Supporting local nonprofit organizations
serving Lake County's most vulnerable neighbors
Lake County’s health and human service organizations are experiencing an unprecedented demand for services from neighbors and communities significantly impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
It’s critical these organizations have the resources they need to continue to operate at the highest capacity.
Your donation will support the agencies that are ensuring our neighbors can access critical needs in this time of crisis, including emergency food assistance, rental and stable housing assistance, utility assistance, access to health care, support for remote learning, and the many unforeseeable needs that are being identified through the 211 information and referral helpline.
About the Lake County
COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund
United Way of Lake County launched the Lake County COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund, in collaboration with Lake County Government, to unite the funds raised by Lake County’s philanthropies, corporations and individuals to be disbursed to nonprofit organizations across the county.
As we are individually taking steps to protect our own families, workplaces and neighborhoods from the effects of the virus, let’s not forget the impact this is having on our neighbors. Missing paychecks, the inability to pay rent and utilities, and a lack of access to food and essential supplies are realities that many in our region will have to face for some time. The road to recovery will be a long one.
Please join us in supporting our neighbors across Lake County, Illinois!
FUNDING PARTNERS
(as of 10.19.20)
Amcor Flexibles, AbbVie, The Baxter International Foundation, BD Becton Dickinson, The Buchanan Family Foundation, Federal Life Insurance Company, First Midwest Bank, The Julian Grace Foundation, Huntington Foundation, Karmapa Center 16, Lake County Community Foundation, Lundbeck, Medline Industries, The Nielsen-Massey Foundation, RoundTable Healthcare Partners, John and Kathleen Schreiber Foundation, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Trustmark, United Conveyor Corporation, United Way of Lake County
In Partnership With
GRANT RECIPIENTS
The Lake County COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund has distributed more than $1,000,000 to 45 local nonprofits serving our most vulnerable neighbors.
Lake County
COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund FAQs
- What will my donation support?
- Your donation will help provide increased access to emergency food and basic supplies, rent and mortgage assistance, utility assistance, and an increased ability to respond to emergency needs identified through the 211 information and referral helpline.
- What organizations will receive funds?
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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 April 24, 2021 will focus on programs that either eliminate barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for homebound adults and/or people of color, or provide access to food for those impacted by the COVID pandemic.
As grants are awarded we will post them on this page.
The grant recipients for the first cycle on March 30, 2020 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, 2020 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, 2020 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, 2020 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, 2020 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 on June 30, 2020 was:
- Comp-U-Dopt
The grant recipients for the seventh cycle on November 5, 2020 include:
- A Safe Place
- Beacon Place
- Boys & Girls Club of Lake County
- Erie Family Health Centers
- Highland Park Community Early Learning Center
- Reading Power
- Waukegan Parks Foundation
- Waukegan Public Schools
- YouthBuild Lake County
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.
- Can I designate my donation to a specific organization?
- The Lake County COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund is a general fund to support those most in need. The fund was created in order to move resources quickly based on identified needs and to adapt to evolving needs in subsequent funding phases. We encourage you to give directly to any specific health and human service providers you would like to support.
- How does my organization apply for funding?
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The Lake County COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund has received generous donations from corporations, philanthropies and many individuals. We are pleased to announce an eighth funding distribution! Proposals are being accepted between March 24 and April 15, 2021 for programs that either:
- Eliminate barriers to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for homebound adults and/or people of color.
- Provide access to food for those impacted by the COVID Pandemic.
United Way of Lake County 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 of Lake County has $180,000 in this distribution and intends to fund several organizations.Guidelines for requests are as follows:
- Organizations with a budget of under $100,000 should not request more than $20,000.
- If an organization requests more than half its annual budget, or over $40,000, 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:
- Name of organization, annual revenue for most recent completed fiscal year, 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.)
- A one to two sentence description of the services for which they are requesting funds – suitable for describing the program in a press release.
- 1-2 paragraph summary of the program meeting the identified need (above).
- 1-2 paragraphs on the needs this program is addressing.
- Amount of request and what will be provided for this request. Be as specific as possible.
- A very simple budget for how these funds will be spent.
- Number of people to be served with the requested funding.
- 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, April 14. Successful candidates will receive notification of funding by Monday, April 26. 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 Michelle Crombie at michelle.crombie@uwlakeco.org.
Future funding will be announced on this website.
- Can an individual or family apply for resources from the Fund?
- While the fund is not able to provide grants to individuals or families, we will be funding community-based non-profits that have experience and a history of providing people and families with health and human services and support. If you are looking for available resources, please consider calling 211 or texting your zip code to 898211.
- What are the most current updates regarding the impacts of COVID-19 in Lake County?
- Visit the following for accurate, reliable and up-to-date information: Lake County Health Department & Community Health Center website; the Illinois Department of Public Health website and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
To receive general information about coronavirus via text message, text "COVID19" to 211211.
Contact 211 to Connect with Available Community Services
QUESTIONS?
- General questions & inquiries about the Fund can be directed to United Way of Lake County’s COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund Processing Center at help@uwlakeco.org.
- 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.
- For interested donors, please contact United Way of Lake County’s VP of Resource Development Quinton Snodgrass at quinton.snodgrass@uwlakeco.org.
- For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact Lori Nerheim at lori.nerheim@uwlakeco.org or Arin Thrower at athrower@lakecountyil.gov.
- To make a donation by stock, wire transfer or other assets, please contact United Way of Lake County’s VP of Resource Development Quinton Snodgrass at quinton.snodgrass@uwlakeco.org or 847-775-1046
- To pay by check, please note “COVID-19 Response & Recovery Fund” on the check and make checks payable to United Way of Lake County. Please mail to United Way of Lake County, 330 Greenleaf Street, Gurnee, IL 60031.
United Way of Lake County is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN: 36-2167949.
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