2026 General Operating Overview
General Grant Information
The Foundations of East Chicago defines an operating budget as the funds an organization needs for daily operating expenses during a calendar or fiscal year. That includes allocations for office equipment, supplies, utilities, rent/mortgage payments, and all other expenses associated with the daily operation of an organization.
- Applications will be available online beginning July 28, 2025.
- Applications are due August 25, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. CST.
- An application received after the deadline will be ineligible for funding.
- Award announcements will be released in the middle of October 2025.
2026 General Operating Applications will be available on July 28, 2025.
All organizations must submit their 2024 and 2025 Organization’s Operating Budget. (Click here for the 2024 and 2025 Organization’s Operating Budget form).
You can modify this form to meet your needs, or you can use your own 2024 and 2025 Operating Budget already approved by your Board of Directors.
Applicant Eligibility Requirements:
- A recognized 501(c)3 agency in good standing with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service).
- Must be an East Chicago based organization who owns or rents commercial property in East Chicago.
- In good standing with the Foundations of East Chicago.
- Maximum of one submission per 501 (c) 3.
- Municipalities or governmental taxing bodies are not eligible to apply.
- Organizations that operate out of a “Home Office,” are not eligible to apply.
Applications not meeting all the above-listed criteria are automatically disqualified.
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Maximum amount requested cannot exceed $12,500.
- The following attachments are required:
- Capital Improvements over $10,000 and over must include two proposals from independent contractors.
- If requesting computers, printers, or any equipment, please provide quotes/estimates of cost. Computers can only be requested once every 3 years.
- Organization’s 2024 and 2025 Operating Budget.
If awarded, the following conditions must be met:
- All funds must be spent between January 1, 2026 – August 31, 2026.
- All expenditures must be supported by financial documentation.
- All receipts submitted must be dated prior to or on August 31, 2026.
All information must be detailed. Incomplete narratives or descriptions of budget items and any other required information left blank/unanswered will disqualify this application.
| CONSIDERED EXPENDITURES | FEC WILL NOT FUND THE FOLLOWING: |
|---|---|
| Service providers (i.e., CPA, IT, Web design and maintenance) | Speaker fees, workshops, and conferences |
| Contractors – must be licensed and bonded | Funds to obtain a 501 (c) 3 |
| Lease, mortgage, and rent (ONLY FOR EAST CHICAGO BASED NONPROFITS) | Salaries, wages, consulting fees, and stipends |
| General maintenance & minor Property Repairs (i.e., light bulbs, air filter, and furnace maintenance) | Landscaping and marquees |
| Basic Office Supplies (i.e., pens, pencils, paper, ink, stapler/staples, scissors, note pads, and paper clips) | Membership fees and cell phones |
| Utilities, telephone, internet, and water bills | Storage rental and home office |
| Office Equipment Purchases/Lease (i.e., computers (can only be requested a minimum of every three years) fax machines, copiers, furniture, and calculators) | Billboards/advertising/flyers/newspaper/radio, nor any other form of advertising |
| Storage rental | |
| Food | |
| Van Purchase | |
| PPE Supplies (i.e., gloves, face masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, and Lysol) | |
| Cabs, Ubers, Bus and Rentals | |
| Pay late charges | |
| Utilities for third party rental |
Note: This is not an all-inclusive list. Other items may be excluded.
You must use the same wording that is used under “Considered Expenditures” throughout your application.
Note: Other funding restrictions may apply. Please contact Janet Wozniak, jwozniak@foundationsec.org for more information.
INCOMPLETE NARRATIVES, DESCRIPTIONS OF BUDGET ITEMS AND ANY OTHER BLANK SPACES WILL DISQUALIFY THE APPLICATION.
2025 General Operating Grants:
General Operating grant awards are made to provide one-time supplemental funding to a qualified agency that has demonstrated a budget shortfall. Funds are restricted to operating expenses outside of salaries and must be used for designated purposes as detailed in the grant application. Grants must be used during the 2025 calendar year.
The following organizations were awarded General Operating grants for 2025. The total award amount: $272,085.00.
- Boys & Girls Club of NWI, Inc.
- Communities in Schools of East Chicago, Inc.
- Community Fellowship
- First Baptist Church, Inc.
- Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Inc.
- Friendship Baptist Church, Inc.
- Grace Beyond Borders NWI, Inc.
- Grace Missionary Baptist Church of East Chicago, Inc.
- Greater Destiny Bible Church
- Greater First Baptist Church of East Chicago
- Haven House, Inc.
- Healthlinc, Inc.
- Holy Trinity Croatian Church
- Humane Indiana, Inc.
- Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostes, Inc.
- Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, Inc.
- New Horizons Child Care Ministry, Inc.
- New Life Outreach Church
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
- Paying It Forward
- Robertson Child Development Center, Inc.
- Safe Coalition for Human Rights, Inc.
- Saint Luke African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
- Saint Mary’s Church
- St. Patrick Catholic Church
- St. Stanislaus Church
- St. Stanislaus School
- The Salvation Army East Chicago
- Top 20, Inc.
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