Grant Types
Grant Resources
How To Apply
At the Dunham Foundation, we strive to honor John C. Dunham's vision for building a healthy, thriving community with our grantmaking.
Through these efforts, we support projects and programs in Education, Economic Growth, and Community that create measurable and lasting impact in the Dunham Foundation Service Area.
Preference is given to grant applicant organizations located in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. Organizations outside our service area are eligible if their programs directly impact residents within the Dunham Foundation Service Area.
Online Grant Process
Before applying, contact the Dunham Foundation’s Program Director at info@dunhamfoundation.org to discuss your request.
We use Giving Data as our grantmaking platform to process grant applications.
Important deadline: October 1st is the final day to submit applications for the current calendar year. Applications submitted after October 1st will be reviewed by the Board of Directors in the following year.
Education Grant Requests
We are excited to share changes to our Education Grant Request timeline. These shifts are designed to streamline applications and support your educational programs to best serve youth and educational professionals in our community.
Education Grant Requests are due by February 1.
Step 1
Assess Eligibility and Fit
Organizations seeking Dunham Foundation support must meet the following criteria:
- Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code or have a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) status.
- Engage in work that aligns with the Dunham Foundation’s mission and priority areas.
- Provide services in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. See map here.
Step 2
Grant Proposal
If your request supports educational programming, particularly programming scheduled to begin during the school year or summer, please sign into the Dunham Foundation’s online portal to complete an Education Application and submit it by February 1. The Dunham Foundation Board of Directors will review applications at their March meeting, and organizations will be notified of funding decisions following that meeting. In some instances, staff may request additional information, with final decisions made at the April meeting.
Step 3
Grant Awarded
If the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors approves your grant, you will be notified by the Program Director and receive an award letter and grant agreement. This grant agreement must be signed prior to receiving the awarded funds.
Step 4
Grant Report
Funded organizations are expected to submit a financial and program report at the conclusion of the grant. Reporting requirements will be outlined in the approval process and grant agreements. The reporting form will be available through the grant portal.
We look forward to learning more about your organization and your work to impact our community. Please contact Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, with any questions at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
General Requests that exceed $50,000
We accept Letters of Intent (LOIs) with online submission deadlines of February 1 (Cycle 1) and June 1 (Cycle 2).
Step 1
Assess Eligibility and Fit
Organizations seeking Dunham Foundation support must meet the following criteria:
- Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code or have a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) status.
- Engage in work that aligns with the Dunham Foundation’s mission and priority areas.
- Provide services in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. See map here.
Step 2
Letter of Intent (LOI)
If your request for programming aligns with our Economic Growth or Community priority areas and exceeds $50,000, a Letter of Intent (LOI) is required to be considered by the Board of Directors. Sign in to the Dunham Foundation’s online portal to complete the LOI application. LOIs with online submission deadlines of February 1 (Cycle 1) and June 1 (Cycle 2). LOIs will be reviewed by the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Step 3
Grant Proposal
Organizations invited to submit a full proposal will be notified following their LOI submission. The Program Director will provide detailed submission instructions at that time. Regardless of the outcome for all grants that exceed $50,000, all applicants will receive notification regarding the status of their request by June 30 (Cycle 1) or October 30 (Cycle 2).
Step 4
Grant Awarded
If the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors approves your grant, you will be notified by the Program Director and receive an award letter and grant agreement. This grant agreement must be signed prior to receiving the awarded funds.
Step 5
Grant Report
Funded organizations are expected to submit a financial and program report at the conclusion of the grant. Reporting requirements will be outlined in the approval process and grant agreements. The reporting form will be available through the grant portal.
We look forward to learning more about your organization and your work to impact our community. Please contact Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, with any questions at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
General Requests that are $50,000 or less
We accept grant requests through online submissions on a rolling basis during the calendar year.
October 1st is the final day to submit applications for that year. Please note that letters and emails sent directly to the Dunham Foundation requesting support will no longer be accepted.
Step 1
Assess Eligibility and Fit
Organizations seeking Dunham Foundation support must meet the following criteria:
- Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code or have a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) status.
- Engage in work that aligns with the Dunham Foundation’s mission and priority areas.
- Provide services in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. See map here.
Step 2
Grant Proposal
If your request aligns with our Economic Growth or Community priority areas and does not exceed $50,000, you may submit an application through the grant portal. The Board of Directors reviews applications on a rolling basis, and organizations will receive notification regarding their request within 30 days of submission.
Step 3
Grant Awarded
If your grant is approved by the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors, you will be notified by the Program Director and receive an award letter and grant agreement. This grant agreement must be signed prior to receiving the awarded funds.
Step 4
Grant Report
Funded organizations are expected to submit a financial and program report at the conclusion of the grant. Reporting requirements will be outlined in the approval process and grant agreements. The reporting form will be available through the grant portal.
We look forward to learning more about your organization and your work to impact our community. Please contact Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, with any questions at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
Sponsorship Requests
We accept grant requests for event sponsorships on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year. We recommend submitting your application at least 60 days prior to your event to allow sufficient time for Board of Directors review.
October 1st is the final day to submit applications for that year. Please note that letters and emails sent directly to the Dunham Foundation requesting support will no longer be accepted.
Step 1
Assess Eligibility and Fit
Organizations seeking Dunham Foundation support must meet the following criteria:
- Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code or have a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) status.
- Engage in work that aligns with the Dunham Foundation’s mission and priority areas.
- Provide services in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. See map here.
Step 2
Grant Proposal
If your request aligns with any of our priority areas and supports a fundraising event, such as an annual gala, golf outing, 5K, etc., you may complete a Sponsorship Application through our online grant portal. The Board of Directors reviews applications on a rolling basis, and organizations will receive notification regarding their request within 30 days of submission.
Step 3
Grant Awarded
If your grant is approved by the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors, you will be notified by the Program Director and receive an award letter.
Step 4
Grant Report
At the conclusion of the fundraising event, we ask that you submit a brief report outlining the results. Specific information regarding reporting requirements will be outlined in the approval letter, and a reporting form will be available through the grant portal.
We look forward to learning more about your organization and your work to impact our community. Please contact Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, with any questions at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
Capacity Building Grant Requests
The Dunham Foundation offers Capacity Building Grants to help local nonprofits strengthen their resource development and build effective fundraising strategies that advance their mission. These grants support the hiring of grant writing consultants on a contractual basis or investing in organizational tools that help improve partnership development and cultivate more effective donor relationships. By investing in your organization’s infrastructure, we help you create sustainable funding streams that support your long-term impact in the community.
This fund provides support through two categories: The Grant Writer Resource Fund and the Community Relations Fund. One application serves both funding opportunities
Grant Writer Resource Fund
We recognize that many nonprofits have staff who juggle multiple responsibilities, including grant writing. This task may not be their area of expertise; however, it is necessary for the organization to remain financially healthy. The Dunham Foundation has created an opportunity for nonprofits that do not have a grant writer on staff to apply for funds – up to $5,000 – that support a contractual grant writer.
Community Relations Fund
The Dunham Foundation also established the Community Relations Fund to strengthen the relationship-building and outreach efforts essential for long-term sustainability. This fund will equip nonprofit leaders with resources to deepen community engagement, improve partnership development, and cultivate donor relationships.
Examples of relationship-building tools could include projects such as:
- Website upgrades/updates
- Graphic and video assets for marketing and fundraising purposes
- Donor Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) system
- Gift management software
October 1st is the final day to submit applications for that year. Please note that letters and emails sent directly to the Dunham Foundation requesting support will no longer be accepted.
Step 1
Assess Eligibility and Fit
Organizations seeking Dunham Foundation support must meet the following criteria:
- Be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code or have a fiscal sponsor that has a 501(c)(3) status.
- Engage in work that aligns with the Dunham Foundation’s mission and priority areas.
- Provide services in the Dunham Foundation Service Area. See map here.
- Budget must be $2M or less.
Note: We will consider multiple nonprofits submitting for ONE Capacity Building grant when collaborating or evaluating a strategic partnership.
Step 2
Grant Proposal
If your request aligns with any of our priority areas and supports a fundraising event, such as an annual gala, golf outing, 5K, etc., you may complete a Sponsorship Application through our online grant portal. The Board of Directors reviews applications on a rolling basis, and organizations will receive notification regarding their request within 30 days of submission.
Step 3
Grant Awarded
If your grant is approved by the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors, you will be notified by the Program Director and receive an award letter and grant agreement. This grant agreement must be signed prior to receiving the awarded funds.
Step 4
Grant Report
At the conclusion of the fundraising event, we ask you to submit a small report outlining the results. Specific information regarding reporting requirements will be outlined in the approval letter, and a reporting form will be available through the grant portal.
We look forward to learning more about your organization and your work to impact our community. Please contact Lindsay Cochrane, Program Director, with any questions at info@dunhamfoundation.org.
Grant FAQs
The Foundation accepts grant requests from 501(c)(3) organizations that are involved in education and community development programs — the building blocks that will, in founder John Dunham’s words, “make the world a more comfortable, safer place for mankind.”
The Foundation also gives preference to organizations located within the broad Aurora, Illinois community, specifically within the territory bounded by Illinois State Route 38 on the north and U.S. Route 34 on the south; and by Illinois State Routes 59 on the east and 47 on the west.
The Dunham Foundation’s primary grant making goal is to measurably and permanently impact the Dunham Foundation service area through start up support of new or uniquely enhanced educational and community development programs and capital projects that address a documented need and are innovative, collaborative and potentially self-sustaining, while being purposefully designed to effect positive change through close alignment with the missions of the grant seeking organization and the Dunham Foundation.
Those grant proposals that closely adhere to this grant making goal are most likely to be considered for and receive funding. The terms and elements of the Dunham Foundation grant making goal are more extensively defined in the Dunham Foundation Online Grant Guidelines.
That depends, of course, on the amount and intent of the funds requested. Grants are ordinarily made for one year only and are generally limited to $1 million. The Dunham Foundation encourages the participation of others in funding projects, and on occasion provides matching funds and challenge grants in an attempt to stimulate increased response from other sources. Click here to learn more about Dunham Foundation grants.