Grants

LETTER OF INTEREST (for new grant requesters)

Thank you for your interest in applying for funding from Megan Butz Legacy of Hope. Before inviting new organizations to complete our full grant application, we ask prospective applicants to submit a brief Letter of Interest (LOI).

The purpose of the LOI is to provide our grantmaking team with a general understanding of your organization, the community you serve, and the work you are seeking funding to support. This initial review allows us to determine whether your organization and proposed activities appear aligned with our mission and funding priorities before you invest the time required to complete a full application.

Letter of Interest Guidelines

Please submit a letter of no more than 2 pages that addresses the following:

1. Organization Overview

• Provide a brief description of your organization, including its mission and primary programs or services.
• Describe the geographic area and populations you serve.

2. Community Need

• Briefly describe the mental health need or challenge your organization is addressing.
• Explain how your organization responds to this need and the community you serve.

3. Proposed Use of Funding

• Describe the program, project, or organizational need for which you would seek funding.
• Briefly explain how grant funds would support this work.
• If applicable, provide an approximate funding request and general overall program budget.

4. Alignment with Our Mission

• Describe how your organization’s work and the proposed use of funds align with Meg’s Legacy mission and grantmaking priorities.

5. Impact

• Briefly describe the outcomes or impact you expect to achieve through the proposed work.

Submission

Please direct any questions or submit your LOI (Letter of Interest) via email to grants@megslegacyofhope.org by November 1, 2026. 

LOI’s will be reviewed for general alignment with our mission and funding priorities. Submission of a Letter of Interest does not guarantee an invitation to submit a full grant application or an award of funding.

Organizations whose Letters of Interest demonstrate alignment with our funding priorities will be invited to access the full grant application.

Thank you for the important work you do to strengthen mental health and well-being in our communities. We look forward to learning more about your organization.

 

GENERAL GRANT PARAMETERS

Applications are accepted through December 15, 2026 for the next grant cycle, and the Grant Committee reviews all grant requests from organizations .

The following parameters apply to grants:

• Must be services aimed specifically at mental health support for anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention for youth through young adults.
• Must be a community, state or federal based organization in the Greater Chicago area with 501c3 status.
• Will be available for phone or on-site interviews as necessary during grant review period.
• Will have a detailed plan for how to spend funds within a 12-month timeframe following grant disbursement. (The timeline of completion for related projects within the grant can reach up to 2 years following grant disbursement.)

Any questions? Contact us at Grants@MegsLegacyofHope.org

2027 Application Details:

• For new applicants, Letter of Interest required prior to application: LOI due by Nov. 1, 2026
• Grant Application Deadline: Dec. 15, 2026
• Grant amounts: Individual awards typically range from $5,000 to $35,000
• Total available 2027 funding: $300,000+