We are seeing a great strain on local health and human service providers. Based on the most pressing needs identified by 211 and with input from leading non-profits, we will prioritize funding to local non-profit agencies tasked with addressing the critical needs of people and families in our community during this COVID-19 outbreak and its consequences. Funding decisions will be made by United Way of Lake County staff and volunteers with the Community Impact Council. They will review each application and select for funding organizations that best meet the identified needs. The distribution for the week of November 5 will focus on programs that either decrease social isolation of children, help children adjust to social isolation, and/or the purchase and distribution of items needed to educate children and youth engaged in remote learning Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Round Lake, Highwood. As grants are awarded we will post them on this page.

The grant recipients for the first cycle on March 30 include:

• A Safe Place
• Catholic Charities
• Hanul Family Alliance
• Mano a Mano Family Resource Center
• Nicasa
• Northern Illinois Food Bank
• PADS Lake County
• Roberti Community House

The grant recipients for the second cycle on April 13 include:

• A Safe Place
• Catholic Charities
• ChildServ
• Community Partners for Affordable Housing
• Family Services of Lake County
• Lake County Haven
• Libertyville Township Gift Fund
• Most Blessed Trinity Parish

The grant recipients for the third cycle on April 27 include:

• CYN Counseling Center
• Elderwerks
• Erie Family Health Centers
• Family First Center of Lake County
• Messiah Lutheran Church
• Nicasa
• Pioneer Center
• Rosalind Franklin University Health Clinics
• Youth and Family Counseling

The grant recipients for the fourth cycle on May 14 include:

• Beacon Place
• Club Apaseo el Alto
• Diaper Bank Partnership of Lake County
• Emmanuel Faith Bible Christian Center - Food Pantry
• Farmworker & Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP)
• The Giving Point Food Pantry
• Grandparents and Kins Raising Children
• Hispanic American Community Education and Services (HACES)
• Mothers Trust Foundation
• Roberti Community House
• Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers
• Taylor’s Toolbox Inc
• Youthage Culinary Program Inc

The grant recipients for the fifth cycle on May 29 include:

• A Safe Place
• Catholic Charities
• Community Action Project of Lake County
• Curts Café Highland Park
• Families Helping Families Chicagoland, in partnership with BellaRu Catering
• Nicasa
• Northern Illinois Food Bank
• PADS Lake County
• Roberti Community House
• 211

The grant recipient for the sixth cycle:

• Comp-u-Dopt

For assistance finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help. 211 is available 24/7.

The Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund has received generous donations from corporations, philanthropies and many individuals. We are pleased to announce a seventh funding distribution!

Proposals are being accepted between October 14-28, 2020 for programs that either:

• Decrease social isolation of children
• Help children adjust to social isolation, and/or
• The purchase and distribution of items needed to educate children and youth engaged in remote learning in Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Round Lake, and Highwood

United Way recognizes that many smaller organizations and organizations led by people of color are doing critical work serving communities and populations that are disproportionally impacted by COVID-19. We encourage these organizations to apply for this funding.

All funding must be directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding must be spent within 30 days.
Only 501(c)3 non-profit organizations that are actively meeting this focused need at the present time should apply.

The majority of the clients served must be in the Lake County communities of Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Round Lake, and Highwood. Funding cannot be used to serve people outside of Lake County.

Religious organizations may apply but cannot restrict services to their members or require religious activities as a condition of receiving aid.

United Way has $120,000 in this distribution and intends to fund several organizations.Guidelines for requests are as follows:

• Organizations with a budget of under $500,000 should not request more than $15,000.
• If an organization requests more than half its annual budget, or over $30,000, it must present a compelling case as to why they are uniquely able to provide this service and how they will manage the accounting and reporting

Organizations eligible to apply should submit a 1-2 page application containing the following information:

1. Name of organization, annual revenue for most recent completed fiscal year, and name and contact information for the person responsible for this program, and if it is led by a person of color. (Note: Other organizations may apply as well.)
2. A one to two sentence description of the services for which they are requesting funds – suitable for describing the program in a press release.
3. One paragraph on the needs this program is addressing
4. 1-2 paragraph summary of the program meeting the identified need (above).
5. If this program has been funded by UWLC through regular fund distribution, submit a paragraph on how this program has changed to address the increasing/changing needs of individuals impacted by COVID-19, and how this has impacted the costs to deliver the service.
6. Amount of request and what will be provided for this request. Be as specific as possible.
7. Number of people to be served with the requested funding.
8. Geographic area served by this program. Percent of the program in Waukegan, North Chicago, Zion, Round Lake, and Highwood.

Please submit a copy of the IRS 501(c)3 designation letter with the application.

Successful candidates will need to sign a Lake County COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund Memorandum of Agreement after they are notified of funding status, and a results/demographic report is required 90 days after the grant is received.

This funding request is due by 12:00 noon on Wednesday, October 28. Successful candidates will receive notification of funding by Thursday, November 5. Applications should be emailed to Sara Martinez at sara.martinez@uwlakeco.org. Because of the quick moving nature of this proposal process, no late submissions will be considered.

If you have questions about this request for proposal, contact David McDowell at david.mcdowell@uwlakeco.org or Michelle Crombie at michelle.crombie@uwlakeco.org.

Future funding will be announced on this website.