Chicago Foundation for Women LETTER OF INQUIRY Form – STRATEGIC RESPONSE FUND

The Enterprise Fund

Chicago Foundation for Women advocates through its funding and leadership on behalf of women and girls and invests in emerging and established nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations throughout metropolitan Chicago which adhere to our mission and values.

Mission: Chicago Foundation for Women is a grantmaking organization dedicated to increasing resources and opportunities for women and girls in the greater Chicago area. To support our philanthropy, the Foundation promotes increased investment in women and girls, raises awareness about their issues and potential, and develops them as leaders and philanthropists.

The Enterprise Fund

Over the past quarter century, Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) has provided early seed money to groundbreaking organizations—taking a chance on innovative and creative programs designed to address the needs of underserved women and girls. Based on our commitment to nurturing innovative efforts and to supporting smart collaborations, we have established The Enterprise Fund.

The Enterprise Fund is specifically designed to meet the next wave of economic, social and educational challenges facing women and girls by recognizing that not all programs and ideas need to be housed in separate, unique organizations. Through the Fund, applicant organizations have the support to consider a range of organizational structures and pathways to collaborative programming. From combining complementary ideas to co-locating services to formally joining with a nonprofit partner, the Enterprise Fund allows organizations the flexibility to consider new iterations of their work.

We recognize that relationships take time and that ideas may evolve over the course of conversations. The Fund is intended to support the exploration of collaboration, without privileging a particular outcome. Initial plans are required during the application process; a final report, summarizing decisions and next steps, is required 30 days after the close of the grant period.

Please note, this is a competitive process and preference will be given to organizations that are able to:

  • Create significant, measurable impact on the lives of women and girls in the region either through direct service or policy advocacy.
  • Show promise for growing over time to reach a larger audience with the possibility of replication in other communities in the Chicago area and beyond.
  • Capitalize on an innovative model, idea or method and track results.

Letter of Inquiry Form – Strategic Response Fund

Submit to as a Word document, saved with this file name:

[InsertOrganization Name] Letter of Inquiry
Please note: To apply for the Fall or Spring general cycles, please use the Letter of Inquiry Form for that cycle.

Date:
Organization: Founding Date (mm/dd/yyyy):
Address:
City: State: Zip+4: Website:
Phone: Fax:
Contact person for this grant request: Title:
Email:Phone:
Executive Director:
Email: Phone:
CHECK ONE CATEGORY:
Yes, this organization has 501(c)(3) tax-exemption. Tax ID #
No, this organization does not have a 501(c)(3).
Name of the organization serving as fiscal agent: Fiscal Agent Tax ID#:
Please attach a letter from your fiscal agent.
Organization’s operating budget:
Organization’s actual income for last completed fiscal year:
Organization’s actual expenses for last completed fiscal year:
Organization’s surplus or deficit at the end of last completed fiscal year:
Amount Requested:
Program Name:
Program Budget:
Issue Area: Freedom from Violence Health Economic Security
Type of Support: Advocacy Direct Service Advocacy and Direct Service
Co-Sponsorship
If direct service, choose one: Best Practice Innovative
Fiscal or Calendar Year this grant request covers (beginning and end dates):
Executive Director or Board Chair’s Electronic Signature:
(By typing my name above, I verify that all of the above information is correct as of the date specified)

Narrative Section

Organization Description and Mission Statement:
Please limit your answer to 200 words, formatted to fit this space.
Summary of Program:
Please limit your answer to 200 words.
What are the program goals? Please include program outcomes and how outcomes will be measured:
Please limit your answer to 200 words.
If direct service, discuss how the program is either best practice or innovative:
Please limit your answer to 100 words.
If advocacy, discuss how the program will work toward and/or achieve systemic change:
Please limit your answer to 100 words.
Explain how Foundation funding will be used:
Please limit your answer to 50 words.
List participant demographics of proposed program(gender, age, income, race/ethnicity, LGBTQ, disability, neighborhood):
Please limit your answer to 50 words.

Guiding Principles

Chicago Foundation for Women is committed to supporting basic rights and equal opportunities for women and girls. We consider our work both in terms of outcome as well as process. It’s not just what we are doing, but how we are doing it. Our Guiding Principles provides a framework for sharing our values with the wider community, connecting our work across all issue areas and change strategies.

Not every organization will approach the Guiding Principles in the same way. Commitment to the principles may be demonstrated through administrative policy within the organization, referral partnerships in the community, programming components, or other methods.

Address how your organization meets Chicago Foundation for Women’s Guiding Principles.

1. How is the organization and/or program intentionally designed to benefit women and/or girls?
Please limit your answer to 150 words.
2. How does your organization support a woman’s right to reproductive justice?
Please limit your answer to 150 words.
3. How dothe organization’s board and staff members reflect the diversity of the communities served?
Please limit your answer to 150 words.
4. How is your organization increasing accessibility to persons with disabilities?
Please limit your answer to 150 words.
5. How does your organization provide a respectful environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) people?
Please limit your answer to 150 words.

Organization and Project Demographic Chart

Estimated number of program participants, if applicable:

Paid Staff / Board Members / Clients/Participants
IN PROPOSED PROGRAM / Members or Volunteers
(if applicable)
Number
# / Percentage
% / Number
# / Percentage
% / Number
# / Percentage
% / Number
# / Percentage
%
Female
MALE
Transgender/ Gender non-conforming
African
American
arab american/ middle eastern
Asian/
Pacific Islander
European American/
Caucasian
Latina
Native
American
Multi-
Racial
Other
LGBTQ
Military Service/Veteran
Disabled
Total / n/a / n/a / n/a / n/a

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Chicago Foundation for Women LETTER OF INQUIRY Form – STRATEGIC RESPONSE FUND

For the program for which you are seeking funding, please check the appropriate categories:

Age group(s) program/project serves:

Girls (0-11)

Adolescent Females (12-18)

Young Women (19-25)

Adult Women (26-59)

Older Women (60+)

All age groups

Income level(s) of population served:

Below Poverty Level

Lower Income

Middle Income

Upper Income

Geographic area(s) the program will serve:

County/-ies: CookDuPage Kane LakeMcHenryWill

Please Indicate Primary Service Area (choose one):

City of Chicago.

Specific Neighborhood in Chicago (e.g. Englewood, Uptown), please specify:

Suburb/Township, please specify:

Statewide

Please Indicate Secondary Service Areas (fill out all that apply):

City of Chicago.

Neighborhood(s) in Chicago (e.g. Englewood, Uptown), please specify:

Suburb(s)/Township(s), please specify:

Statewide

Type of Program
Please Indicate Primary Program Area for requested funds (choose one):
Arts & Culture
Capacity Building/
Organizational Development
Childcare/Early Childhood Intervention
Community Organizing
Domestic Violence
Education
Employment/Economic Development
Financial Literary/Coaching/Credit Repair
General Social Services
Housing / Homelessness
Immigrant
Incarcerated/Ex-offender
Job Skill Development/Training
Leadership Development
Legal Services
LGBTQ
Mentoring / Out of School Programming/
Afterschool Programming
Physical & Mental Health
Physical Health
Refugee
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Justice
Research
Sexual Assault
Social / Systems Change
STEM
Substance Abuse
Trafficking
Veteran
Women of Color Led
Women with Disabilities
Other ______
Please Indicate Secondary Program Areas for requested funds (check all that apply):
Arts & Culture
Capacity Building/
Organizational Development
Childcare/Early Childhood Intervention
Community Organizing
Domestic Violence
Education
Employment/Economic Development
Financial Literary/Coaching/Credit Repair
General Social Services
Housing / Homelessness
Immigrant
Incarcerated/Ex-offender
Job Skill Development/Training
Leadership Development
Legal Services
LGBTQ
Mentoring / Out of School Programming/
Afterschool Programming
Physical & Mental Health
Physical Health
Refugee
Reproductive Health
Reproductive Justice
Research
Sexual Assault
Social / Systems Change
STEM
Substance Abuse
Trafficking
Veteran
Women of Color Led
Women with Disabilities
Other ______
-Organization Budget Comparison Form
Complete this form to provide: 1) current year-to-date (Y-T-D) actuals, 2) current year organizational budget,
3) most recently completed fiscal year actuals, (* Unaudited numbers accepted) and 4) most recently completed fiscal year budget.
Organization Name: / Fiscal Year:
Current FY (from ____to ____ ) / Most Recently
Y-T-D
as of ______/ Annual / Completed FY (from ____ to _____)
Actual / Budget / Actual* / Budget
Support and Revenue
Government Grants & Contracts
Corporate/Foundation Grants
United Way, Other Campaigns
Religious Institutions
Special Events
Contributions/Individual Donations
Fees for Service or Memberships
Investment Income
Miscellaneous Income
In-Kind Support
Others (please specify):
Total Support and Revenue**
Expenses
Personnel (salaries, benefits, taxes)
Training
Consultants & Professional Fees
Facility/Occupancy/Utilities
Office Expenses (supplies, etc.)
Travel
In-Kind Expenses
Other (please specify):
Total Expenses** / - / - / - / -
Net Income/(Loss) / - / - / - / -
If appropriate, please explain any deficits, significant variances between columns, or concentration of revenue below.

Program Budget, including a breakdown of total revenue and total expenses (please type or paste into box below):

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