HomeMy WebLinkAbout26-0826 Magda Nicolas Estrada ELGIN SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION GRANT AGREEMENT
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into this 26th day of August, 2026, by and
between the CITY OF ELGIN, Illinois, a municipal corporation (hereinafter referred to as the
"City"),and Magda Nicolas Estrada(hereinafter referred to as the"Grantee").
WHEREAS, the City has determined that it would serve a beneficial public purpose to
enter into an agreement with the Grantee to provide a grant to the Grantee under the City's
Sustainable Elgin Community Grant Program in order to provide funding for Grantee's 2026 Elgin
Green Expo (hereinafter the "Project") in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Grantee represents that it has the necessary expertise and experience to
conduct the Project activities upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement;and
WHEREAS, the City is a home rule unit of local government which may exercise any
powers and perform any functions pertaining to its government affairs; and
WHEREAS, providing financial assistance to the Grantee to conduct the Project as
described herein will promote the public welfare of the community and pertains to the government
and affairs of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained
herein,the sufficiency of which is hereby mutually acknowledged,the parties hereto hereby agree
as follows:
1. That the foregoing recitals are incorporated into this Agreement in their entirety.
2. The City shall provide a grant to the Grantee in the total amount of two thousand
dollars($2,000)(hereinafter referred to as the"Grant Funds"),to be utilized by the Grantee for the
Project Activities described in Paragraph 3 herein, and for no other purposes. Payment of the
Grant Funds by the City to the Grantee shall be as reimbursement to the Grantee of approved
Project expenses submitted by the Grantee in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Applicant shall present paid receipts or copies of paid receipts to City specifically
designating actual expenses incurred for the Project Activities described in the application with
any request for reimbursement from City. Such requests for reimbursement and paid receipts shall
be limited to and shall specifically designated actual expenses incurred for the Project Activities
described in the application, and reimbursements shall not exceed the amount of Grant Funds
approved at the time of the execution of this Agreement. No funding shall be provided or approved
by City for expenses incurred prior to the execution of the grant agreement.
3. The Grantee shall utilize the Grant Funds to perform and provide the activities and
services for the Project described in and pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth on Exhibit
A, entitled Project Proposal, attached hereto and made a part hereof by this reference, and for no
other purposes (the Project activities and services, including terms, conditions, dates, and times,
are hereinafter referred to as the "Project Activities"). In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this Agreement and the provisions in Exhibit A hereto, the provisions of this
Agreement shall control. The Grantee represents and warrants that the Grantee shall use its best
efforts to perform the Project Activities in a reasonable, timely, and efficient manner, and in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement. The Project Activities set forth in
Exhibit A are integral parts of this Agreement and may not be modified,amended or altered except
by a written amendment to this Agreement agreed to and executed by both parties hereto.
4. The Grantee shall address all inquiries and requests made pursuant to this
Agreement to the Sustainability Manager of the City or his/her designee.
5. In connection with any Project Activities to be performed on any property other
than City-owned properties, the Grantee warrants and agrees to maintain all facilities and
equipment used in the performing of the Project Activities in a clean, sanitary and safe condition
and free from defects of every kind whatsoever. Grantee agrees and warrants that the Grantee will
periodically inspect, at reasonable intervals and with a reasonable degree of thoroughness, all of
such facilities and equipment for such purposes. Grantee also warrants that the Grantee and the
Grantee's facilities and equipment used in the performing of the Project Activities are not now,
nor shall be during the term of this Agreement, in violation of any health. building, fire or zoning
code or regulation or other applicable requirements of law. In connection with the Project
Activities on properties owned or controlled by the City, Grantee agrees and warrants to use, and
to cause persons participating in the Project Activities to use. through proper and reasonable
supervision and control, all facilities with due care, and to report all defects in or damage to any
such facilities, and the cause thereof, if known, immediately to the Sustainability Manager of the
City.
Project Activities
6. Grantee shall comply with all of the requirements, terms and conditions of the
City's Sustainability Commission Grant Program. All grant funds for the Project Activities shall
be expended by the Grantee between January 1. 2026 and December 31. 2026, and the Grantee
shall complete the Project Activities for which Grant Funds have been awarded no later than
December 31, 2026. All funds awarded pursuant to this Agreement shall be expended in
accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement and of the City's Sustainability
Commission Grant Program. The Grantee shall apply the Grant Funds solely to fund the Project
Activities identified in Exhibit A,and no funds from the grant provided pursuant to this Agreement
shall be used by the Grantee for operating expenses or for any purchase of permanent equipment,
capital improvements, construction or for the payment of any previous year's deficit.
7. Following the completion of the Project Activities the Grantee shall submit a final
Project Report in a form as required by the City within sixty(60)days of completion of the Project
Activities, but no later than December 31, 2026. Without limiting the foregoing,the Grantee shall
also complete, maintain, and submit to the Sustainability Manager of the City,or his/her designee,
any and all records, reports, and forms relating to the Project Activities in this Agreement as may
be requested by the City, including but not limited to, as follows:
(a) The Grantee shall provide a budget to the City which shall reflect the
projected distribution of Grant Funds received from the City pursuant
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to this Agreement during the term of this Agreement. The budget
shall be submitted to the Sustainability Manager of the City prior to
any payment by the City.
(b) The Grantee shall provide to the City all accounting records
substantiating any and all revenues and expenses relating to the Grant
Funds awarded pursuant to this Agreement. Such accounting records
shall be submitted by the Grantee to the City for review by the City's
Fiscal Services Department within sixty (60) days following the
completion of the Project Activities. Accounting records shall
include, but not be limited to, bank statements, cancelled checks,
invoices, ticket sales, and such other documentation as determined
by the City to verify the performance of the Project Activities and/or
grant related receipts and disbursements.
8. In the event this Agreement is terminated,or in the event the Project Activities for
which the Grant Funds provided herein are to be applied are discontinued, or the Grantee ceases
its operations prior to December 31, 2026, the Grantee shall refund to the City on a prorated per
diem basis any Grant Funds paid hereunder for the portion of the year remaining after any such
termination or for the portion of the year the Project Activities were not conducted.
9. The City of Elgin and the Sustainability Commission shall be recognized as
sponsors of the Grantee and shall receive the benefits of sponsorship consistent with the level of
support provided in this Agreement. At a minimum, the City's and the Sustainability
Commission's support shall be acknowledged on all print materials promoting the Grantee's
organization,press releases,radio advertising,web page information and event program(s)through
the following mandatory funding identification statement: "Funding for the organization is
provided in part through the City of Elgin and the Sustainability Commission." Three samples of
this acknowledgement shall be provided to the City. A logo provided by the City to the Grantee
shall be used for this purpose.
10. In all printed materials in which a City seal or logo is deemed appropriate, written
approval by the Public Information Officer of the City shall be required prior to printing.
11. The term of this Agreement shall commence from the date of the execution hereof
and continue through December 31,2026,unless otherwise terminated as provided for herein.
12. This Agreement shall not be construed so as to create a partnership,joint venture,
employment or other agency relationship between the parties hereto. It is expressly agreed and
understood that the Grantee and the Grantee's officers, employees and agents are not employees
of the City and are not entitled to any benefits or insurance provided to employees of the City.
13. If the Grantee violates or breaches any term of this Agreement, such violation or
breach shall be deemed to constitute a default, and the City shall have the right to seek such
administrative, contractual, legal or equitable remedies to which it may be entitled by law as a
result of such violation or breach; and, in addition, if the Grantee, by reason of any default, fails,
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within fifteen (15) days after notice thereof by the City demanding compliance, to comply with
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the City may terminate this Agreement and any and
all financial or other obligations on the part of the City shall cease and become null and void. In
addition, and without limiting the foregoing, if the Grantee fails to perform any of its obligations
under this Agreement,the Grantee shall be required to repay any and all Grant Funds in full upon
thirty(30)days written demand. If the City violates or breaches any term of this Agreement,such
violation or breach shall be deemed to constitute a default,and in the event the City,within fifteen
(15)days after notice thereof by the Grantee demanding compliance,fails to comply with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, the Grantee, as its sole and exclusive remedy, may terminate
this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or by implication or
estoppel,with the sole exception of the money the City has agreed to pay the Grantee pursuant to
paragraph 2 hereof, no action shall be commenced by the Grantee,any related agents, persons or
entities, and/or any of their successors and/or assigns, against the City for monetary damages. In
the event any legal action is brought by the City for the enforcement of any of the obligations of
the Grantee in this Agreement and the City is the prevailing party in such action, the City shall
also be entitled to recover from the Grantee interest at the rate of nine percent (9%) per annum,
plus attorney's fees at the rate of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00)per hour, which Grantee
agrees to be reasonable. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive any expiration,completion
and/or termination of this Agreement.
14. Notwithstanding any other provision hereof,the City may terminate this Agreement
at any time upon thirty(30) days prior written notice to the Grantee. In the event this Agreement
is so terminated, the Grantee shall only be reimbursed for such reimbursable expenses related to
Project Activities that were actually incurred prior to termination, except that any such
reimbursement shall not, in any event, exceed the total amount set forth in paragraph 2 above.
Additionally, in the event this Agreement is so terminated, the Grantee shall immediately cease
the expenditure of any Grant Funds previously paid to the Grantee by the City and shall refund to
the City any unexpended funds.
15. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Grantee agrees to indemnify, defend and
hold harmless the City, its officers, employees, agents, boards and commissions from and against
any and all claims, suits,judgments, costs, attorney's fees,damages or other relief, including, but
not limited to, workers' compensation claims, in any way resulting from or arising out of any
negligent acts or omissions of the Grantee in connection herewith, including any negligent acts or
omissions of agents of the Grantee arising out of the performance of this Agreement and/or the
Project Activities. In the event of any action against the City, its officers, employees, agents,
boards or commissions covered by the foregoing duty to indemnify, defend and hold harmless,
such action shall be defended by legal counsel of the City's choosing. The provisions of this
section shall survive any expiration,completion and/or termination of this Agreement.
16. The Grantee shall provide, pay for and maintain in effect, during the term of this
Agreement, comprehensive automobile liability insurance covering all owned, non-owned and
hired motor vehicles used in connection with the Project Activities with limits of not less than
$500,000 per occurrence for damages to persons or property. The Grantee shall also provide, pay
for and maintain in effect,during the term of this Agreement,worker's compensation insurance in
amounts required under the laws of the State of Illinois. At the request of the City the Grantee
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shall provide to the City certificates of insurance regarding the insurance required in this
paragraph.
17. No official, director, officer, agent or employee of the City shall be charged
personally or held contractually liable under any term or provision of this Agreement or because
of their execution,approval or attempted execution of this Agreement.
18. In all hiring or employment associated with, arising out of or resulting from this
Agreement, there shall be no discrimination against any independent contractor, employee or
applicant for employment because of sex, age, race,color,creed, national origin, marital status,of
the presence of any sensory, mental or physical handicap, unless based upon a bona fide
occupational qualification,and this requirement shall apply to,but not be limited to,the following:
employment advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and
selection for training. including apprenticeship.
19. No person shall be denied or subjected to discrimination in receipt of the benefit of
any services or activities made possible by or resulting from this Agreement on the grounds of sex,
race, color, creed, national origin, age except minimum age and retirement provisions, marital
status or the presence of any sensory,mental or physical handicap. Any violation of this provision
shall be considered a violation of a material provision of this Agreement and shall be grounds for
cancellation, termination or suspension, in whole or in part, of the Agreement by the City.
20. The terms and provisions of this Agreement shall be severable. If any paragraph,
sub-paragraph, phrase, clause or other provision of this Agreement, or any portion thereof, shall
be held to be void or otherwise unenforceable, all other portions of this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect.
21. This Agreement and its exhibits constitutes the entire Agreement of the parties on
the subject matter hereof and may not be changed, modified, discharged or extended except by
written amendment duly executed by the parties. Each party agrees that no representations or
warranties shall be binding upon the other party unless expressed in writing herein or in a duly-
executed amendment hereof.
22. This Agreement shall be deemed to have been made in, and shall be construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. Venue for the resolution of any disputes or the
enforcement of any rights pursuant to this Agreement shall be in the Circuit Court of Kane County,
Illinois.
23. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, it is expressly agreed and
understood that in connection with the performance of this Agreement the Grantee shall comply
with all applicable federal, state, city and other requirements of law including, but not limited to,
any applicable requirements regarding prevailing wages, minimum wage. workplace safety and
legal status of employees. Without limiting the foregoing,the Grantee hereby certifies. represents
and warrants to the City that all of Grantee's employees and/or agents who will be providing
products, and/or services with respect to this Agreement shall be legal residents of the United
States. Grantee shall also at its sole expense secure all permits and licenses, pay all charges and
fees and give all notices necessary and incident to the due and lawful prosecution of the work,
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and/or the products and/or services to be provided pursuant to this Agreement. City shall have the
right to audit any records in the possession or control of the Grantee to determine the Grantee's
compliance with the provisions of this section or of law. In the event the City proceeds with such
an audit,the Grantee shall make available to the City the City's relevant records at no cost to the
City. The Grantee shall pay any and all costs associated with any such audit. The provisions of
this paragraph shall survive any expiration,completion and/or termination of this Agreement.
24. All notices, reports and documents required under this Agreement shall be in
writing and shall be mailed by First Class Mail,postage prepaid, addressed as follows:
As to the City: As to Grantee:
City of Elgin Magda Nicolas Estrada
150 Dexter Court 1810 Gleneagle Circle
Elgin, IL 60120-5555 Elgin, IL 60123-6480
Attention: Richard G. Kozal
City Manager
With a copy to:
Christopher Beck, Corporation Counsel •
City of Elgin
150 Dexter Court
Elgin, IL 60120-5555
25. This Agreement is,and shall be deemed and construed to be,a joint and collective
work product of the City and the Grantee and, as such, this Agreement shall not be construed
against the other party, as the otherwise purported drafter of same, by any court of competent
jurisdiction in order to resolve any inconsistency, ambiguity, vagueness or conflict, if any,of the
terms and provisions contained herein.
26. This Agreement shall be binding on the parties hereto and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement and the obligations herein may not be assigned
or delegated by the Grantee without the express written consent of the City,which consent may be
withheld at the sole discretion of the City.
27. Grantee hereby waives any and all claims or rights to interest on money claimed to
be due pursuant to this Agreement,and any and all such rights to interest to which it may otherwise
be entitled pursuant to law,including,but not limited to,pursuant to the Local Government Prompt
Payment Act(50 ILCS 505/1, et seq.), as amended, or the Illinois Interest Act (815 ILCS 205/1,
et seq.), as amended. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive any expiration, completion
and/or termination of this Agreement.
28. The parties hereto agree that any cause of action by the Grantee arising out of this
Agreement must be filed within one year of the date the alleged cause of action arose or the same
will be time-barred. The provisions of this paragraph shall survive any expiration, completion
and/or termination of this Agreement.
29. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,each of which shall be an original
and all of which shall constitute one and the same agreement. For the purposes of executing this
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agreement, any signed copy of this Agreement transmitted by fax machine or e-mail shall be
treated in all manners and respects as an original document. The signature of any party on a copy
of this Agreement transmitted by fax machine or e-mail shall be considered for these purposes as
an original signature and shall have the same legal effect as an original signature. Any such faxed
or e-mailed copy of this Agreement shall be considered to have the same binding legal effect as an
original document. At the request of either party any fax or e-mail copy of this Agreement shall
be re-executed by the parties in an original form. No party to this Agreement shall raise the use
of fax machine or e-mail as a defense to this agreement and shall forever waive such defense.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF,the undersigned have entered into executed this agreement on
the date and year first written above.
CITY OF ELGIN,a municipal corporation GRANTEE: Raices Financial Services
(Applicant Magda Nicolas
Estrada)
By: By: prA
Richard G Kozal, City Manager Name/Print: Magda Nicolas Estrada
Title: President
Attest:
itv Cler
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EXHIBIT A-PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Application
Section 1
Applicant Name:
Magda Nicolas Estrada
Project Title:
Raices Financial Services
Grant Amount Requested:
2000
Address of Applicant:
1810 Gleneagle Circle Elgin IL 60123
Must reside in Elgin. Contact information will only be used to contact applicants for grant purposes.
Telephone of Applicant:
2245184175
Contact information will only be used to contact applicants for grant purposes.
Email of Applicant:
mmne0318@gmail.com
Contact information will only be used to contact applicants for grant purposes.
Have you received another grant from the City of Elgin for the 2026 calendar year?
C. Yes
0 No
Project Information
Brief description of program
Raices Financial Services provides free bilingual (English/Spanish) IRS VITA tax preparation, ITIN services,
and financial education to low- and moderate-income families in Elgin and Northern Illinois. Delivered in
partnership with organizations like Gail Borden Public Library and the YWCA, the program helps residents
file with confidence, access tax credits, and build long-term financial resilience.
Please provide a brief, 1-3 sentence description of your proposed project.
Target Audience
Low Income community members
Address/Location of Project(If Applicable)
Elgin Community
(Optional)Submit any additional items you feel are pertinent to the proposed project.
[Choose File No file chosen
Section 2-Statement of Understanding
If a grant is awarded, the Applicant agrees that:
• The activities and services for which assistance is sought will be administered under the supervision of the
applicant.
• The applicant has read and will conform to the program guidelines.
• The applicant organization will expend funds received as a result of the application solely on the project
and programs described herein.
• Any funds received under this grant shall not be used to supplant any budgeted funds.
• The applicant organization will comply with all laws, acts and ordinances of the United States,the State of
Illinois and the City of Elgin, and further fares that no person will be excluded from participation or be
denied the benefits of any program, activity or service on the basis of race, sex, sexual preference, color,
religion, ancestry, age, national origin, or disability. The applicant further agrees to make every attempt to
ensure the program is accessible to persons with disabilities.
• The figures, facts and representations in this application, including all exhibits and attachments, are true
and correct to the best of its knowledge and belief.
• Failure to follow these guidelines will disqualify you for future grants.
• Cancellation of funded projects will result in forfeiture of funds and funds must be returned within sixty
(60) days of the scheduled event or project.
I have reviewed and acknowledge each statement above.
.* Yes
No
All acknowledgements are required before submitting your application.
Sustainable Elgin Community Grant
Project Narrative
Launching Free Bilingual Tax Preparation and Financial Education in Elgin
Submitted by Raices Financial Services
Raices Financial Services is a startup nonprofit launching a bilingual (English/Spanish) IRS VITA tax preparation
program in Elgin, offering free tax filing, ITIN application assistance through our Certifying Acceptance Agent
(CAA) services, financial education, and FAFSA application assistance nights,to low-income families. Our first
filing season is centered on a clear, measurable goal: completing 250 free tax returns for households earning
$80,000 or below, while embedding community education at every step of the process. This project requests
grant support for the non-operational, launch-specific costs tied to that first season, including bilingual printed
materials and client intake packets, non-permanent signage marking our site as free and bilingual,volunteer
training materials, and a one-time community tax-education event introducing Elgin residents to the program
ahead of filing season. This work directly supports the City's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CAP)goals to
foster community engagement and collaboration (Goal 3) and deliver social and economic benefits to all
residents (Goal 4), recognizing that financial stability and resilience are foundational to a community's ability to
adapt, participate, and thrive.
Elgin currently lacks a dedicated, bilingual,free tax preparation provider serving its low-income Latino
community, leaving many families to pay for tax preparation they cannot afford or to miss out on credits such as
the Earned Income Tax Credit altogether. Raices addresses this gap directly, and does so at a timely moment:
roughly 10.4%of Elgin residents live below the poverty line, and median household income across the city sits at
$88,316, meaning many of the families we serve, earning$80,000 or below,fall well under that citywide figure.
Our program benefits low-income households throughout Elgin,with particular attention to Spanish-speaking
families who face language barriers to existing financial and tax resources. While Raices also serves DeKalb as
part of our broader mission, each community has its own distinct low-income population and needs,and this
project is scoped specifically to Elgin residents and Elgin facts, in line with this grant's eligibility requirements.
Beyond the direct benefit of free,accurate tax filing and larger refunds,families gain access to financial
education that helps them build lasting financial stability rather than a one-time transaction. This work is only
possible through collaboration: Raices is partnering with organizations including Gail Borden Public Library and
the YWCA to extend our outreach and community trust well beyond what our organization could achieve alone.
By meeting residents where they already go for support and communicating in the language they're most
comfortable in, we make participation genuinely accessible to households that have historically been left out of
these resources.
Outside of filing season, Raices will deliver two financial education presentations focused on budgeting for
emergencies and unexpected household expenses. Emergency costs are rarely optional, ranging from a broken-
down car to a failed refrigerator or water heater, and for a family living close to the margin a single appliance
replacement can undo months of saving.This is where utility incentive programs become a budgeting tool
rather than a footnote. ComEd offers income-eligible rebates and discounts on energy-efficient appliances
ranging from $7 to$550, and the households Raices serves fall squarely within those eligibility limits. Because
the appliance has to be replaced regardless,the rebate turns an unavoidable expense into a smaller one, and
the more efficient replacement continues lowering the household's monthly bill long after the purchase. Our
presentations will go beyond naming these programs to walking families through how to actually claim them,
including which forms to complete, what documentation is required, and where to submit them, because
awareness of a benefit means little without the confidence to pursue it. Raices is also open to partnering with
ComEd and other utility providers who can offer direct expertise on additional programs available to low-income
households.
Alongside these rebates, families will be introduced to the wider set of programs that reduce household energy
and water costs. LIHEAP provides assistance toward heating and electric bills with payments made directly to
the utility provider,and households that qualify are also enrolled in a low-income discount that lowers their
monthly bill going forward. The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program funds insulation, air sealing,
and HVAC repairs, permanently reducing what a home consumes rather than offsetting a single bill. Beyond
these, we will share information on water conservation assistance,Community Solar and Illinois Solar for All
opportunities, the City of Elgin's free home energy efficiency kits,and other City sustainability initiatives
available to residents.Teaching families to use these programs meets our financial literacy goals while directly
supporting community resilience and implementation of the City's Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. Raices will
help build the financial stability families rely on when climate-related challenges arise, including extreme
weather events and the rising utility costs that have become increasingly common in recent years. This
information will be shared through bilingual brochures available at our tax preparation sites and through
presentations built into our financial literacy programming. Because the households eligible for these energy
programs are largely the same families who qualify for our free tax services, reaching them through the
touchpoints we already have ensures the information gets to the residents who need it most.
Raices Financial Services was founded by an Elgin local with direct experience in accounting,tax preparation,
and nonprofit operations. Our founder grew up attending School District U46 and comes from a low-income
household herself, bringing a personal, firsthand commitment to giving back to the community that shaped her.
She earned her Associate's degree at Elgin Community College,further rooting our organization in the
community we serve. The organization is actively completing the steps required to operate as an official IRS VITA
site, including its Site Identification Number(SIDN) and Electronic Filing Identification Number(EFIN), and is
pursuing 501(c)(3) status in parallel. Our outreach, materials, and community education activities are scoped to
be completed well within the grant's required six-month window, timed to our first filing season. The primary
challenge we anticipate is building initial community awareness and trust as a brand-new organization;we are
addressing this directly through our partnerships with Gail Borden Public Library and the YWCA, both of which
have established,trusted relationships with the residents we aim to serve. While our full first-season operating
budget includes some standard operational costs that fall outside this grant's scope,the funding requested here
is directed solely toward specific, non-operational launch costs: printing and copying for bilingual materials and
signage across our variety of services, program supplies, postage for outreach, event-specific advertising to
promote our community tax-education events and financial literacy talks, and food and refreshments for those
events. No permanent equipment, capital expenditures, or general operating costs are included in this specific
request. Our first season will be staffed by IRS-certified volunteers,with recruitment underway toward a goal of
thirty trained volunteers, including students recruited from Elgin Community College and Northern Illinois
University.
Every family we serve leaves with a concrete outcome: a completed, accurate tax return, and in many cases, a
refund or credit they may not have otherwise claimed. Beyond individual tax preparation appointments, Raices
will host financial literacy talks and workshops in partnership with Gail Borden Public Library and the YWCA,
extending community education beyond the tax return itself and equipping residents with lasting tools for
budgeting, credit building, and long-term financial stability. Raices will pursue partnerships with local agencies
such as Community Contacts Inc and CEDA, along with utility providers including ComEd, whose staff can offer
families direct guidance on eligibility and enrollment for the energy and utility programs described above.This
project also deepens Raices' partnerships with these organizations, laying the foundation for continued joint
programming in future years. The bilingual materials and signage developed through this project are reusable in
future filing seasons and adaptable for other community organizations serving similar populations, extending
the project's value well beyond its first season. Most importantly,this project establishes Raices as a long-term,
trusted financial resource in Elgin,with the goal of returning year after year to reach more families and deepen
the community's financial resilience.
Grant expenditures will occur between January 1 and December 30, 2026, with all project activities completed
within the required six-month window. The expected timeline is outlined below.
Timeframe Milestone
Month 1 (Aug 2026) Grant award finalized; develop bilingual (English/Spanish) outreach materials
and signage in coordination with Gail Borden Public Library and the YWCA;
begin volunteer recruitment, including outreach to Elgin Community College
and Northern Illinois University.
Month 2 (Sep 2026) Distribute outreach materials and host a community tax-education event and
financial literacy talk at a partner location to introduce the VITA program
ahead of filing season, including the first of two presentations on budgeting
for emergency expenses and accessing utility rebate and energy assistance
programs.
Month 3 (Oct 2026) Continue community education and outreach, including the second financial
education presentation;finalize volunteer training and site logistics.
Month 4—5 (Nov—Dec Launch first VITA filing season at our Elgin site; ongoing financial literacy
2026) workshops and distribution of bilingual energy and water cost reduction
materials continue alongside tax preparation services.
Jan 2027 Submit final written report, receipts, and reimbursement request to the ESC
(by Jan 14, 2027).
Raices Financial Services
EXPENSES Estimated
BUDGET
Bilingual outreach and educational materials $225
• Printing and copying English/Spanish brochures,
flyers, and client intake packets.
Non-permanent signage $550
• Temporary signage identifying the site as a free,
bilingual tax preparation location.
Volunteer training materials and program supplies $225
• Materials needed to recruit and train IRS-certified
volunteers and support the launch of the
program.
Community outreach and advertising $250
• Event-specific advertising and outreach to
promote tax education events, financial literacy
workshops, and the VITA program.
Postage $75
• Mailing costs associated with community
outreach.
Community tax education and financial literacy events $225
• Costs associated with hosting a one-time free
community tax education event and ongoing
financial literacy talks.
Food and refreshments $375
• Refreshments for attendees at community
education events
Other Expenses $75
Total Expenses $2000
INCOME
Grants (*All of these are estimated)
-Non-government grants $150,000
- government grants $200,000
In kind donations $75,000
Other income
-Donated goods and services $500
i Total Income $425,500