TCF Corporate Contributions Program Overview
TCF Bank - Lakeshore Division extends charitable contributions only to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations in Greater Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee,
Racine, and Kenosha) involved in nonprofit activities designed to improve the economic and social well-being of our communities. TCF Bank restricts its charitable contributions to the following areas.
-
Education/Youth Development
This area includes public schools, private schools and nonprofit community organizations providing direct developmental services for young people regardless of the program area. We give greater consideration to programs serving low-to-moderate income individuals and families.
- TCF Bank-at-School Program
- Education
- Community Development
- Health and human services
- Arts
- Culture
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Housing
This area includes nonprofit community development organizations that either:
- Build or rehabilitate owner-occupied and rental housing for low-to-moderate income individuals and families.
- o Finance the construction, rehabilitation, purchase, refinance, or improvement of owner-occupied and rental housing for low-to-moderate income individuals and families.
-
Economic Development
This area includes nonprofit community development organizations helping low-to-moderate income individuals and families develop a small business or other economic development opportunity.
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Financial Literacy
This area includes nonprofit community development organizations that provide training for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in the following areas:
- Homeownership preparation and management
- Credit counseling
- Money management
- Lending and deposit financial services
- Anti-predatory lending counseling
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Scholarship Programs
This area includes nonprofit community organizations, elementary and secondary schools, vocational and technical schools and accredited 2 or 4 year colleges and universities managing programs providing direct financial support to students.
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Environmental Stewardship
This area includes nonprofit organizations or projects acting to:
- Protect and add/or restore open space (for example, parks, gardens, natural habitats) accessible to the public
- Incorporate environmental restoration/improvement into community or economic development projects
- Improve air quality
- Improve stream water quality
Grant Request Guidelines
TCF accepts applications for financial support from the following:
- Organizations and associations with a verifiable 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. We do not require governmental agencies to provide evidence of status.
- Organizations located within TCF's service area.
- Organizations submitting program support grants. TCF will on occasion accept general operating grants; we will only do so if first consulted. TCF does do not usually make grants in support of capital improvements.
TCF does not accept applications for financial support from the following:
- Individuals and/or those requesting financial support for individual participation in fundraising activities such as walk-a-thons and bike-a-thons.
- Political parties, political candidates, or religious institutions (TCF may contribute to religious institutions requesting support for humanitarian services provided for a nonsectarian purpose).
- Organizations existing to influence legislation on local, regional, state, or federal levels.
We give special consideration for organizations in which TCF employees play an active volunteer role and meet other established criteria.
TCF does not regularly commit to grants for more than 1 year or provide financial support for more than 3 years. A grant is not an indication support will continue regularly.
TCF Bank's average grant award is $5,000. Most awards fall between $2,500 and $7,500. TCF rarely awards grants over $5,000 to first-time applicants.
Letter of Inquiry
TCF requires a letter of inquiry from every prospective first-time grant applicant. Letters of inquiry should be no longer than 2 pages and contain the following items.
- Objectives
- Activities
- Proposed grant size
- Fiscal year for use of funds
- Evaluation plan
Applicants can submit a letter of inquiry anytime. Applicants will receive a response in about 4 weeks whether a full proposal is necessary.
We accept Letters of Inquiry by email and postal mail.
Email: grants@tcfbank.com
Office of Community Affairs
TCF Bank
800 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Submitting a Grant Request
Before submitting, review the Grant Request Guidelines.
- Grant Request Application
- We require all applicants from Greater Chicago, Northwest Indiana, and Wisconsin to use the Chicago Area Grant Application on the Donors Forum website.
- (A.7) Itemization of use of requested funds: A brief, detailed account of how you will use the requested funds to support the purpose of the request.
- (B.5) An accounting of the race/gender representation of the Staff and the Board of Directors.
- (B.6) Qualifications of professional staff (resumes are acceptable).
- A copy of your organization's 501(c)(3) letter as evidence of your tax-exempt status.
- A completed copy of the Application Checklist submitted with each grant request.
- Renewing Applicants
We require all renewing applicants to submit a report accounting for the previous year's activity as funded by TCF. We also require renewing applicants from all geographic regions to use the Chicago Area Grant Application on the Donors Forum website.
- Grant Request Deadlines
We accept and review applications quarterly. Applications must be postmarked before the dates listed below. We will not review incomplete applications. We generally review applications within 60 to 90 days of submission.
| TCF Grant Application Deadlines for Illinois, Wisconsin & Indiana |
| Year |
First
Quarter |
Second
Quarter |
Third
Quarter |
Forth
Quarter |
| 2008 |
January 14 |
April 14 |
July 14 |
October 10 |
| 2009 |
January 12 |
April 13 |
July 13 |
October 9 |
| 2010 |
January 11 |
April 12 |
July 12 |
October 8 |
- Mailing Address for Grant Requests
We accept grant requests by email and postal mail.
Email: grants@tcfbank.com
Office of Community Affairs
TCF Bank
800 Burr Ridge Parkway
Burr Ridge, IL 60527
Employee Contributions
- Matching Gifts Program
TCF Bank offers a Matching Gifts Program to supplement donations given by employees to charitable organizations of their choice. TCF will match any gift of $25 to $5,000, dollar-for-dollar, to most 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and universities. Restrictions apply. Employees should contact the Community Affairs/CRA office at 630-986-4920 for more details.
- Community Grant
To support employee volunteers and increase their impact, TCF offers a Community Grant. Through the grant, qualifying employees can apply for up to $2,000 to be awarded to the organization with which they volunteer. Employees should contact the Community Affairs office at 630-986-4920 for more details.
TCF Bank-at-School Program
TCF Bank-at-School is a student savings program. Bank-at-School department staff visit Chicago Public Schools to open savings accounts and collect deposits. Also, TCF Bank employee-volunteers visit classrooms to teach financial literacy and help students understand how savings is important for the future.
For more information, contact the TCF Bank-at-School department at 630-986-4921.
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