Lisle non-profit gives funds to groups helping area residents

The primary objective of the Lisle Community Service Corporation is to award financial grants to groups in town that help residents.

Whatever the applying organizations' missions -- entertaining at summer concerts, teaching English to immigrants, helping those in need secure housing -- they have a shot at extra funding.

"We don't give out a lot of money, but it does help," said corporation treasurer Judy Yuill.

"We are a non-profit organization with our own guidelines and constitution," group secretary John Malich said. "We meet twice a year to review applications for grants."

Committee members, in addition to Yuill and Malich, are President Harold O'Keefe, Mary Ann Johnson, Rae Kipper and Tom Althoff. There's an opening on the board and an additional spot will open when Malich retires this spring.

An attorney and accountant advise the board.

Board members must be Lisle residents who care about people and want to be involved.

"Possible members should have experience in business and community activities," O'Keefe said. "We keep politics out of it."

Residents interested in being considered for appointment to the board should send a resume to the organization at P.O. Box 3354, Lisle, 60532.

The corporation began in the early 1980s when then-Mayor George Varney established the philanthropic organization with a nest egg from cable television.

"Most of the cable companies at that time were providing monetary and equipment incentives to communities," said O'Keefe, an original member. "Basically, it was an advance on franchise fees."

The $200,000 Lisle received was set aside and invested to let it accrue interest while a plan was worked out and the corporation was established.

The corporation awards grants using only interest generated by the fund. The money is invested in a diversified portfolio.

The group can award up to 60 percent of the interest income. Awards are limited to $5,000 to any group per single calendar year.

"Applications vary, but we average five to 10 applications at each of the two times we look at grants," O'Keefe said. "We always first award the four one-year scholarships of $1,000 each."

Each year, two graduates from Lisle High School, one Lisle graduate from Benet Academy and another from Naperville North High School receive scholarships. Each school determines its own recipients. Interested seniors should talk to their high school counselors.

There have been times when the corporation could not award any grants beyond the scholarships, but that isn't the case this year.

The two-page grant application is available by calling Malich at (630) 968-0932. Completed applications are to be mailed to the corporation with all appropriate documentation and postmarked by April 18 for the spring grants.

The next opportunity will be shortly after Labor Day for the fall deadline. Watch the newspaper and Lisle cable station for the exact date.

"The important thing is that the organization requesting the grant be a not-for-profit organization not supported by other taxing entities," O'Keefe said. "Applicants need to show how Lisle residents will benefit."

The committee likes to see specific costs, a budget and proof of a nonprofit status. Most grants are in the $1,000 to $3,000 range.

"We don't give to big groups that have a lot of overhead and salaries," Yuill said.

In the past few years, grants have been awarded to the Lisle Community Band, Lisle Lions Club, Boy Scout Troop 99, West Suburban Humane Society, Trinity Lutheran Church Clinic II, DAYBREAK of Lisle, Community Alliance and Action Network, Lisle Community Character Alliance, Animals Deserving of Proper Treatment, Girl Scouts Prairie Wind of Lisle, Boy Scouts Venture Crew 9, Crossroads Ministries, St. Benedictine of Lisle and Boy Scout Troop 108.

Members recall past grants going to The Sharing Connection, Polar Express, PADS and literacy tutoring. Scouts working on an Eagle Scout project have requested and received funds through their troop.

The requesting non-profit organization does not need to be located in Lisle but must be able to prove it will assist and benefit Lisle residents, Malich said.

"Some of the Scout troops have sent us pictures when they complete the project because they are so proud of it," Malich said.

The completed application must have all the criteria established by the committee. Each is evaluated by the entire board on its own merits and benefits to residents.

Sample application questions include: What is the direct impact and benefit such a grant will have on Lisle residents? List the amount and purpose of each previous LCSC grant within the past 24 months and explain in detail how each was utilized.

Malich encourages people and organizations to submit applications. It is an opportunity for a grassroots public-spirited idea to be established and existing non-profit groups to support a particular project.

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