Chicago Basecamp Roots & Shoots Grant Program

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Welcome to the Chicago Basecamp's Roots & Shoots Grant Application!

Questions? Email Alex Biswas abiswas@janegoodall.org

We believe anyone - at any age - can be a changemaker. Whether you're starting your very first community project or you're already making waves in your neighborhood, this grant is here to help you grow your idea into action.

This grant is meant to be:

a simple starting point
a chance to try something meaningful
a way to learn how project and funding work
a way to reduce financial barriers to participate in a Roots & Shoots project

What is Roots & Shoots?

Roots & Shoots is a global youth-powered movement founded by Dr. Jane Goodall. It’s all about inspiring people to take action in their communities to help people, animals, and the environment. No matter how big or small, every project creates positive change! Through service projects, we learn to be compassionate changemakers, listen to our communities, and work together to build a better world.

What is the Chicago Basecamp?

The Chicago Basecamp is a local network for people who want to create positive change. Our basecamp connects you with others who care about their communities and provides resources to turn your ideas into action. Our goal is to foster respect, understanding, and compassion - in an effort to make the world a better place.

About the Grant Program

How much can you apply for?

You may apply for a grant in the amount of: $250, $500, or $1,000 to start, support, or celebrate your Roots & Shoots project in the Chicago Basecamp region.

Note: Grant reports for $1,000 funding level will require more details in final reporting than the $250 and $500 levels.

What We Fund

We especially encourage youth (25 and under) applicants to apply, but all ages are welcome! You don't need to be an expert and you don't need to have a perfect plan. You just need an idea to make your community a little better - for people, animals, and/or the environment.

We also encourage projects that are developed with communities that face barriers to resources and opportunities. Our goal is to support solutions that come from the community, not just for them.

Some ways projects might support communities include:

Organizing an art project that brings people together and raises awareness about a local issue
Hosting an event to support local wildlife or clean up a park
Developing a service project to support people in need
Creating a community produce garden to provide fresh food

If you’re not sure where to start, we’re happy to help you think through your idea! You can email Alex BIswas, Chicago Basecamp Coordinator (abiswas@janegoodall.org) to discuss your project.

Eligibility

Where we fund

We fund projects in the following Illinois counties:

Cook
Lake
McHenry
DuPage
Kane
Kendall
Will

Who can apply?

Anyone! You don’t need to be an expert or have grant-writing experience. We welcome:

People of any age*
Students
Community groups (for example: sports teams, you + your friends and neighbors, church groups)
Educators
Parents/families
Individuals
Schools, universities, and non-profits
Local governments, tribes, tribal nations, and their political subdivisions

*Applicants under the age of 13 will need a parent or guardian to submit the application with them.

Note: Parents/educators/adults assisting youth - Please highlight how your child/students are taking the lead in picking the project focus and deciding how to do the service project. This grant does not support classroom instruction/curriculum alone.

Who is NOT eligible?

1. This grant does not support classroom instruction/curriculum alone. It is intended to support direct expenses associated with actionable projects. If you need clarification or have questions, please email Chicago Basecamp Coordinator, Alex Biswas (abiswas@janegoodall.org).

2. At the Chicago Basecamp, we ask that applicants do not "double dip" - this helps us make sure that opportunities are spread equitably across the community. You may not participate in more than one Roots & Shoots grant cycle at a time.

You are considered a current grant recipient if you are currently working on a project within an active Roots & Shoots grant cycle and have received funds, but have not yet submitted your final project report.

You MAY however, apply for additional funds before your final report is submitted, but your eligibility will be contingent upon receipt of your final report before any more funding may be distributed.

If you are requesting additional funding to extend a current grant cycle for a Chicago Basecamp Roots & Shoots Project Grant, please email Chicago Basecamp Coordinator, Alex Biswas (abiswas@janegoodall.org).

The Application Process

Before you apply

Join Roots & Shoots - Sign up for free at rootsandshoots.org/register
Create a Submittable account - Sign up for free by clicking here! Submittable is the platform we use for our grantmaking process and you will need an account to apply. (Application will not load unless you are logged in to your Submittable account)
Connect with us - email Alex Biswas (abiswas@janegoodall.org) to talk about your project idea and get recommendations and support!

How to apply

Log in to your Submittable account.
Fill in the application form, which will appear at the bottom of this page if you are logged in.
if you can't finish in one sitting, click the "Save Draft" button before closing your window.
If you need to change your application after submitting it, you can request to edit the submission.
For technical help with using Submittable (this application platform), check out this webpage.

Application Schedule

Rolling deadline - A "rolling" deadline you can apply at any time before Nov 1, 2025! We'll respond with any questions within 2-4 weeks.
30 Days after submission - Applicants will be notified of the status of their application.
Grant report deadline for grants awarded in 2025 is 6 months after receipt of funds for the $250 and $500 levels, and 12 months after receipt of funds for the $1,000 level.

Expectations

As a recipient of a Chicago Basecamp Roots & Shoots Grant, grantees will be expected to:

To join Roots & Shoots as a member (it's free!).
To create AND update a project profile on the Roots & Shoots website.
To participate in program surveys and 2 check-in meetings with the Chicago Basecamp Coordinator and/or other grant recipients for the continued growth of the program.
To submit a project report within 6 months of receiving funds for the $250 or $500 level, and within 12 months of receiving funds for the $1,000 level.
To spend the grant funds only on items benefiting their Roots & Shoots project.

What makes a strong application?

Understanding Community Needs

When applying, we encourage you to think about how your project connects with people in your community. Some communities have less access to resources due to things like income level, history, or location. These communities might include:

People who experience financial barriers
People with disabilities
People of color
LGBTQIA2S+ individuals
Unhoused individuals

Instead of assuming what a community needs, we encourage you to talk with people and listen to their ideas. How can you collaborate rather than just help?

For example:

🚫 Instead of: “We will donate books to a school because we think they need them.”

✅ Try: “We will ask students and teachers what books would be most meaningful to them, then raise money to buy those books.”

Your project doesn’t have to solve a big problem, it just needs to come from a place of compassion and understanding.

Using Roots & Shoots Resources

Roots & Shoots online resources help changemakers identify needs in their community and then plan and complete a service project. Demonstrating that you used any of our resources to plan your project and improve your changemaker skills will strengthen your application!

Here is a list of our most popular resources:

How We Review Applications

The percentages in the section below show the weight assigned to each funding priority during the application review.

The bulleted questions in each section are intended to help guide your planning process towards a thoughtful application. While it is not required that you answer each question, being able to do so will greatly strengthen your application.

If you have questions or need assistance planning your project, contact Alex Biswas (abiswas@janegoodall.org), the Chicago Roots & Shoots Basecamp Coordinator.

Planning (0%)

This section is not rated, but it helps set the stage for your application. Making sure you can answer the following questions will help demonstrate how your project aligns with Roots & Shoots and will also help reviewers understand your project:

What problem are you trying to solve? How do you know this is a problem?
How will your project help people, animals, and/or the environment?
What action(s) will you/your group take to implement the project?
Who will this project help, support or reach? What is the community or cause it will serve?

Does your project center the voices of young people and/or highlight how youth voices were included in planning processes? (45%)

How were youth involved in choosing and planning the project?
In what ways are young people leading or shaping this project?
How is this project helping youth grow their leadership or project-building skills?

Does the project demonstrate inclusivity and diversity? (Both within the project team and in the places the project will impact?) (30%)

Roots & Shoots believes that diversity strengthens our communities and strives to fund projects that bring together young people with a range of talents, backgrounds, abilities, and experiences.

How do you make sure everyone in your group is part of decision-making?
How will you make sure group members are comfortable sharing different opinions and ideas?
Did you include community members in your planning? Why or why not? Will they be included in the project execution? Will they be impacted by the project?
Does the applicant’s group or project include and/or collaborate with Black, Indigenous, People of Color, people who are disabled, or members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community?
Are there reasons why it might be hard for some people to join or benefit from your project's impact? How will you address them?
Will you be working with any other groups or organizations for your project? If so, please explain.

Does the application demonstrate the group's need for these funds to implement their Roots & Shoots project? (15%)

Reducing financial barriers to participation for groups and individuals is an underlying principle of the Roots & Shoots grant funding. We also strive to support projects and individuals that collaborate with under-resourced communities.

Were R&S resources used? (10%)

Does the application demonstrate the use of the Roots & Shoots 4-Step Formula and/or Community Mapping to pick the project focus and/or to plan the project? Does the application indicate use of other Roots & Shoots resources to plan the project?

Roots & Shoots online resources help changemakers identify needs in their community and then plan and complete a service project. R&S resources include the R&S Project Planning Guide, the Compassionate Traits Self-Assessment, the R&S Family Toolkit, the R&S Toolkit for Individuals & Groups, a Project-in-a-Box, or the R&S Online Course.

Measuring Impact (0%)

Think about these questions when crafting your response:

Will you be conducting a survey?
Can you collect information like number of people served or pounds of food collected?
How will you know if your project was successful?

That's it! We're looking forward to learning more about your work as a changemaker in Chicagoland!

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