Evanston Community Foundation Announces 2016 root2fruit Grants

photo: Girls Play Sports was one of three new Evanston Community Foundation 2016 root2fruit grantees.

EVANSTON, Ill.—The Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) announced today the recipients of its root2fruit capacity-building grants for 2016. Three new grantees were selected to the program: Chessmen Club of the NorthShore, Girls Play Sports, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Cook County North Suburban (NAMI CCNS). Each will receive grants of $10,000 with the anticipation of renewed funding in 2017 and 2018. Six organizations are continuing in the root2fruit program: Books & Breakfast, Meals at Home, and Muse of Fire Theatre (second year grantees), as well as Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP), Literature for All of Us, and Piven Theatre Workshop (third year grantees). Four alumni organizations of the root2fruit capacity building program received one year grants, and Reba Early Learning Center was awarded a $1,000 one-year challenge grant for board development.

This year’s new grantees continue ECF’s commitment to supporting the breadth and depth of Evanston’s nonprofit community. The Chessmen Club of the NorthShore’s mission is to provide support to African-American youth and seniors living in the North Shore community, with a particular emphasis on encouraging the growth and development of young black men; founded in 1958, the Chessmen Club is focused on a strategic plan for the future. A young organization, Girls Play Sports is dedicated to fostering leadership skills and confidence in girls through their participation in a wide variety of sports. The mission of NAMI CCNS is to improve the lives of individuals with serious mental illness and those who love and care for them through education, support, and advocacy.

For a fifth year, ECF is awarding one-year grants to root2fruit program alumni. Four organizations will receive grants to support specific capacity building projects, including Center for Independent Futures ($4,000), Evanston Scholars ($5,000), Mudlark Theatre ($5,000), and PEER Services ($5,000).

This is the 14th year of a partnership between the Mammel Foundation and the Evanston Community Foundation. Since its inception in 2002, the root2fruit program has benefited 48 organizations with a total investment of nearly $1.3 million.

Designed to increase the capacity of small to mid-size nonprofits in Evanston, root2fruit offers more than the grant money. Grantees become part of a peer learning network, and are mentored by an advisory committee for a period of three years. Over the years, root2fruit grantee organizations have seen significant improvement in their budgets, fundraising and development capacity, board effectiveness, and the ability to expand their services.

For more information on the root2fruit program grants visit www.evanstonforever.org or contact Vice President for Programs Marybeth Schroeder at schroeder@evanstonforever.org or 847-492-0990.

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The EVANSTON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, founded in 1986 with current assets of more than $20 million, helps Evanston thrive now and forever as a vibrant, inclusive, and just community. It builds, connects, and distributes resources and knowledge through local organizations for the common good. The Foundation builds endowments for current and future opportunities, fosters private philanthropy, focuses the impact of collective giving, finds solutions to community challenges, allocates grants, and provides leadership training. For more information about the Evanston Community Foundation, visit www.evanstonforever.org.