Purpose, Core Programs and Goals

The following will provide overarching direction for program decision making for July 2010 - June 2013

F65 Purpose - Foundation 65 exists for charitable purposes leading to the betterment of the arts and/or literacy experience of all K- 8 students in all schools within District 65 in Evanston/Skokie, IL.   The Foundation strives to add value to the education experience of the students through responsible grant making and by engaging the family and the community on their behalf.

Core Programs –  As an independent operating foundation, F65 raises funds and makes grants to the schools and to organizations, which are positioned to carry out its mission.

Goals -  Foundation 65 views “arts” as any product of human creativity and “literacy” as any activity that involves reading and writing.  Through focused arts and literacy based programs, Foundation 65 will, over the next three years, strive to…

Grant making principles

Foundation 65 will gives priority consideration to funding programs that support one or more of the following:

1. Community engagement as part of implementation

2. All kids and all schools, or the potential to support all kids and all schools over time

3. Explore multiple-school and multiple-teacher collaborations

4. Explore possibilities of replicable programming

5. Reach out to families and the community for their involvement in arts/literacy projects

6. Link literacy and the arts                                        

Foundation 65 Grants
Foundation 65 provides funding in the following ways:

Responsive Grants (one year grants)

• Application deadline is January 15, 2012
• Funding is limited to up to $3,000 per project
• Successful applicants will be notified in April
• Approved programs will receive funding the following July

Responsive grant proposals must be submitted by the January 15 deadline.  Please refer to Foundation 65’s Purpose, Core Programs and Goals when submitting a proposal. Successful applicants will meet one or more of the outlined goals.  Applicants are welcome to contact our offices to discuss project ideas before submitting a proposal.  Grant proposals must be submitted electronically to the executive director at the Foundation 65 offices.  In addition one hard copy of the proposal that includes signatures of the applicant and all required parties must be submitted.

Applications should be mailed to Foundation 65, PO Box 750, Evanston, IL 60204 and e-mailed to lise.jinno@foundation65.org.

Questions can be directed to 847-637-7193.

Download an application (word)

Download an application (pdf)

Community Engagement Grants

• Single year OR multi-year grants
• Broad reach - affecting as many students / schools as possible (in one year or over multiple years)
• Encourage community involvement as part of implementation

Strategic Grants

• Multi-year grants, focused on specific outcomes
• Broad reach - affecting as many students / schools as possible (in one year or over multiple years)
• Invest in district-wide change and improvement in education

For Community Engagement Grants and Strategic Grants, Foundation 65 asks all interested applicants to contact our offices to discuss project ideas.  Proposals for these grants may only be submitted by invitation.  Please refer to Foundation 65’s Purpose, Core Programs and Goals when submitting a proposal. Successful applicants will meet one or more of the outlined goals.

Review process

The Foundation 65 Program Committee will review all proposals and provide funding recommendations to the Board of Directors.  After initial review of a proposal, additional information may be requested.  Final funding decisions are made by the Foundation 65 Board. 

Applicants who do not meet criteria for funding will receive notice from the Foundation 65 office.  Applicants may re-apply after criteria are met.

Responsibilities of grantees

All grantees are responsible for submitting a final evaluation at the end of the program/project.  Multi-year programs will be required to submit annual updates.

Additionally, grantees are asked to submit photos, student work, anecdotal information as well as testimonials at the end of the project.  It is the responsibility of the grantee to ensure that a media consent form for all photos of students and student work submitted is on file at District 65.