How To Apply for a Grant

Each year, the Cook County Community Fund makes grants up to $2,500 for non-profits in Cook County. The deadline to apply is May 1.

Funds are generally granted for initiatives that meet the changing needs of the Cook County region in the following six areas:

Arts
Community Development
Education
Environment
Human Services
Youth

Grant priorities within these areas include:

Strengthen community ties between individuals and collaboration between organizations within our service area (Cook County)
Address underlying causes of community problems
Respond to community needs that can be solved or softened by receiving grants of modest or moderate amounts.
Propose new solutions or responses and require start-up assistance
Seek to create connections among a diverse cross-section of citizens thereby increasing the community health and hospitality of our region.

Items that are generally not funded include:

Capital and equipment requests, and
Ongoing program support

Items that will not be considered by the Cook County Community Fund Board include:

Endowments
Medical research
Fund-raising activities
Individuals
Religious organizations for direct religious activities
Debt retirement
Political organizations or campaigns
Organizations that have, as a substantial part of their purpose, influencing legislation
Activities that are normally the responsibility of government
Funding for an organization’s own re-granting activities

Interested in learning more about the application process? Please follow this link:

To download a PDF copy of the Cook County Community Fund grant guidelines, please click here.