2025 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 on-line beginning August 1, 2024.
- Applications are due August 26, 2024.
- An application received after the deadline will be ineligible for funding.
- Award announcements will be released middle of October 2024.
All organizations must submit their 2023 and 2024 Organization’s Operating Budget. (Click here for the 2023 and 2024 Organization’s Operating Budget form).
You can modify this form to meet your needs, or you can use your own 2023 and 2024 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).
- 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 $10,000.
- 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 2023 and 2024 Operating Budget.
If awarded, the following conditions must be met:
- All funds must be spent between January 1, 2025 – August 31, 2025.
- All expenditures must be supported by financial documentation.
- All receipts submitted must be dated prior to or on August 31, 2025.
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.
2024 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 2024 calendar year.
The following organizations were awarded General Operating grants for 2024. The total award amount: $235,740.00.
- Boys & Girls Club of NWI, Inc.
- Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Gary, IN
- Communities in Schools of East Chicago, Inc.
- First Baptist Church, Inc.
- Friendship Baptist Church, Inc.
- God’s Word in Action Ministries International
- 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.
- Holy Trinity Croatian Church
- Humane Indiana, Inc.
- Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostes, Inc.
- Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana, Inc.
- Mental Health America of Lake County, Inc.
- Missions of Jesus Christ Non-Denominational Church
- New Horizons Child Care Ministry, Inc.
- New Life Outreach Church
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
- 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
- Teens in Action, Inc.
- The New Twin City Ministerial Alliance, Inc.
- The Salvation Army East Chicago
- Top 20, Inc.
- We Care from the Heart, Inc.
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