Overview

• The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals
• ILLCF will fund up to four grant awards of up to $5,000 each calendar year
• Until budgeted funds are exhausted
• Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis
• Awarded grants will have a six-month grant term
• If awarded, organizations cannot apply again until 12 months after the award date
• If the grant application is approved, grant funds will be processed within 30 days of application receipt.
• Within 30 days after the end of the grant term, organizations will provide a written and verbal report by phone or video if possible.
• Rapid response grants are not intended to provide general operating support
• Option to select how immediately the funds are needed (24 hr, 48 hr, etc.)​

Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation will not provide rapid response funding for the
following:

● Individuals
● Political Campaigns
● Religious Purposes
● Ongoing organizational support
● Capital Improvements
● Fundraising Events

● Budget Shortfalls
● Organizations outside the state of Illinois

Funding Priorities

1. Emergency Response
2. An unexpected event, disaster relief, COVID-19 response, etc.
3. New Opportunities
4. An organized response to a new opportunity that is immediate, has a clear time frame, and is aligned with our priorities.
5. Other
6. ​We are open to considering requests that do not fit in the other categories as long as they align with the grant guidelines.

How To Apply:
If you would like to apply for rapid response grant funding, please: 1.) review the guidelines,
eligibility information, and funding priorities; 2.) Visit our application to complete the application. In
the grant application, organizations will be asked to describe what it proposes to do with the funds
and what challenges it is addressing, what it intends to accomplish if awarded funding, how the
request or organization is advancing racial equity or justice, and how the request or organization is
advancing systems change.

Documentation Required:

• 501c3 Letter
• Last Financial Audit for organizations with a budget of >$300,000​​
• ​W9 for organizations under a budget of $300,000
• Board Demographics
• ​Support organizations that are Latino-led and Latino serving
• ​If so, they would provide demographics or a list of board/leadership team

​

Guidelines & Eligibility

• Timely and Urgent:  The organization must respond to an unanticipated event or urgent
  external or internal challenge. We define “urgent” as a need or challenge that requires critical
  support and that can be addressed by activities that start and end within a six-month
  timeframe.
  
• Purpose and Scope:  The request should demonstrate how funds will help address the
  challenge or need.
  
• Geographic Focus:  The request should support efforts that have an impact at the county, regional or statewide level or are through a recognized 501(c)3 in IL.
  
• Targeted Population: Specifically Latino and/or demonstrate a correlation between the community that is being served by the district and any outside-of-IL requests

Eligibility:

● To be considered for funding, an organization must be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3)

public charity or be partnered with a fiscal sponsor that meets this requirement.
● We fund organizations throughout the state of Illinois. Funding requests should support
Illinois-based organizations or an organization’s Illinois-based activities.
● We will consider applications from both current grantees and new applicants. Priority will be
given to organizations or requests that align with our public policy priorities found in the
Raices report.
● If the organization is a current grantee, please consult with the ILLCF staff before submitting
a rapid response application. The request must also fall outside of the organization’s existing
scope of work.

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