Program grants will be made to organizations that reflect and further the mission of the Children's Care Foundation. No unsolicited proposals will be accepted without a letter of inquiry. Applicants must be classified as 501(c)(3) by the Internal Revenue Service. Grant funding is confined to Metropolitan Chicago. Grants are not made for endowments, capital campaigns, general operating support, advocacy, start-up projects, research, political activities, lobbying groups, fundraising benefits, courtesy advertisements, governmental entities, or individuals. Grants are not given to organizations that restrict services, facilities or employment provided by the grant based on race, creed, color, sex or national origin. Organizations that expend more than fifteen percent of their annual revenue for administration, overhead and fundraising will usually not be considered for funding. Grants are not given to organizations that subsist mainly on third party funding and have demonstrated an inability or expend little effort to attract private funding. Also, organizations must reasonably ensure continued support after involvement by the Children’s Care Foundation is discontinued. Stewardship reports are due within 90 days of the one year term of the grant period. The Children's Care Foundation receives many more funding requests than its resources can accommodate, and must often decline support to many excellent organizations and programs. This in no way reflects upon the value of the charity, but rather indicates that community needs far exceed the Foundation’s limited resources.