The New Trier Township grant application process is currently under way, and non-profit social service agencies applying for grants are required to appear at funding hearings scheduled throughout November. New Trier Township awards grants to social service providers to ensure that residents have access to needed programs that impact their well-being. These hearings are open to the public and allow Township representatives to monitor agency programs and performance to assure they meet the needs of Township residents. To be eligible for funding an agency must be a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, provide direct services to a significant number of New Trier Township residents, have a firm sense of mission, appropriate non-profit infrastructure to ensure accountability and performance, and meet one or more Township priorities including seniors, youth, economically challenged families and persons with disabilities. For Fiscal Year 2013, New Trier Township has budgeted $1.26 million to fund almost 50 programs operated by more than 35 agencies.

The process of applying for Township grants began in October with the Township Advisory Committees review of grant proposals. Committee members developed questions to elicit critical information from agencies. The questions were provided to agencies in October to give them time to prepare for the review. Agencies appear for a thirty minute session in which they briefly present responses to the questionnaire followed by a period of question and answer.

Hearings take place in the evening at the Township office, 739 Elm Street in Winnetka. The Mental Health Committee will meet on Monday, November 5 at 6:30 p.m. with Family Service of Winnetka-Northfield and 7:00 p.m. with Children’s Advocacy Center; on Monday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. with The Josselyn Center, at 7:00 p.m. with Family Service of Glencoe, at 7:30 p.m. with Family Service of Wilmette, at 8:00 p.m. with HAVEN Youth & Family Service, and at 8:30 p.m. with PEER Services; on Monday, November 26 at 6:30 p.m. with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), at 7:00 p.m. with New Foundation Center, at 7:30 p.m. with The Cancer Wellness Center and at 8:00 p.m. with Erika’s Lighthouse. The decision meeting for the Mental Health Committee will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2012.

The Agency Oversight Committee will meet on Wednesday, November 14 at 6:45 p.m. with Career Resource Center, at 7:15 p.m. with Warming House Youth Center, at 7:45 p.m. with The Volunteer Center, at 8:15 p.m. with Glencoe Youth Services, and at 8:45 p.m. with Meals at Home; on Thursday, November 15 at 6:45 p.m. with The Harbour, at 7:15 p.m. with Services for Adults Staying in Their Homes (SASI), at 7:45 p.m. with Rebuilding Together, at 8:15 p.m. with LINKS North Shore Youth Health Services, and at 8:45 p.m. with Glencoe Junior High Project; on Wednesday, November 28 at 6:45 p.m. with YWCA Evanston/North Shore, at 7:15 p.m. with Youth Connection, at 7:45 p.m. with Winnetka Youth Organization, at 8:15 p.m. with Open Studio Project, at 8:45 p.m. with Kindness Connection, and at 9:15 p.m. with North Shore Senior Center. The decision meeting for the Agency Oversight Committee will take place at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 12, 2012.

The Money Follows the Person Committee will meet on Thursday, November 8 at 6:45 p.m. with Center for Enriched Living, at 7:15 p.m. with SHORE Community Services, at 7:45 p.m. with Clearbrook and at 8:15 p.m. with Young Adult Program; on Thursday, November 29 at 6:45 p.m. with Lambs Farm, at 7:15 p.m. with Our Place of New Trier Township, at 7:45 p.m. with Special Gifts Theatre, at 8:15 p.m. with Glenkirk and at 8:45 p.m. with The Arts of Life. The decision meeting for the Money Follows the Person Committee will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2012.