EACI Grants

 

The Equitable Access & Capacity Initiative (EACI) is a collaborative effort, delivered in partnership between BDO, Forefront, and IFF, to support Illinois nonprofit organizations in preparing for and managing government funding. EACI also aims to assist nonprofits in building more holistically healthy financial systems and practices that support impactful program delivery. For information on other EACI services and resources, click here.

A limited number of grants will be made available to support nonprofits in partnering with government agencies. These grants aim to better position nonprofits to pursue or manage government funding.

Grants may be requested to cover overhead/indirect cost gaps, match requirements, or infrastructure needs (e.g., cyber insurance requirements, hiring grant writer, technology implementation, finance consultant/staff, program data and evaluation) related to receiving and/or managing government funding.

Maximum grant amounts will be $100,000. The total pool of available grant funds is currently $890,000.

 

 

Applicants must:

  • Be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or fiscally sponsored project that is:
    • Committed to pursuing or currently managing government funding AND
    • Currently serving one or more geographic areas in Illinois identified as relatively high or very high on the FEMA Social Vulnerability Index: https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/social-vulnerability.
  • Complete an EACI Self–Assessment and 45-minute consultation with BDO consultant (available for free via this link.)
    • The purpose of the consultation is to:
      • Confirm and discuss your organization’s current needs related to preparing for and managing government funding
      • Connect to key resources available
      • Clarify most critical opportunities for additional external support
    • Complete a grant application (see below for application questions)

Please note: The Self-Assessment must be completed by the application deadline of October 20.

Consultations are not required in order to apply, but must be completed prior to a grant being offered. Consultation appointments will be made available to all finalists.

EACI partners will prioritize the following in making grant decisions:

  • Grant request will support the organization in preparing for successful application and/or management of government funding.
  • Grant request is feasible for implementation within a maximum of 1 year.
  • Organizations led by and/or serving Black, Indigenous, Latina/e/o, Asian, or other People of Color
  • Organizations with budgets under $10 million
  • Organizations with limited access to other sources of capital
  • Organizations with limited experience managing government funding

Grant Timeline

  1. Application live on October 6, 2023
  2. Applications due by 5:00pm on October 20, 2023
  3. Self-Assessment consultations with finalists (requires scheduling a 45-minute meeting) completed by November 24, 2023
  4. Grant award notifications made by December 22, 2023
  5. Grant payments made by January 30, 2024

 

EACI Grant Application Questions

These questions make up the EACI grant application. Please utilize them now if you wish to prepare before the application open date of October 6. We estimate the application will take 20-60 minutes to complete.

  1. Have you completed the Equitable Access and Capacity Initiative Self-Assessment? (Please note: completion of this assessment is required by the grant application deadline.)
  2. Organization information:
    1. Organization name
    2. Organization mailing address & website URL
    3. Organization EIN OR name and EIN of fiscal sponsor
  3. Staff contact information:
    1. Name, title, and email address of the person authorized to sign contracts for the organization
    2. Name, title, and email address of lead contact for grant application
  4. Please briefly describe how this grant will support your organization’s preparation for successful application and/or management of government funding. Grants may be requested to cover overhead/indirect cost gaps, match requirements, or infrastructure needs (e.g., cyber insurance requirements, hiring grant writer, technology implementation, finance consultant/staff, program data and evaluation, program data and evaluation) or other costs related to your organization’s ability to receive or manage government funding.
  5. Will these activities be completed within 12 months?  
  6. What access does your organization currently have to flexible capital? Examples might include lines of credit, unrestricted grants, endowment income, etc.
  7. Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your organization and its needs at this time?

Questions? Contact eaci@myforefront.org.

Applications are now closed.

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