2025 MCF Community Grants Application

MCF COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATION

2025 Morton Community Foundation Annual Spring Community Grants
The Morton Community Foundation's purpose is to support charitable causes...and to advance one or more of these objectives:
- Address and help resolve Morton’s important existing or emerging community issues.
- Support projects and organizations offering the greatest opportunity for positive and sustainable impact for Morton area residents.
- Promote cooperation and collaboration among organizations.
- Improve the quality or scope of charitable work in our community.
What We Support
We prioritize projects that are:
- HIGH IMPACT: Provides services or will benefit a large number of Morton area residents, or a large number of Morton area residents within a particular group (example: individuals with disabilities, seniors, etc.)
- SUSTAINABLE: Creates a lasting impact.
- COLLABORATIVE: Leverages other funding sources and builds partnerships.
- IDENTIFIABLE: Items to which a plaque, sticker, or identifying stickers can be applied, or in the case of digital media, recognition can be given that the MCF provided funding for the project.
- MEASURABLE: Effectiveness of the project can be measured with reliable data.
What We Do Not Support
Generally, the MCF does not make grants for the following:
- Grants to non-profit organizations located outside Morton, IL, that cannot show a clear impact on Morton area residents.
- Grants to individuals (scholarships), or grants to cover camp fees, training sessions.
- Administrative/Operating expenses of a project or of a non-profit organization.
- Charitable activities that promote a "religion". However, grants may be made to faith-based organizations for non-religious purposes (example: We could fund a back-to-school backpack program made available to all Morton area students by a local church.)
- Lobbying or any other activity of a political nature.
- Endowment or to retire indebtedness of a non-profit organization.
- Private foundations and other grant making organizations.
- Consumable items (example: T-shirts, water bottles, food for food pantries, office supplies, marketing items, etc.)
- Projects that have already been completed.
The Morton Community Foundation receives more requests than it can support. A decision to decline a request does not imply that the applicant’s program/Project is not needed or valued.

Federally designated 501(c)(3) Non-profit organizations, designated 501(c)(6) organizations such as the Morton Chamber of Commerce (so long as the grant request is for charitable purposes), and governmental entities serving Morton area residents may submit grant requests. All submissions will be acknowledged by a confirmation email that is auto-generated by our website.

If at any point, you need to stop filling it out before completing the entire form, you can click "Save". You will receive an email with a link that allows to continue filling out the remainder of the application.
ORGANIZATION INFORMATION
Full Legal Organization Name*
Organization Website
Grant dollar amount being requested*
This may or may not be the total amount of the project.
Project Name*
You will include a full description later in the application.
Organization Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code
Organization President / Executive Director*

First NameLast Name
Title*
President, Executive Director, CEO, etc.
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
E-Mail Address*
example@example.com
Type of Organization*

501(c)(3)501(c)(6)Governmental EntityChurchParochial School
EIN #*
Organizational Mission Statements*
Brief Description of Organization*
Population and/or Geographic Area Served*
Contact Person/Applicant*

First NameLast Name
Title
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
E-Mail Address*
example@example.com
Did you attend the Grant Seekers' Workshop or watch workshop recording?*

Attended workshopWatched recorded workshopDid not attend or view workshop
Which objective(s) does your project fulfill*

Addresses an existing community issue.Addresses an emerging community issue.Makes an ongoing/sustainable impact on Morton area residents.Promotes cooperation and collaboration among organizations.Improves the quality or scope of charitable work in our community.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Description:*
Describe the project. Briefly state the who, what and why of the project and overview of the results expected. This should give the grant committee a pretty clear idea of what your project involves in a paragraph or two. It is helpful to attach digital images of the project. This can include photos of product(s), design drawings, mockups of the final product, etc.
Community Need:*
The Mission of the Morton Community Foundation is…”to improve the quality of life for Morton area residents, now and for generations to come”. Please explain how your project is needed and will improve the quality of life for Morton area residents. Identify the specific individuals or groups who will benefit or use the services provided.
Community Impact (Number of People): *
Total number of unduplicated Morton area people this project will serve. This includes any client who will receive services or will benefit from the project. Example 1: 75 fifth-grade students at ABC school will utilize the STEM kits and 80 sixth-grade students will utilize the Robotics modules. Example 2: 125 youth cast members will perform using the new sound equipment and 1500 audience members will enjoy the performance.
Community Impact (Number of Years): *
Total number of years this project will affect our community. Example 1: The item purchased has a life expectancy of * years. Example 2: The project will continue to affect the community for * years.
Sustainability:*
Please describe how this project may be sustained over time.
Project Funding Plan:

Project Funding Plan: Please provide a breakdown below of how the grant money from the MCF would be used as well as any other sources of funding you are pursuing for the project.
Total Cost of Project*
Total Amount Requested from Morton Community Foundation*
Total amount requested should not include costs for labor, cost for plaques or signage indicating the MCF provided a grant for this item, or administrative expenses to implement the program/project.
Will the project go forward with partial grant funding? NOTE: Only in very rare cases, will the MCF fund a project at 100%. So, be aware that selecting “No…the project will not continue with partial funding,” may compromise your chances of being funded.*

YesNo
Budgeted Expenses of the Project*
Please provide an itemization of all elements of your project, followed by the total amount requested. It is to your benefit to prioritize your list so that the first item in the list is highest priority, and each successive item is lesser and lesser priority. Example: 1) New Sound Board for the theatre - $2,500 2) 8 new microphones at $125 each. (Total $1,000) 2) Cables, cords - $575
Proposed Revenue Sources*
Priority is given to projects that show collaboration with multiple organizations and multiple sources of funding. Example: Total Project is $X,XXX.00. We are requesting $XXX.00 from the MCF, our school PTO is going to fund $XXX.00 of the project, and XXX Bradley Fraternity group is going to install the equipment for us at no cost.
"Funding Plan" related comments:*
Project Timeline:*
Provide a timeline specifying months when key activities will take place. Funding is "reimbursement based", and funds are available in May. Projects must be completed by November 20, 2025. Example: May 2025 – items for stem kits ordered. June 2025 – stem kits cataloged and stickers thanking MCF are placed on items. Reimbursement request sent to MCF. July 2025 – new stem kits are in circulation at library
How will you measure your project's success?*
How will your grant be publicized?*
Helping us obtain community awareness of how their donations are being used to impact our community is extremely important. Please list all the ways you will help create awareness of your grant…newsletter, social media posts, plaque or stickers, logo recognition on website, etc. MCF can provide stickers if needed. Custom plaques or signage must be funded by grant recipients.
Project Attachments

It is helpful to attach digital images of the project. This can include photos of product(s), design drawings, mockups of the final product, etc.
File Upload #1

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File Upload #2

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File Upload #3

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File Upload #4

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Required Organization Attachments

The following items must be uploaded with each grant submission (N/A for governmental entities):
Listing of current governing Board members and officers

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Copy of IRS tax-exempt letter (N/A for governmental entities)

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Most recent annual financial statement (with audit, if available), or Form 990 (N/A for Governmental units)

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GRANT AGREEMENT
In applying for grant funds from the Morton Community Foundation (“MCF”), the undersigned hereby unconditionally agrees to the following conditions:
1. To turn in receipts and/or purchase orders reflecting expenses of the project by no later than NOVEMBER 20 of this calendar year (the year in which the grant was approved).
2. To use the funds only for the designated purpose as described in the Grant Application and subsequent grant notification and not for any other purpose without the MCF’s prior written approval. A request for re-direction of any grant funds must be submitted to MCF in writing and approval is subject to MCF’s sole discretion.
3. To notify MCF immediately of any change in (a) Grantee's legal or tax status, (b) Grantee's executive or key staff responsible for achieving the grant purposes, and (c) Grantee’s ability to expend the grant for the intended purpose.
4. To maintain books and records adequate to demonstrate that the grant funds were used for the purpose for which the grant was requested.
5. To return to MCF any unexpended funds or any portion of the grant that is not used for the purposes specified herein.
6. To submit a written report summarizing the project promptly following the completion of the project but no later than NOVEMBER 20 of this calendar year (the year in which the grant was approved) and to submit any interim reports that MCF may require. Your reports should describe your progress in achieving the purposes of the grant and include a detailed accounting of the use and expenditure of grant funds. Please include any publicity given this grant and include photos of the project. You may send this report electronically to: grants@mortoncommunityfoundation.org.
7. To recognize MCF in all publicity materials related to the funded project or program.
8. To allow MCF to include information about this grant in MCF’s periodic public reports, newsletters, news releases, social media postings, and on MCF’s website. This includes the amount and purpose of the grant, any photographs you have provided, your logo or trademark, and other information and materials about your organization and its activities.
MCF reserves the right to discontinue, modify or withhold any payments under this grant award or to require a total or partial refund of any grant funds if, in the MCF’s sole discretion, such action is necessary: (a) because you have not fully complied with the terms and conditions of this grant; (b) to protect the purpose and objectives of the grant or any other charitable activities of MCF; or (c) to comply with the requirements of any law or regulation applicable to you, MCF, or this grant.
Should be Empty:

MCF COMMUNITY GRANT APPLICATION

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Funding Plan:

Project Attachments

Required Organization Attachments

GRANT AGREEMENT