Download the 2023 NAP Full Proposal Guidelines (PDF)

Download NAP – Key Dates Flyer (PDF)

Drop-in Application Assistance Meet-Ups

West Englewood Branch, Chicago Public Library
1745 W. 63rd Street
August 19, 10am-1pm

South Shore Library, Chicago Public Library
2505 E. 73rd Street
August 19, 2-5pm

Douglass Library, Chicago Public Library
3353 W. 13th Street
August 22, 5-8pm

Hall Branch (Grand Boulevard), Chicago Public Library
4801 S. Michigan Avenue
August 24, 5-8pm

Humboldt Park Branch, Chicago Public Library
1605 N. Troy Street
August 26, 10am-1pm

Independence Branch (Irving Park), Chicago Public Library
4024 N. Elston Ave
August 26, 2-5pm

Webinars

• View Budget Template Webinar for instructions on how to use the Budget Template
• Application Assistance – View Session Recording

Fiscal Sponsorship Information

Fiscal Sponsors must have missions in alignment with your projects, must have nonprofit designation (501c3 or 501c6), and be in Chicago.

• The Basics of Fiscal Sponsorship “Philanthropy Chat” by the Foundation Center, 2017 (5-minute podcast)
• What You Need to Know About Fiscal Sponsorships, seminar by Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta, 2017 (55-minute video)
  • 11:10  Webinar begins
  • 15:45  Benefits/risks for fiscal sponsors
  • 13:23  What to look for in a fiscal sponsor
  • 20:45  Pros and cons of having a fiscal sponsor for your project
  • 25:47  What the agreement should cover

  •  26:18  How funds will be released

  • 27:47  Administrative fees

  • 44:50  Tax reporting

  • 45:50  Insurance

  • 47:00  Things to keep in mind

• Fiscal Sponsorship: a 360 Degree Perspective (PDF)
• Find a Fiscal Sponsor that Fits, by Linda Fowells on Candid Learning, 2016
• Additional places to find a fiscal sponsor
  • Special Service Areas (what is an SSA?)
  • Special Assist Agencies - representing the interest of small, minority and/or women-owned businesses.
  • Business and Community Development Corporations – a searchable database (select the Chicago, IL – based organizations)
  • Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights also has valuable resources on fiscal sponsorship and more!
• Sample Agreement (PDF)

Templates and Examples

Applicants are not required to use these if they already have existing documents with the needed information in their own format. EXCEPTION! There are Excel spreadsheet links in the Cybergrants application that applicants must use: Project Personnel Demographics (everyone must fill out and submit) and Board and Staff Demographics (for organizations only). They are only available in the application.

• Budget Template (.xlsx)
• Blank Resume Template (Word doc)
• Resume Example (PDF)
• Bio Example (PDF)
• List of Experience Example (PDF)
• Fiscal Sponsor Statement of Commitment Template (PDF)
• Partner Statement of Commitment Template (PDF)

Instructions and Tips

• Watch a previously recorded webinar on creating Marketing Plans, or review the presentation
• Using Excel Through Google Spreadsheets (PDF)