Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities

Chicago’s school-aged population hovers just under 450,000, representing approximately 17% of the city’s population, with over 320,000 youth enrolled in Chicago Public Schools. Since 2021, the number of young people in Chicago has decreased, while varied negative health and crime statistics have increased over the same period. According to the city’s violence reduction dashboard, the percentage of Chicago youth aged 0–19 experiencing a shooting or homicide has increased since 2021, with nearly 20% of youth exposed to increased incidents of violence in 2023.

While a downward trend in shootings and violence exposure for 20 – 29-year-olds over the same period offers some hope for our community, this is not the case for Chicago’s youngest and most vulnerable population. It also doesn’t represent the promise and potential we see for our youth across the city. These data, as well as the extensive body of research on the positive impact of site-based youth and community development efforts has prompted the Lohengrin Foundation to launch Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities, a youth and community center capital investment initiative.

The Lohengrin Foundation is pleased to announce the launch of a two-step proposal process for engaging with nonprofit partners to respond to this issue. We are seeking to offer capital and programmatic operating support to a nonprofit partner for the development or creation of a new youth and community center.

Currently, the Foundation seeks Letters of Interest (LOIs) from non-profit organizations or collaborations seeking to strengthen youth and community health, education, safety, and well-being outcomes by creating a new youth and community center. The Foundation aims to serve as an early investor in a capital investment project leading to a comprehensive youth and community center. New, innovative, community-centered, and driven capital projects are strongly encouraged to apply.

The LOI will be the first step in the process, followed by an invitation to submit a complete application.

Grant Size and Funding Schedule

The Foundation anticipates providing one grant totaling up to $15M throughout the pre-development, construction, and occupancy phases of the project. The final grant award amount will be based on the full scope and size of the final selected project, including the number of youths to be served and potential community impact.

Funds are expected to be disbursed in five installments, aligned to various project phases, including:

☐ Pre-development.

☐ At the beginning of construction.

☐ At an agreed-to funding milestone during construction.

☐ At occupancy.

☐ At post-occupancy to support the center operations.

The Foundation does not expect its funding to support more than 50% of the overall project’s total development costs.
Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities

Youth and Community Center Capital Investment Initiative

Elgibility:

Who is eligible to apply?

☐ Non-profit, charitable organizations as defined by section 501(c)(3) of the IRS tax code.

Who is not eligible to apply?

☐ For-profit organizations.

☐ Individuals.

☐ Public or parochial schools, though schools may apply in collaboration with a non-profit partner.

Project eligibility requirements:

☐ Project sites must be in Chicago. While there are no predetermined target communities for this initiative, special consideration will be provided to proposed sites in neighborhoods with high youth density populations and limited or no existing comprehensive youth and community centers or equivalent sites.

☐ Projects should be able to be realized in 3–5 years.

☐ Projects must focus on a new construction youth and community center or the conversion of an existing building into a youth and community center.

☐ The Lohengrin Foundation will consider varied projects ranging from stand-alone youth and community centers to centers that are part of a larger economic or community development strategy or capital projects such as a housing or health center. Ultimately, the Foundation will only allocate funding to the youth and community center aspect of any larger strategy in which its ability to be built, is not dependent on the realization of other aspects of the project.

☐ While we seek out partners who propose projects that meet the specific needs of their communities, projects that exclude potential participants or limits engagement of community members in programming or use of the facility because of their ethnicity, religion, gender, spiritual beliefs, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, or immigration status will not be considered.

☐ The Foundation does not seek out or encourage naming rights on behalf of the Foundation, its board, staff, or predecessors.

Two-Step Application Process

Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities: Youth and Community Center Capital Investment Initiative
The Lohengrin Foundation is launching a two-step proposal process that will ultimately culminate in the selection of one project for funding. The following outlines the key phases of the proposal process and related timelines. Please note only step 1 is required at this stage.

Step 1: Letters of Interest – The request for Letters of Interest guidelines and details is released on October 15, 2024, with letters due on December 6, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. CT.

Step 2: Full Applications – Following an evaluation process, selected organizations will be invited to submit a full application for funding consideration. Application requirements and other details will be included in the final application guidelines released February 3, 2025, with applications due on May 2, 2025, by 11:59 p.m. CT.

Invited applicants will receive access to a network of Technical Advisors to support applicants as they further develop, refine, or expand upon their proposed projects and vision for a youth and community center.

Invited applicants will also have access to a group of local organizational leaders selected by the Lohengrin Foundation. These leaders have direct experience undertaking a successful capital development project from concept to completion.

Please be advised that applicants are requested to have a representative participate in an Applicant Technical Assistance and Support Convening to be held in-person on February 11, 2025.

Final applications will include, but may not be limited to the following requested key components:

☐ Architectural plans and drawings.

☐ Proof of pursuit of site or site control (deed, purchase or lease agreement, etc.).

☐ Site assessments including environmental approvals ensuring the site is suitable for construction/occupancy.

☐ Capital budget (including hard and soft costs).

☐ Status of funding and funding strategy, including all sources that have been received, are committed, have been requested, and are anticipated (including documentation).

☐ Proposed programming plan including a potential operating budget / pro forma, and any site maintenance and operating agreements.

☐ The applicant’s plan and activities undertaken to engage youth and the community members in and throughout the development process.

☐ A youth density report and projections of youth/community impact.

☐ Participation in an application screening interview

The full application guidelines will include additional details on each of the application components above and other requirements. Applications will be by invitation only, open February 3, 2025, and due May 2, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. CT.

Applicant Finalists: A subset of finalists will be selected to conduct a final interview and provide updates on the status of their project. Summer of 2025.

Section I: Organizational Information

Fill in the requested information with attention to the mandatory questions.
Organization's Name*
Executive Director Name*

First NameLast Name
Executive Director Email*
example@example.com
Project Lead Name*

First NameLast Name
Project Lead Title*
Project Lead Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Project Lead Email*
What is your organization's most recently completed fiscal year operating budget?*
Does your organization currently have or anticipate an operating deficit?*

YesNo
Please check the box that corresponds best to your proposed project. Our project is a:*

new construction site to be constructed on vacant land.new construction site that requires demolition of an existing structureconversion or renovation of an existing building to transform it into a youth and community center.Other

Letter of Interest

All LOIs must be submitted online by December 6, 2024 at 11:59 CT. The goal at this stage is to understand your vision for the proposed project, how you have engaged community in the project and the overall funding plan. While there are no word limit requirements for the narrative portion of the LOI, we expect submitted LOIs to range from 4 - 6 pages total, including financials.
Project Overview
1. Project Name *
Please provide a name for your proposed project
2. Description *
Please briefly describe the proposed project, intended impact, need for the center, and anticipated programming or activities that you plan.
3. Proposed Site Location and Community Impact Area*
Please provide the proposed site location and the Chicago Community Areas anticipated to be impacted through the proposed center. If the site has been secured, is owned or under lease by the applying organization or what stage the applicant is in securing the site. If a vacant site is owned by the applicant, please indicate if is a brownfield or in what condition the vacant property is in.
4. Timeline*
Please describe your anticipated timeline for the project, including when you expect to start construction and begin operations.
5. Partnerships*
Please describe any committed community, development and/or operational partners confirmed or anticipated for the project.
Your Vision for the Future
6. The Story*
Please describe your vision and the story for the proposed youth and community center. Tell us the origin story and what prompted the decision to embark on this initiative, where your organization is in the capital development and fundraising process, and who else is committed to the project. Please also list the the top two to three key organizational leaders guiding the process and their background.
7. The Community*
Please tell us about the community and neighborhood where you envision the site will be located, including the targeted service neighborhood boundaries, the proximity to other major youth-serving community assets such as schools, early childhood or other youth and community centers only at this stage. Please list the community partners firmly committed to the project through a memorandum of understanding or formal agreement. Please describe how youth and other community partners are engaged and involved in the design and development of the proposed site.
8. The Intended Impact*
Please describe the intended impact and community members you anticipate supporting.

Funding The Vision
9. Capital and Project Budget*

Browse Files
Please attach a copy of the full budget of the project including anticipated funding sources, anticipated capital, and non-construction related expenses. Please attach Microsoft or PDF Files only. Cancelof
10. Construction Budget Narrative -*
Please describe the anticipated project budget and rationale. Please tell us how you anticipate funding the project and describe any funding sources that are committed, pending, or being pursued.
11. Operating Budget Narrative*
Please describe the anticipated operating structure. Please tell us how you expect to operate the community center and if any subsidies are anticipated to be required.

Authorizations

The following section provides authorization to the Lohengrin Foundation and its staff and board to share the information outlined below. All information submitted to the Lohengrin Foundation is confidential and any third parties supporting the Lohengrin Foundation in its review process agree to hold all contents confidential. The first authorization is required to support the review process and the other two are optional. Shall you have any questions regarding any of the authorizations outlined below, please contact the Lohengrin Foundation at thrivingyouth@lohengrinfdn.org.
The applicant organization acknowledges, authorizes and agrees that the Lohengrin Foundation may, in its discretion, disclose the contents of the letter of interest, application, and grant-related information and materials to: (a) Professional consultants, community advisory council members, and staff engaged to support project readiness reviews, letter of interest / applicant evaluation and community review assessments; (b) Technical specialists providing expert review of capital project methodologies and financing outcomes; (c) External evaluators conducting program-wide assessments; and (d) Other advisors whose expertise supports the Foundation's mission. All such third parties shall be required to maintain the confidentiality of any non-public information shared and to use such information solely for the purpose of supporting the Foundation's philanthropic activities and selection of a recipient for the Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities initiative.*

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The applicant organization acknowledges, authorizes and agrees that the Lohengrin Foundation my share my organizational contact information and the “project description field only” with other funders who may be interested in co-sponsoring or supporting capital development projects.

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The applicant organization authorizes the Lohengrin Foundation to share our organization’s name and primary contact information only with other nonprofits or applicants seeking to engage in capital development or partnership projects in the same neighborhood or target communities we have listed in our letter of intent for potential partnership opportunities.

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Individual Submitting Letter of Interest*

First NameLast Name
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number

Area CodePhone Number
Submission date*

MonthDayYear
DateHourMinutesAM/PM Option
Applicants may be invited to a virtual call before final LOI decisions are conducted.
Should be Empty:

Thriving Youth, Stronger Communities

Two-Step Application Process

Section I: Organizational Information

Letter of Interest

Project Overview

Your Vision for the Future

Funding The Vision

Authorizations