Chicago Tribune Foundation

The mission of Chicago Tribune Foundation is to promote public knowledge and strengthen the Chicago metropolitan community by encouraging journalistic excellence, diversity and liberty, supporting diverse cultural institutions and promoting civic efforts (click here for 2006 Grants List - PDF). It provides Chicago Tribune employees the opportunity to direct the Foundation's contributions via a matching gift program.

Click here for Foundation Guidelines (PDF)

PROGRAM AREAS

CIVIC: Grants in this program area support business, nonprofit or educational initiatives. Grant requests in the civic program area are considered by invitation only. The grant range is $2,500 to $25,000.

CULTURE: Grants support cultural organizations within the Chicago metropolitan area that provide educational programs in the arts for children from low-income communities or that foster diverse art. The grant range is $5,000 to $7,500. Proposals are due February 1 for a board meeting in June.

JOURNALISM: Grants support organizations on a national level that offer programs for professional journalists that lead to journalistic excellence, promote diversity in the newspaper industry and protect freedom of the press. Support is considered for journalism programs in the metropolitan Chicago area that promote diversity. Support is not provided to high school or college newspapers. The grant range is $5,000 to $20,000. Proposals are due June 1 for a board meeting in September.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PROCEDURES

All grant requests must fall within the described geographic areas and program areas in order to be considered for either general support or program support. The Foundation does not fund individual, capital or international grants. The grant requests must be received by the required dates described in the program area.

If an organization previously received a grant from the Chicago Tribune Foundation, an updated report on that year's grant must be received before submitting another grant request. The report can be a two- to five-page summary of accomplishments and challenges including the financial summary about the program supported by the grant. For more details, see the Chicago Area Grant Report.
If an organization has received grant support from the Chicago Tribune Foundation for three consecutive years, the organization is not eligible for funding in the fourth year. The organization can re-apply after taking a year away from funding.

The Chicago Tribune Foundation accepts, but does not require, the Chicago Area Grant Application Form. Use the information requested on the as a guide for the proposal. Provide the information requested on the Form in a two- to five-page narrative. The following attachments must be included with the proposal:

A one-sided, one-page list of your board of directors and their business affiliation and title
A copy of the most recent Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt status form
Audited financial statements or Form 990 from the most recent fiscal year
Organization budget for year in which funding is sought
Sources of support listing which funds have been committed
Annual report or other literature on the organization's programmatic, financial and strategic accomplishments.

To submit a proposal that fits within the criteria or for additional information, please contact:

Chicago Tribune
Community Relations, 2nd Floor
435 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-4041
Phone: (312) 222-4300
Fax: (312) 222-3751
E-mail: ctcommunityrelations@tribune.com

Chicago Tribune Company bears the administrative costs of Chicago Tribune Foundation. The Foundation is funded by an annual donation from Chicago Tribune's pre-tax profits as well as by dividends of Tribune stock held by the Foundation.

Chicago Tribune Foundation

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