Excellence in Care Grant Awards

DIFFA Chicago’s grant making tradition has been to support programs and activities that reflect a unique or innovative approach to addressing the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Chicagoland area and whose programs align with Get To Zero Illinois.

We continue to seek requests where public support and other philanthropies – including an organization’s own fund raising capacity – is not otherwise available, and where DIFFA Chicago grant funds can be appropriately positioned to expand and diversify the impact of an organization’s service program(s).

We also seek proposals that include appropriate and strategic collaboration among agencies.

The DIFFA Chicago granting process selects Chicago agencies providing the best care possible – those who put dollars where they have the most impact to help the men, women, and children living with and/or impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Eligible Programs:

Community-based 501(c)(3) organizations providing direct service, preventive education, and outreach to people who are HIV positive, living with AIDS or at-risk of infection.

Grant Cycle:

DIFFA Chicago issues grants annually. Applications are available beginning September 20, 2023, with the deadline to submit being October 20, 2023. In some cases, a special grant may be awarded during the year to meet specific funder, community or emergency needs.

Grants fall under two categories: Chapter Grants and Foundation Grants

In both instances, DIFFA Chicago does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Invitations are sent out in the fall of each year to apply.

After review, grants are then approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Grants are presented at the Excellence In Care Awards in February, and shared with the world through a robust social media campaign.

Grant Application

Grant Process

The review and scoring of agency grant applications is a very detailed and hands-on process. The DIFFA Chicago Board is committed to ensuring that donated funds are applied and used to their fullest extent.

Step

Invitations for Applications from community organizations go out in the Fall. The ask:

How the money would be used

Summary description of the program

Financial documents

Step

Board Review of Applications

Step

Grant Review Teams are established from members of the board.

Each team is given a set number of applications to review in depth. One-on-one interviews with applicant organizations are set up.

Step

In-person, on-site interviews are held between the Grant Review Teams and the Applicant Organizations. Virtual interviews have been used when health concerns dictate.

Review of facilities, program, provided documentation.

Step

Based upon interviews and review of provided documentation, rankings are established by each Grant Review Team against consistent and universal criteria, for each organization.

Step

Rankings are provided to the DIFFA Chicago Executive Committee for review.

Recommendations are made to the Board.

Step

Grant Review Teams present their individual findings to the full Board.

The Board debates and establishes recommendations for grant award and dollar amounts.

The Board votes, making the final decisions.

Step

Official announcement of Grantee Organizations is made at the Excellence in Care Awards in February of each year.

Announcements of awards are supported through social media visibility campaign.

Our Commitment to Finding a Cure:

Since 1990, THE DIFFA Chicago Fellowship has supported a 2nd year HIV/AIDS Research and Clinical Studies Fellow at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Infectious Diseases; actively supporting the pursuit of a cure.