Find your EIN here

Organization Address*

Street Address City State ZIP Code

10. Geographic service area (Select all that apply)*

Statewide (Illinois)

Chicago

Suburban Cook County

Chicago Collar Counties

Southern Illinois

Central Illinois

Northern Illinois Excluding Chicago-Area

11. Annual operating budget*

Less than $250,000

$250,000 – $999,999

$1M – $4.9M

$5M – $10M

Larger than $10M

How many full-time equivalent (FTE) employees does your organization have?*

Federal Funding

12. Did your organization receive any federal funding in your last fiscal year?*

Approximate percentage of budget from federal funds last year

Under 10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

Over 75%

Unsure

Do you have federal funds budgeted for this fiscal year?

Yes

Unsure

Approximate percentage of budget from federal funds this fiscal year

Under 10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

Over 75%

Unsure

Estimated share of federal funds at risk due to policy or funding uncertainty

Under 10%

11-25%

26-50%

51-75%

Over 75%

Unsure

13. Primary program area*

Select between 1 and 3 choices.

Arts and culture

Consumer debt and tax issues

Community and economic development

Disability services

Domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking

Education

Environmental and climate change

Farm Workers

Health

Housing and homelessness (Unhoused)

Human services

Immigration and refugee services

Legal Services

LGBTQIA+ rights

Mental health and substance abuse

Older Adults

Public safety and disaster management

Public benefits

Sports and recreation

Veterans and military families

Youth services

Other

If you work across multiples issues, choose the areas most central to your mission or where you make the biggest impact.

Section 3 – Contact Information

Contact Name*

First Name Last Name

Title / Role*

Email*

Would you like to be added to our email list?*

Yes

Consent & Submission

Consent*

By submitting this form, I confirm that I am authorized to provide this information on behalf of my organization and that the information is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that this form is used solely for resource coordination and does not constitute legal representation or legal advice. Information shared with the Nonprofit Resilience Hub will remain confidential, but may be shared among Hub partners for the purpose of coordinating services.*

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