root2fruit grants
The root2fruit grants program invests in capacity building for small and mid-size organizations that serve Evanston. root2fruit is a multi-year program for grantees, providing annual grants, mentoring, and a learning community.
In fall 2019, ECF accepted its final round of applications for root2fruit. Selected organizations joined the learning community with the previously selected root2fruit grantees and all grantees will complete their root2fruit involvement in 2021.
The root2fruit program is made possible through a partnership with the Mammel Foundation, which has invested over $1.6 million since 2003 in this program which builds the capacity of small to mid-size nonprofits in Evanston. Since its inception, the root2fruit program has benefited 51 small and mid-size organizations serving Evanston.
Meet the current grantee organizations.
grants focus
The root2fruit program includes capacity building grants renewable for three years, a learning community, and mentorship for grantees. Capacity building initiatives focus on building infrastructure to support an organization's long-term growth and sustainability so it can better fulfill its mission. Examples of capacity building include board development, staff development, strategic plans, fundraising, and marketing and branding. Graduate organizations of the root2fruit program are eligible for one year alumni grants.
eligible organizations
root2fruit was open to organizations that have not previously participated in the three-year root2fruit progam and also meet the eligibility requirements. Visit the grantmaking history page to view all prior root2fruit grant recipient organizations.
about more than money
A series of four meetings annually builds a learning community in which the organizations gain knowledge and ideas from the root2fruit advisory board and their peers. Advisory board members, all of whom have extensive experience in the nonprofit world, are available to help mentor grantee organizations.
Participation in root2fruit has helped build their long-term sustainability through improved board effectiveness, fundraising capacity, and business practices. Because of this work, these strengthened organizations are able to have positive impact in our community.