The Square One Foundation strives to make the application process for grantseekers as simple, transparent, and accessible as possible. We enthusiastically practice the principles of Trust-Based Philanthropy  in an effort to minimize the burden placed on organizations, recognizing that this detracts from the time and resources you can devote to fulfilling your missions. We continuously look for ways to do this better, and we welcome suggestions and feedback here.

The Square One Foundation welcomes applications from organizations that align with our mission, program areas, and funding guidelines. We award grants to both new and renewal applicants twice a year—Fall applicants can start applying in August and are awarded grants in December, and Spring applicants can start applying in February and are awarded grants in June.

Square One is currently accepting applications for Fall 2025

How to apply: New applicants

The Square One Foundation invites prospective grantees to apply for general operating or project support of Chicago-based work in our three program areas—Education, Democracy, or Inclusive & Just Economy—according to the following process:

Step #1:
Account
Set Up


Rolling Basis from
August 1st through October 31st

  • Once you have reviewed Square One Foundation’s funding guidelines, visit our online grant portal and click on "Create New Account" to complete the registration process and create your logon credentials.

    Please add SquareOneGrants@alchemizegiving.net and administrator@grantinterface.com to your email contacts or safe sender list, so that alerts from this system do not get caught by spam filters.

    If you need support using the Foundant system:

  • Once you are logged into your online grant portal account, click on “Check Eligibility” to complete an Eligibility Quiz and ensure that your organization meets our funding guidelines. Upon passing the quiz, you will be invited to apply to the Fall 2025 New Applicant Process. Click on “Apply” to complete your New Applicant Profile (aka LOI).

    This should take no more than 15 minutes.

    • See Eligibility Quiz questions here.

    • See New Applicant Profile questions here.

  • There will be a link at the end of the New Applicant Profile form (and in the follow-up email) directing you to sign up for a live, virtual “Fit Assessment” meeting with our team. This 30-minute meeting is intended to introduce your organization to the Square One Foundation without having to prepare new written materials.

    Anyone from the organization may participate in the meeting, and it does not need to include the Chief Executive. Please do not have more than two people participate.

Step #2:
Fit Assessment

Rolling Basis
through October 31st

You do not need to prepare a formal presentation, but here is what we would like to learn about you in our conversation:

  • Background of the organization: history, mission, programs, activities

  • How does your work align with the Square One Foundation’s goal for the program area to which you are applying—Education, Democracy, or Inclusive & Just Economy?

  • How does your organization change the system behind the problem you are trying to solve?

  • In what ways do you collaborate with others?

  • How does your work advance racial equity?

  • How are the people most affected by the problem involved in your work?

  • Why do you think the Square One Foundation is a fit for you?

Step #3:
Proposal & Site Visit


Rolling Basis
through November 14th

Within two weeks of the “Fit Assessment” meeting, compatible organizations will be notified if they are invited to submit a proposal as follows:

  • You will be directed to complete the Application form via the online grant portal, due two weeks after receiving the invitation. This includes uploading a recent (i.e., pre-existing) grant proposal that you have already prepared for another funder.

    You do not need to create any new materials.  You do not even need to change the name of the foundation to whom the materials are addressed. Just send “as is.”

    In addition to the proposal narrative, you will be asked to upload the following supporting documents:

    • Current Budget

    • Previous Fiscal Year Audit and/or Unaudited, Year-End Financial Statement

    • Board List

    • Funder List

    • Additional Supporting Materials (as desired)

  • There will be a link at the end of the Proposal form (and in the follow-up email) directing you to sign up for a one-hour site visit.

    We strongly prefer to do site visits in-person with Chicago-based staff either at your office, Square One Foundation’s office, or a third location.  We believe this builds our relationship and helps us understand your work more deeply. Please plan to have your organization’s Chief Executive attend; other staff may attend as desired.

  • Two representatives of the Square One Foundation will meet in-person with your organization’s Chief Executive and other staff as desired.

    Since general fit has already been determined through the “Fit Assessment”, our hope is to use our site visit to clarify our understanding of your work and have generative conversations about your work in the current context.

    We will notify you about funding decisions by mid-December.

Funding decisions will be announced in December 2025

HOw to apply: Current Grantees

The Square One Foundation also invites Fall 2024 grantees to submit a brief update report and schedule a brief check-in meeting to be considered for renewed support.

 

Step #1


You will be invited to submit your Brief Update via the online grant portal, including recent financial materials.


By September 5th

Step #2


After submitting your Brief Update, you will be invited to sign up for an in-person check-in meeting.



By November 15th