Professional Growth Grant Application - Spring 2025 |
About the Growth Grant
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CURRENT FUNDING CYCLE
- Application Deadline: April 18, 2025 by 12:00am CT
- Notification to Applicants: May 30, 2025
- Final Report Due: 30 days after your funded opportunity is completed
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Applications by current YNPN Chicago members will be given priority. Membership is not a requirement to apply. (Not yet a member? Join for only $35.)
- Only one funding request is permitted per person, per cycle.
- The Professional Growth Grant program awards a maximum of $500 to an individual per calendar year.
- A complete application including all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm CT on the day of the deadline for consideration.
- Funds can be used retroactively to cover expenses incurred within 30 days prior to the application due date. Funding is not guaranteed.
APPLICATION
In addition to completing the application, you will be asked to email the following documents to finance@ynpnchicago.org:
- Current resume
- Detailed, line-item budget that accounts for the amount requested from YNPN Chicago, any external funding (employer, etc.), and any remainder.
- Application Deadline: April 18, 2025 by 12:00am CT
- Notification to Applicants: May 30, 2025
- Final Report Due: 30 days after your funded opportunity is completed
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- Applications by current YNPN Chicago members will be given priority. Membership is not a requirement to apply. (Not yet a member? Join for only $35.)
- Only one funding request is permitted per person, per cycle.
- The Professional Growth Grant program awards a maximum of $500 to an individual per calendar year.
- A complete application including all required documents must be received by 11:59 pm CT on the day of the deadline for consideration.
- Funds can be used retroactively to cover expenses incurred within 30 days prior to the application due date. Funding is not guaranteed.
APPLICATION
In addition to completing the application, you will be asked to email the following documents to finance@ynpnchicago.org:
- Current resume
- Detailed, line-item budget that accounts for the amount requested from YNPN Chicago, any external funding (employer, etc.), and any remainder.
YNPN Chicago does NOT consider funding requests for:
- YNPN Chicago memberships
- Food and beverage expenses
- Charitable contributions or board dues
- Supplies (headshots, computers, business cards, etc.)
RECIPIENTS
All grant recipients will be required to submit a final report on how the grant was used within 30 days after your funding opportunity has been completed. Reports will include a brief narrative, as well as proof of how funds were used (receipts, order confirmations, etc.). We also encourage you to write a blog post for the YNPN Chicago website about your experience using the grant funds.
The Professional Growth Grant recipients will be announced on the YNPN Chicago website, e-newsletter, and other social media channels and may also be covered in local media sources.
By receiving grant funding, you consent to your name, image, and details about how your grant was used to be shared in these channels.
In the event that the grant was used for purposes other than described in the grant application or the recipient fails to complete the final report and proof of how funds were used, the recipient shall promptly reimburse YNPN Chicago for the amount of such improperly expended funds.
Please note: The YNPN Chicago Board of Directors and their immediate family members are ineligible for grant funding.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The following components will be considered during the application review process:
- YNPN Chicago involvement
- YNPN Chicago membership
- YNPN Chicago Newsletter subscriber
- Attendance at recent YNPN Chicago events (last two years)
- Identifies as an individual from diverse background(s)
- Currently employed in nonprofit sector and/or seeking opportunities in the nonprofit sector
- Demonstrates grant will advance professional growth in the nonprofit sector
- Demonstrates grant will strengthen nonprofit community
- Demonstrates financial need
Have questions not answered here? Please email us at finance@ynpnchicago.org!