What Does the Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation Support in Chicago?
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Nonprofits serving Chicago’s children are a focus. Photo: Tupungato/shutterstock
In the Chicago area, Bank of America Philanthropic Solutions manages a good number of foundations, making their grants accessible to nonprofits in the city. Many of these funders, such as the Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation, focus specifically on giving within the city to meet the needs of underserved populations.
To help Chicago grantseekers get to know this funder better, here are some important things to know about the Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation.
Background on the foundation
The McNeil Foundation has been around since 1993. Its founders were Stanley and Merna McNeil, a couple who did not have children of their own but were always strong supporters of causes for children. Stanley McNeil served on numerous local boards, including Ravenswood Hospital and the Lake Bluff Children’s Home. They were also involved with their local church.
In general, this is a foundation that likes naming opportunities that honor the donors, Stanley and Merna McNeil. The Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation is a perpetual charitable grantmaking trust that uses Bank of America as its trustee.
Specific grantmaking interests
Children are a focal point for the McNeil Foundation, which gives special consideration to organizations that serve the young people of Chicago. Within that broad area of interest, most McNeil grants go to nonprofits operating in health, human services, and arts and culture.
Something that makes this funder unique is its preference for supporting start-up initiatives. Although it is not generally a funder of capital projects, it’s open to awarding multi-year grants to support nonprofit capacity building. It also awards general operating support to groups with budgets under $1 million.
Recent giving highlights
This foundation keeps its attention on the Chicago metropolitan area and awards grants within the $5,000 to $25,000 range. Recent grants have gone to many children-focused groups, including Illinois Action for Children, Children’s Home and Aid Society of Illinois, and Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. In addition, support has been going out to organizations like Connections for the Homeless, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, North Shore Senior Center and the Women’s Treatment Center.
How to apply
Like many other funders managed by Bank of America, the McNeil Foundation is an accessible grantmaker with a straightforward application process. Bear in mind that it has two application deadlines per year: February 1 and June 1.
Organizations should only submit one application a year, however, and they can expect to hear back from the foundation about its grant decisions by June 30 or November 30 following those two deadlines. Grantseekers can apply online through the foundation’s page on the Bank of America website.
You can learn more about this funder and others that give in Chicago and throughout the Great Lakes in IP’s regional funding guide.
