Employees Community Fund of Chicago: Driving
Positive Change in our Communities
Introduction
The Employees Community Fund (ECF) of Chicago is part of a network of Boeing employeeowned and managed nonprofit charitable organizations. Boeing pays all administrative costs of
the fund, so each and every dollar that employees contribute to the fund is distributed directly to
local nonprofit organizations to support and advance their work in the community.
ECF of Chicago grants help established nonprofits to launch or extend innovative projects in five
areas: Arts and Culture, Civic, Education, Environment, and Health and Human Services.
Each year ECF of Chicago receives many more grant requests than it is able to fund. While it is
not possible for every organization to receive funding, those that are in alignment with ECF of
Chicago’s goals and mission are given careful consideration. Applications that are sponsored by
Boeing employees who contribute to the fund are given strong preference.
Eligibility for Grants
501(c)(3) Status. Only organizations that are in good financial standing and have tax-exempt
status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code are eligible to apply for a
grant.
Geographic Requirements. ECF of Chicago only considers grant requests from nonprofits
based in and serving the communities in which local Boeing employees live and work, including
Chicago and its metropolitan area as well as parts of Northwest Indiana. All funds from any ECF
of Chicago grant must directly serve only these local communities.
Other Restrictions. ECF of Chicago does not fund:
 Pass through organizations
 Political organizations or programs
 Public or private schools
 Fraternal, sectarian, social, religious, or similar organizations
 Sports or recreational activities
 General operating costs and expenses (e.g. salaries, insurance, utilities, etc.)
Instructions for Applying for Funding by ECF of Chicago
1. Review the information provided above prior to applying for a grant.
2. Complete the online ECF Letter of Inquiry (LOI). Prior to clicking on the LOI link, we
recommend clearing your browser cache (see
http://www.refreshyourcache.com/en/home/ for more information). A member the ECF
of Chicago team will contact you with any additional questions or to invite you to
complete a full online application.
3. If you are invited to submit a full online application, use this link: ECF Full Application.
NOTE:
 This link can be used for both new and returning users.
 If you think your organization has previously applied for an ECF (or a Boeing
corporate grant), it is important that you do not create a duplicate record.
 If you do not know the organization's user name or password, click on the "Need
Support" link on the login page for assistance.
 Prior to clicking on the ECF Full Application link, we recommend clearing your
browser cache (see http://www.refreshyourcache.com/en/home/ for more
information).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process for grant applications?
All applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry through Boeing’s online system. Requests sent
by fax, email or mail will not be considered. Each letter of inquiry that meets the eligibility
requirements set forth above is reviewed by a member of the ECF of Chicago advisory board.
The ECF advisory board member will contact the organization if any additional information is
needed. Organizations that are invited to submit a full application will be contacted via email.
See chart below for additional information on the application process.
What are the deadlines for ECF of Chicago grant applications?
There are no deadlines. ECF of Chicago reviews grant applications on a rolling basis, yearround. Please keep in mind that all members of the ECF of Chicago advisory board are
volunteers who review applications during their own time.
Do I need an invitation code to apply online?
No, invitation codes are not required to apply for a grant from ECF of Chicago. Leave this field
blank if you don’t have one.
How do I know if my application was received?
Applicants will receive an automated response via email when a completed application is
received.
What is the status of my application?
You will receive an automated response via email when your application is received, declined
and/or approved. If additional information is needed, you will be contacted directly by a member
of the ECF of Chicago advisory board.
What is the average dollar amount of ECF of Chicago grants?
Grants vary in size (typically between $1,000 and $10,000) depending on the project, as well as
the number and quality of other grant applications and the amount of employee contributions to
the fund in a given year.
How are grant applications evaluated?
ECF of Chicago seeks to support innovative projects that will make a lasting impact on the local
community. Accordingly, ECF of Chicago does not approve grants to fund general operating
budgets or overhead expenses, choosing instead to focus on project-based initiatives. Nonprofits are evaluated on a number of factors, including their history, mission, impact in the
community, success of recent initiatives and alignment with ECF of Chicago’s goals. Because
ECF of Chicago will not fund organizations on an ongoing basis, it is critical that the
organization be able to sustain a project on a going-forward basis without additional funding
from ECF of Chicago.
We previously received a grant from ECF of Chicago. May we apply for another grant?
Prior grant recipients must wait at least one year before applying for another grant from ECF of
Chicago. For example, if you received funding for a project in 2016 you may not apply for
another grant until 2018. Organizations that did not submit completed grant impact reports for
prior grants are ineligible to receive any future funding.
Is receiving a grant from ECF the same as receiving a grant from The Boeing Company?
No, ECF of Chicago and The Boeing Company have different processes, guidelines and
requirements. Grants from ECF of Chicago are made possible by the regular donations of
Boeing employees who want to make a significant and lasting impact on their local community
by pooling together their resources.
Letter of
Inquiry
• Applicant completes and submits a letter of inquiry using
Boeing’s online system
• Applicant receives an auto-generated email notification of
submission
• A member of the ECF advisory board reviews the letter of
inquiry, reaching out to the applicant for additional information
Review by ECF
as necessary
Advisory Board
Member
• The reviewing member presents the letter of inquiry to the full
advisory board
• Applicant is notified by email either that (1) they are invited to
Review by ECF
complete a full application or (2) their application has been
Advisory Board
declined
Full
Application
• Applicant completes and submits a full application using the link
provided
• Applicant receives an auto-generated email notification of
submission
• The reviewing member of the ECF advisory board reviews the
full application, including the financial statements and budgets,
Review by ECF
and conducts a site visit
Advisory Board
Member
• The reviewing member presents the full application to the full
advisory board
Review by ECF • Applicant is notified that their application has been approved or
declined
Advisory Board