Commonly Asked Questions

Does our organization qualify for your grant cycle?

If your organization has a Federal IRS determination letter proving that the organization is a nonprofit organization, then the organization qualifies. State/county/local government agencies are also eligible with their tax exempt status letter.

Your organization must be able to demonstrate that services are provided to those who live within the CFCI service area (a 50-mile radius of the city of Peoria, IL).

Does my project qualify?

If the organization is a not-for-profit and the project meets one or more of the objectives that CFCI strives to meet in funding (view the grant guidelines posted on our website) then your project is a good fit for our competitive grant process.

Please note: CFCI does not fund: 1) Annual campaigns, 2) individuals, 3) endowments, 4) grants made for sectarian religious purposes unless the religious organization or church requests funds to serve people beyond their membership.

Click Here to View CFCI’s Grantmaking Guidelines

How much money should we request in our proposal?

Your organization may request up to the full amount available for the grant – typically $5,000 to $15,000 depending on the grant program.

What is a Federal IRS DETERMINATION letter?

The IRS Federal tax exempt letter proves that your organization is functioning as a 501(c)(3) organization with non-profit status. This letter also documents the organization’s Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Can an organization apply for more than one grant?

Organizations may only submit one application per grant program per year. For example, an organization can submit an application to the Community Needs grant program and the Community Arts program (assuming all other criteria are met) but would not be allowed to submit two applications to the Community Needs grant program in the same year.

When will we know if we receive the grant or not?

The CFCI will notify your organization by mail within 60 days of the grant proposal due date.