Through the Accessible Faith Grant Program, the Retirement Research Foundation makes funds available to Chicago area houses of worship for accessibility improvements to their facilities. The Foundation hopes such improvements will encourage increased participation of older adults in the programs, services, and activities that occur within these facilities.

A total of $300,000 in Accessible Faith Grants will be available from the Foundation in 2010. Grants will be awarded for up to 50% of a project's total cost. The maximum grant amount is $30,000.

Applications must be received at the Foundation office or postmarked by 5:00 pm by Friday, June 25, 2010.  This is the final deadline for the 2010 Accessible Faith Grant Program.  Grant award notification will be approximately five months after each deadline with funding available one month after notification.

1. Eligibility
2. Purposes of Grant
3. Restrictions
4. Selection Criteria and Priorities
5. Project Time Frame
6. Reporting Requirements

A. Eligibility

Applications will be reviewed by The Retirement Research Foundation staff and its technical consultant. To be eligible for an Accessible Faith Grant, the facility and congregation must meet the following criteria:

1. Be registered as an IRS-certified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and be able to provide such documentation.  The Foundation requires evidence of both your congregation's federal tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS and your congregation's 509(a) status (which became a requirement in 2006).  Include copies of your IRS letter.  If your letter does not include your 509(a) status, then include other documentation of that status.  If your congregation is covered under a group ruling, submit both a copy of the IRS group ruling letter and a copy of the page from the official directory showing that your congregation is a member.  Note that your group letter will only cover the 501(c)(3) status and not the 509(a) status.  If you are unclear about this information, discuss it with officials from your judicatory.  You may also contact The Retirement Research Foundation if you have questions.
    
2. Be located within Cook, Lake, or DuPage County in Illinois.
    
3. Provide programs and activities — beyond worship services — that benefit older adults (age 60 years or older).
    
4. Demonstrate the need for financial assistance to carry out the accessibility project but also the ability to raise sufficient funds to complete the project if awarded a grant.
    
5. Own the facility where improvements would be made.

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B. Purposes of Grant

Accessible Faith Grants may be used for the following purposes:

1. Construction projects. The grant could be used to increase accessibility in an existing building by carrying out specific projects such as installing elevators, platform lifts, or inclined platform lifts; constructing permanent ramps; or renovating restrooms for accessibility. These projects generally require a building permit.
    
2. Purchase and installation of accessibility-related equipment. The grant could be used to improve accessibility through the purchase and installation of accessibility-related equipment, such as assistive listening systems, automatic door openers, etc.

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C. Restrictions

1. Grants will not be made for chairlifts because they do not provide accessibility for all people who have difficulty climbing stairs. To use a chairlift, an individual must be able to get out of the wheelchair or scooter and get into the chairlift. The wheelchair or scooter must then be carried up or down the stairs, which is dangerous to the person carrying it and may damage it.
    
2. Grants will not be made for used equipment. A used lift or other item may not have had the required maintenance to keep it in safe and effective operating condition. It would probably also lack a warranty.
    
3. Grants will not be made for the purchase of accessible vehicles or individual mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or walkers.
    
4. Grants will not be provided for projects that are already completed.
    
5. Grants will not be provided for constructing entirely new buildings, entirely new multi-room additions to existing buildings, or for overall large-scale facility renovations that include many elements unrelated to accessibility.

The Accessible Faith Grant Program supports stand-alone accessibility improvements that are intentional rather than ones that, as part of a major new construction or overall large-scale renovation project, would be required under the provisions of the Illinois Accessibility Code (IAC). The IAC is available at http://www.cdb.state.il.us/IAC.shtml — See primarily Subpart F on Page 105 for guidelines on the types and scope of projects that would not meet Accessible Faith Grant intentions. Your architect should be able to give you more information about this. You may also contact The Retirement Research Foundation if you have questions about this matter.

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D. Selection Criteria and Priorities

Applicants that meet the following criteria will be given priority:

1. Congregations with a large number and/or high percentage of older adults.
    
2. Congregations with programs, services, or activities in their facilities that involve older adults. This includes programs specifically targeted to older adults, as well as programs and activities that engage elders with other age groups, such as choirs, faith-sharing groups, scripture studies, or food pantries.
    
3. Congregations that provide space in their facilities for outside organizations holding programs, services, or activities that are geared toward or involve older adults (e.g., dance groups, book clubs, classes, homeless shelters, health screenings, support groups, etc.).
    
4. Congregations that demonstrate some financial need; that is, congregations unable to carry out the project without outside funding assistance but able to obtain the balance of funds sufficient to undertake the project if a grant is awarded.  Note that an Accessible Faith Grant provides only 50% of the project cost, up to a maximum of $30,000.
    
5. Construction projects with accessibility designs that are sensitively integrated into the existing architecture.

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E. Project Time Frame

1. Construction projects must be completed within 18 months of the grant award.
    
2. Equipment purchase and installation projects must be completed within 12 months of the grant award.

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F. Reporting Requirements

1. For construction projects, reports are required at six, twelve and eighteen months.
    
2. For equipment projects, a final report at twelve months is required.

     Detailed requirements are specified in the grant award letter.

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