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Midwest Grant Applications

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To apply for a grant, register and login to Elea’s online application system. Proposals must be completed and submitted with all required responses and attachments in order to be considered for funding in this grant cycle. Please use the access code “Elea22” to access the application. If you have questions regarding this RFP, please contact Rachel Rifkin at rrifkin@gmafoundations.com. For any technical questions about the online application system, please contact Skylar Brown at sbrown@gmafoundations.com.

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Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to invite values-aligned nonprofit entities, including educational institutions, to submit applications for funding to support various palliative and hospice care related activities within certain counties of Illinois (see “Eligibility Criteria” section below). Through this grant program for 2025, Elea anticipates awarding up to $700,000 in total awards to between five and ten organizations. Areas of potential funding are:

  • Education: transmitting knowledge related to palliative and hospice care
  • Charity Care: financial assistance for patients who do not have insurance or cannot afford to pay for care
  • Integrative Therapy: holistic services that complement conventional medical care for patients’ well-being

Timetable

  • RFP submission deadline: October 28, 2024
  • Proposal review, additional information collected: October 29 – December 9
  • Board meets: January/February 2025
  • Applicants notified; funds delivered to successful applicants: Early March 2025

Eligibility and How to Apply

Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria may apply for one grant in each of the three program areas of charity care, education, and integrative services by submitting a separate proposal in each category. Organizations that have numerous entities or locations may submit only one application for each program area while specifying the location(s) of grant programming. Applications for special projects or operating support may be submitted.

 Eligibility Criteria

  • Tax exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and prioritizes increasing number of patients served and quality of patient care.
  • Does work that is directly connected to the palliative and/or hospice care fields; and provides programs or services to at least one of the 13 counties in Illinois:
    • Boone
    • Cook
    • DeKalb
    • DuPage
    • Kane
    • Kendall
    • Lake
    • LaSalle
    • Lee
    • McHenry
    • Olge
    • Will
    • Winnebago

Exclusion Criteria

  • Programs outside of the 13 counties
  • For-profit organizations, unless there is a specific charitable purpose with appropriate board oversight and expenditure responsibility, or organizations where project budgets include more than 15 percent of unrelated general operating costs.

Designed to fund palliative and/or hospice related education to patients, families, community members and/or health care providers. Professional development for staff may qualify if it helps provide better care to patients.

  • Minimum grant size: $15,000
  • Maximum grant size: $150,000
  • Grant project period: up to 2 years

Selection Criteria:

  • Organization is financially stable
  • Funding will have direct impact on patients or patient care
  • Organization has experience engaging the community through outreach and education efforts
  • Preference for new initiatives or expansion of current programs

Designed to help patients receive palliative and/or hospice care by providing financial assistance for those who do not have insurance or cannot afford to pay for care. Grant(s) are for care provided by a palliative or hospice care entity. Grant(s) must be applied to care provided in the future, and not for reimbursement of financial assistance that may have previously been made available.

  • Minimum grant size: $50,000
  • Maximum grant size: $300,000
  • Grant project period: 1 year

Selection Criteria:

  • Organization is financially stable
  • If possible, the grant will expand current efforts, building on existing capacity
  • Organization provides quality care, as demonstrated by quality scores
  • Organization has experience providing charity care, as illustrated by implementation of best practices, including clear policies around who qualifies for financial assistance

Designed to fund palliative and hospice related integrative therapy for patients, families, and community members. Professional development for staff may qualify if it helps staff provide better care to patients.

  • Minimum grant size: $15,000
  • Maximum grant size: $100,000
  • Grant project period: up to 2 years

Selection Criteria:

  • Organization is financially stable
  • Organization provides quality care, as demonstrated by quality scores
  • Funding will have direct impact on patients or patient care
  • Preference for new initiatives or expansion of current programs