MSP Guide: Grants, Other Funding Sources Available for Chicago Nonprofits

Nonprofits in Chicago are vital to the community. They provide essential IT services for industries including healthcare, education, and housing. Many rely on grants and funding opportunities to sustain and grow their operations, including IT infrastructure. For MSPs, this represents a dual opportunity: helping nonprofits secure funding for technology projects and positioning themselves as trusted IT partners to implement these solutions. This guide explores grants available for nonprofits in Chicagoland. It highlights how MSPs can assist in securing these funds and outlines ways to align IT services with funding opportunities to grow.

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1. Overview of Grants for Chicago Nonprofits

• Federal Grants

  • Examples:
    • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Grants for Healthcare IT
    • National Science Foundation (NSF) Grants for Technology in Education
  • MSP’s Role:
    • Assist nonprofits with grant applications by outlining technology needs and providing cost estimates for IT projects.
  • Link: Grants.gov

• State and Local Grants

  • Examples:
    • Illinois Arts Council Technology Grant: Supports technology upgrades for arts organizations
    • Chicago Community Trust Nonprofit Grants: Funds projects that address community needs, including IT modernization
  • MSP’s Role:
    • Propose IT projects that align with grant priorities, such as cybersecurity upgrades or cloud migrations.
  • Links:
    • Illinois Arts Council
    • Chicago Community Trust

• Industry-specific Grants

  • Examples:
    • Healthcare: HIMSS Foundation Grants for health information technology.
    • Education: EdTech grants from organizations like the MacArthur Foundation.
  • MSP’s Role:
    • Partner with nonprofits in specific sectors to identify grants that fund IT initiatives like telehealth platforms or classroom technology.
  • Links:
    • HIMSS Foundation
    • MacArthur Foundation

2. Help Nonprofits Secure Funding

• Research Grant Opportunities

  • Identify grants that align with the mission and needs of your nonprofit clients.
  • Offer research assistance or provide a list of relevant funding sources.

• Provide Technical Expertise

  • Collaborate with nonprofits to draft grant proposals that clearly define IT needs and budgets.
  • Include detailed technology plans that demonstrate ROI and impact.

• Create Co-branded Grant Packages

  • Partner with nonprofits to prepare grant-ready IT project outlines, including technology solutions, timelines, and costs.

3. Align MSP Services with Grant Opportunities

• Develop Grant-friendly Service Packages:

  • Offer pre-packaged IT solutions tailored for nonprofits, such as:
  • Cloud migration for better data management.
  • Cybersecurity enhancements to protect donor and client data.
  • Telehealth or remote education platforms for healthcare or educational organizations.

• Offer Flexible Payment Options:

  • Provide deferred payment plans tied to grant approval timelines.
  • Offer discounted rates for nonprofits with limited budgets.

• Build Long-term Partnerships:

  • Position your MSP as a long-term partner, offering ongoing support and advice as nonprofits grow and receive additional funding.

4. Examples of Success

• Case Study: Chicago Community Health Nonprofit

  • The Challenge:
    • A healthcare nonprofit needed a secure telehealth platform but lacked the budget.
  • The Solution:
    • The MSP identified a HIMSS Foundation grant and partnered with the nonprofit to draft a winning proposal.
  • The Result:
    • The grant funded the project. The MSP implemented the telehealth solution, securing a long-term support contract.

5. Tools and Resources for MSPs

• Grant Research Platforms

  • Foundation Directory Online
  • Candid Nonprofit Resources

• Grant Writing Services

  • Partner with grant writers to enhance application quality and success rates.

• Technology Resources

  • Provide nonprofits with resources like TechSoup for discounted software and hardware.

Conclusion

Helping nonprofits secure funding for IT projects isn’t just good for your community — it also benefits your business. Understand grant opportunities, align your services with nonprofits’ needs, and position yourself as a partner in their growth. Then, you can build lasting relationships and uncover new revenue streams. Start by identifying a nonprofit client you can assist with a grant application and position your MSP as a trusted advisor for its technology needs.

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