CMF Responsive Grants

The Community Memorial Foundation offers the CMF Responsive Grants program to support 501(c)(3) nonprofits working to improve health in the western suburbs of Chicago. Organizations eligible for funding must align with the Foundation's mission and address community needs, particularly for underserved populations. Grants are awarded bi-annually, and priority is given to programs that enhance health equity and access to care. This initiative aims to transform the region into the healthiest community in the country.

NOTE: Organizations must submit an online letter of intent (LOI) if any of the following apply:
The organization has never received a program or general operating grant from Community Memorial FoundationThe organization has not received a program or general operating grant from Community Memorial Foundation in the past three yearsThe organization intends to request more than $25,000 from the Foundation
Requests that do not meet the above criteria are not required to submit a letter of intent and may simply submit an online application .
Community Memorial Foundation believes our grantee organizations are our partners in community transformation. Through our Responsive Grants Program, we award funding to 501 (c)(3) nonprofits that deliver services throughout our 27 communities and facilitate our shared vision of a healthier community.
Responsive grants:
are awarded bi-annually, with grant cycles in the spring and fallare guided by the Foundation’s mission and visionmeet the Foundation’s current funding prioritiesmeet the Foundation’s policies and guidelinesserve the 27 communities within the Foundation’s geographic focus are allocated for program services as well as general operating support
Funding Priorities
Community Memorial Foundation’s grantmaking is governed by our designated funding priorities. Together, these priorities, and the programs which are funded to support them, advance the Foundation’s vision of transforming the Western Suburbs into the healthiest region in the country.
Community Memorial Foundation will place priority on programs that meet the following strategies. Grant applications that address increased coordination and integration of health and human services and align with Regional Health and Human Services Agenda values will receive higher consideration.
Increase health equity by reducing the health, social and economic barriers to optimal well-being and quality of life, specifically race, gender identification, language, culture, (dis)ability, religion, national origin, age and ability to pay.
Ensure high-quality access to timely, affordable, physical, mental and behavioral, and/or oral healthcare services.
Provide services that address mental and behavioral health, and promote programs that reduce stigma for youth and adults.
Address the effect of poverty on health by providing for basic needs such as access to nutritious food, homelessness prevention, and promotion of self-sufficiency.
Ensure that residents are safe from interpersonal violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, elder abuse and child abuse.
Enhance and expand knowledge of, and connection to, existing local resources, yielding more access to coordinated care.
Nurture the development of health and human service leaders in the region that are service-oriented, reflect the diversity of CMF communities, and advance the Regional Health and Human Services Agenda.

Eligibility

Grants Policies and Guidelines:Funding consideration is given to organizations whose missions are congruent with that of Community Memorial Foundation and which offer programs and services to measurably improve health.Programs must serve the local population within the Foundation’s geographic service area.
Every organization seeking a grant must be designated as a 501 (c)(3) as determined by the Internal Revenue Service Internal Revenue Code. Organizations requesting multi-year grants must first contact Foundation staff prior to written submission.

Ineligibility

Generally, the Foundation does not consider more than one proposal from any one institution during a 12-month period. However, consideration may be given to more than one proposal from departments or divisions of large organizations when submitted through the office of the chief executive and/or development office of the parent organization.Generally, Community Memorial Foundation does not fund programs that are geared primarily for academic credit.
Generally, no organization will receive a grant of more than 33% of its total budget.CMF does not fund:Organizations that illegally discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, creed, age or national originOrganizations that limit services to any one religious group or members of a specific sectarian perspectiveOrganizations that, as a substantial part of their activities, attempt to influence legislation, or directly or indirectly participate in and/or intervene in political organizations, political campaigns or lobbying groupsIndividualsEndowmentsTickets to dinners or advertising space in program books or other publicationsCost of in-patient care