Grant Information

The Hulsebosch Hope Foundation (HHF) seeks to provide program grants to mid-sized, growth-oriented 501(c)(3) public charities in the City of Chicago that offer effective programs to enhance life and opportunity in under-resourced communities, particularly on the south and west sides of the city. 

Annual grant amounts range from $10,000 to $20,000, depending on factors such as:

  • The length of the organization’s relationship with HHF

  • HHF’s available grant budget for the year

  • Alignment with HHF’s focus areas and funding priorities

HHF Focus Areas & Goals

1. Good Health & Well-Being

  • Expanding access to preventive healthcare for children in families with limited resources

  • Increasing access to mental health services for all

2. Quality Education

  • Supporting after-school programs

  • Enhancing early childhood education (ages 0–3)

3. Meaningful Work & Economic Growth

  • Promoting workforce and entrepreneurship training

  • Improving financial literacy to promote economic empowerment

Returning Grantee Applicants

Please click here to access the Returning Grantee Application.

Returning Grantee Application Calendar

  • Application period: March 12 – April 30, 2025

  • Grant awards distributed: Starting June 2, 2025

New Grantee Applicants

Organizations interested in applying for an HHF program grant must initially complete a short survey. This survey helps HHF evaluate your organization’s eligibility and alignment with our mission.

Here’s the two-step process for applying for a 2025 program grant:

  1. Organizations that believe they and their proposed program meet the HHF eligibility criteria are encouraged to complete the Prospective Grantee Application Survey

  2. Selected organizations will receive an invitation in May to submit a formal grant application by June.

Those not selected will be provided feedback on why they were not considered a strong enough fit.

Eligibility for an HHF Program Grant

To be considered for an HHF program grant, first-time applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) public charity primarily serving under-resourced communities, particularly on the south and west sides of the city.

  • Have an annual organizational budget between $150,000 and $5,000,000 for the previous year.

  • Demonstrate a commitment to expanding impact within underserved communities, particularly on Chicago’s south and west sides.

Additionally, proposed programs must align with one or more of the following focus areas:

  • Afterschool programs that operate Monday through Friday, between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM, during the CPS school year (September–June).

  • Early childhood programming (ages 0–3) focused on early intervention, including social-emotional learning (SEL), literacy, and health/IEP screenings.

  • Preventative medical care for children, including screenings, vaccinations, physicals, and chronic disease management.

  • Trauma-informed mental health care for all.

  • Entrepreneurship support, including access to capital, training, and networking opportunities.

  • Workforce training programs that are designed to support women, single parents, minorities, previously incarcerated individuals, and English-language learners.

  • Financial literacy programs that promote economic empowerment for families.

HHF is unable to support funding requests for the following:

  • Scholarships

  • Programs operating exclusively on weekends or during the summer

  • High school or college mentorship programs

  • Mental health programs without a trained clinician (e.g., a licensed clinical social worker)

  • Organizations that do not primarily serve underserved populations

  • Chicago chapters of national nonprofits

  • Reducing operating deficits or settling existing debts

  • Projects solely focused on creating or distributing audio, visual, or printed materials

  • Programs centered exclusively on conferences, multi-week summer camps, festivals, exhibitions, or meetings

New Grant Applicant 2025 Calendar

  • Submit the prospective grantee survey: March 12 – April 30, 2025

  • HHF program grant invitations are sent to selected organizations: June 2, 2025

  • Selected organization grant application deadline: July 11, 2025

  • Site visits: Mid-July – Mid-September 2025

  • Decision notifications: By October 1, 2025

  • Grant awards distributed: October 2025 (upon completion of Grant Award Agreement)

Step one - Prospective Grantee Application Survey

Organizations that meet the qualifications and are interested in applying can complete the Prospective Grantee Application Survey (click here) between March 12 and April 30, 2025.

You will receive an HHF update regarding your request to apply for a program grant by June 2, 2025.

If you have further inquiries, please visit our Contact Us page.

Please follow HHF on LinkedIn or Instagram to stay informed about program grant opportunities in the future.