The Comer Foundation provides support to not-for-profit organizations focused on needle exchange and other harm reduction strategies within the drug using community and seeks to facilitate the process between organizations and communities committed to creating and maintaining health.

• Geographic Focus: The United States
• Funding Priorities: Organizations providing needle exchange and other direct services addressing health related to drug use; Organizations grounded in harm reduction principle and practice; Organizations actively developing community, financial and local political support.
• Types of Funding Available: Operating Funds, Program Development, Staff Development
• Length of Funding: Single-year grants
• Amount of funding: Average single-year grants range from $5,000 to $30,000
• Eligibility: The Comer Foundation will make grants to organizations that are exempt from federal tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue code and that are not classified as private foundations under section 509(a) of the code. The Comer Foundation maintains no organization will be denied funding as a result of actual or perceived substance use, participation in drug treatment or recovery, or association with people involved in the same, by employees of the organization.

To apply for a grant, please send a brief letter of inquiry (no more than five pages) that includes the following:
• Brief description of the organization including its goals and accomplishments;
• Purpose of the project, description of target population (include estimated total number of intravenous drug users in the area and estimated total number of clients served) and time frame for activities;
• Amount requested from The Comer Foundation and amounts secured or requested from other private and public foundations;
• Total project budget and total organization budget;
• IRS tax-exempt letter(s) verifying the applicant's 501(c)(3) status and that the applicant is not a private foundation under section 509(a) of the Code.

The Board of Directors reviews applications three times a year. Based on a review, you will be informed whether The Comer Foundation will request further information including a meeting, site visit or phone interview to the applicant organization. Initial review of letters takes up to thirty days. Applications for each of the funding cycles are due on or before March 1, July 1 and November 1 respectively.


Stephanie Comer
Manager
The Comer Foundation
c/o GCI
939 W. North Avenue
Suite 850
Chicago, IL 60622