Guidelines
Current Grantmaking
The Siragusa Foundation is not accepting unsolicited letters of inquiry or proposals. (Updated July 2010)
Letters of Inquiry
Before submitting a formal proposal to the Foundation, prospective applicants should submit a two-page letter of inquiry outlining the background of the organization and the proposed project. The letter of inquiry should describe succinctly the project for which funding is requested, including how it relates to the Foundation's interests, the target audience, the estimated budget and request amount.
Formal Proposals
After reviewing the letter of inquiry, the Foundation may request a formal proposal. The proposal must include the following materials:
- Completed Grant Application form
- Project budget for the current and coming fiscal year
- Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt 501(c)(3) letter
- Audited financial for the most recently completed fiscal year
Consideration will be given to general and administrative expenses as a percentage of the budget, as well as the percent of private funding as compared to government funding. If the interests of the Foundation warrant, the applicant may be asked to provide additional material.
Exclusions
The Foundation limits potential grantees from applying for funds to once per calendar year.The Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals from outside the Chicago area and does not support individuals or political advocacy.
Objectives and Areas of Interest
The Foundation supports organizations in the areas of arts and culture, education, the environment, health services and medical research, and human services. For further information on our program areas, please refer to the
Program Areas. The Foundation is primarily interested in grants towards both specific programs and general operating expenses. The foundation typically does not support capital expenditures or endowments.
