ComEd Powering the Holidays Program
Recognizing the power that holidays can have on a community, ComEd has partnered with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus to launch the fourth year of the ComEd Powering the Holidays Program. This program awards grants of up to $2,500 throughout ComEd’s service territory for community-based holiday lights events.
Key Dates
Applications for the 2024 grant cycle have been awarded. You may see the list of grant recipients here.
Applications for the 2025 grant cycle will open in July of 2025.
Goals
The ComEd Powering the Holidays Program aims to:
(1) celebrate community identity and culture;
(2) provide an opportunity for intercultural exchange and understanding;
(3) foster respect and open-mindedness for different cultures;
(4) develop an appreciation, understanding and respect for what is important to neighbors and others in their community;
(5) and provide a pathway for people to gain a sense of belonging to their community.
Eligibility
Powering the Holidays will provide grants of up to $2,500 for community-based holiday lights events. Grant recipients must use their funds for any holiday between November 1st, 2024 – February 13th, 2025.
Municipalities, townships, counties, and other local governments located within ComEd’s service territory (see map) in the following counties: Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Ford, Grundy, Henry, Iroquois, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Marshall, McHenry, Ogle, Rock Island, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.
2022 and 2023 Powering the Holidays grant recipients are ineligible.
Not-for-profit organizations and cultural institutions are eligible to apply if they partner with at least one municipality. Not-for-profit organizations and cultural institution applications must demonstrate municipal support to be considered for funding.
All events must adhere to federal, state, and local policies. All events must be deemed safe by authorities.
All events must provide an opportunity for attendance by the general public. Events can be private and have attendance caps, but the general public must be able to attend an event or community-based holiday configuration for free on occasion.
Sustainability and efficiency are key values to ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus; therefore, applicants must demonstrate a reuse case for the holiday event and materials purchased with grant assistance. The grant cannot be used as a “one-off” occasion.
Applicants must match at least 20% for the event.
Please contact the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus if your community is facing financial hardship and is unable to provide the 20% match. We reserve the right to waive this match on a case-by-case basis.
Applicants must be in good standing with ComEd related to provision of utilities.
Grant Conditions
Grants will be for the amount of up to $2,500. During the grant period, award recipients will agree to participate in media or press interactions.
All events must follow all federal, state, and local policies to ensure the safety and health of attendees.
Successful applicants will be notified of a grant award and will enter into a grant agreement with the Metropolitan Mayor Caucus.
Reimbursement payments will be made promptly by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus upon completion of the final report. Final reports can be submitted by March 1, 2025 or earlier. Failure to submit a final grant report with all the required attachments by the posted deadline may prohibit applicants from participating in any future grant cycles.
The administrator of the ComEd Powering the Holidays program is the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
Applications are accepted here.
Decisions on grant awards will be announced by the end of October 2024. All communication regarding your application, including the grant decision, will be directed to the contact person listed on your application.
Partial funding is possible for your project.
Support letters are strongly encouraged for your application to demonstrate community support.
Email Ben Schnelle at bschnelle@mayorscaucus.org with any questions or comments.
Application Components
1. Enter a Title for your project.
2. Upload a cover letter signed by the Mayor/Village President or Village/City Manager. Non-profits and cultural institutions must submit a cover letter by their Chief Executive along with municipal letter(s) of support.
3. Provide applicant organization name and point of contact information. The point of contact will be contacted regarding the grant decision.
4. Submit a project description (700 word limit).
5. Grant funds requested amount.
6. Proposed Match: Needs to be at least 20% of grant request.
7. Work Plan Narrative: Please outline and detail the steps your community will take to implement your event.
8. Outcomes and leveraged benefits.
9. Provide a needs statement.
10. Ensure safety of all attendees/participants.
11. Upload support letters.
12. Provide additional comments.
Previous Recipients List
For the full list of 2024 Powering the Holidays grant recipients, please click here.
For the full list of 2023 Powering the Holidays grant recipients, please click here.
For the full list of 2022 Powering the Holidays grant recipients, please click here.
For the full list of 2021 Powering the Holidays grant recipients, please click here.
Other ComEd Grant Opportunities
Click here to learn more about ComEd’s Green Region and Powering the Arts Programs.