Search Through Grants for Seniors in Illinois in the U.S.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

About Us

The Thing 1∙2∙3 Foundation is a Private Foundation focused on meeting the needs of children. Founded in 1999 by Jim and Nancy Ruprecht, the name was inspired by Dr. Suess’ book, The Cat In the Hat. Their children quickly identified with the Cat’s two helpers, Thing 1 and Thing 2. When the Ruprechts’ started the Foundation focused on helping children, the name was a natural way to reflect their love for their children and a desire to help other children.

Mission

The Mission of the Thing 123 Foundation is to provide support and resources to people and organizations on the front line providing services and programs to improve and enhance children’s lives.   

Grant Program

The Thing 123 Foundation has partnered with the Elmhurst-Community Challenge Grant. The goal of this grant program is to encourage business and community leaders within Elmhurst and the other seven communities served by the pantry to actively join in the fight against hunger affecting our neighbors. This Grant will match donations made by Business, and Community organizations toward helping the EYFP build a new Community Food Pantry facility. The Foundation will match one dollar for every two dollars donated, with a maximum of $100,000 donated by the Foundation through this grant.

Why?

Hunger is a silent epidemic that affects too many people in our community - children, working parents and seniors. Hunger and the availability of nutritious food is a serious problem in our communities, whether we want to recognize it or not. You know someone who is hungry! Too many times our neighbors have to choose between food and gas, rent and medicine, with the result being they go hungry each day. For over 30 years, the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry has been committed to helping people facing these choices, and continues to grow each year to meet the challenges of those in need.

• Hunger is not just a Chicago problem, or an inner city problem, or a rural problem. Talking with community leaders, school administrators, and church leaders, they are all keenly aware of that hunger is a problem in Elmhurst and the broader community.   
• Since 1999, the number of people living in poverty in the communities served by the Northern Illinois Food Banks has increased more than 50% to over 300,000 people, or 1 in 10 people in our communities.   
• The demand for EYFP’s services continues to grow. In just a little more than four years the number of clients served per month grew from 80 to 389.  
• Hunger affects all parts of our community, the elderly, children, and families.  
• The Pantry provides over 200,000 meals annually to our neighbors in Elmhurst and seven surrounding communities: Addison, Bensenville, Berkeley, Hillside, Lombard, and Oak Brook.

As one of the largest hunger relief organizations in Eastern DuPage County, the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry has grown from a faith-based mission of the Yorkfield Presbyterian Church to an independent, community-based food pantry with a broad reach in the communities it serves. Even with the EYFP’s hard work, the present demands already exceed the help that can be provided through its current facility.  

Illinois Community College Board

In 1965, the Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Community College Board to create a system of public community colleges that would be accessible to every resident. More than 50 years later, the Illinois Community College System is the third largest system in the United States, with 48 colleges and one multi-community college center throughout Illinois. The community colleges serve over 500,000 Illinois residents each year in credit and noncredit courses and serve many more through public service programs.

Dual Enrolled Students Academic Pathways

Short Description

Implement a comprehensive student support program aligned with labor market demand and economic opportunity. A small cohort of community colleges and K-12 districts will be engaged in programming to produce student outcome milestones. If key student outcome milestones are reached, this program may demonstrate measures to boost dual credit and dual enrollment outcomes across the state.

Objective

Community college partners will be trained to deliver direct student supports to participating scholars. These financial, academic, personal and professional supports will begin their senior year of high school and continue at least through the participants’ first year of community college. Through one or more cooperative agreements with public community colleges, the program will facilitate collaboration between stakeholders to implement this programming in support of students.

Program Accomplishments

Participating in the program should lead to significantly better educational outcomes and career pathways for targeted student populations.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Background

McGraw Foundation, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, makes annual grants to not-for-profit organizations.  The Foundation’s areas of interest involve the fields of conservation, educational programs at all levels, and human services. Occasionally, grants are made in other areas such as health, medical research and cultural.

Grant requests are suggested to be within a range of $2,000 to $10,000. Grant recipients and amounts will be determined by several criteria. Naturally, availability of funds is a key factor.

The Foundation will occasionally make large grants ($25,000 or more) to support unusually promising efforts in any of its areas of interest. Innovative research, special education, and/or other activities will be considered if the Foundation’s support would assist an effort or a project in making a significant impact.

Areas of Focus

Education: Higher

The Foundation has been a pioneer in support of environmental education at the highest level by establishing three chaired professorships. 

Education: Elementary & Special

McGraw Foundation supports a wide array of organizations that focus on assisting the education and advancement of children as well as adults. McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.

In addition to F.A.I.T.H., McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.

Human Services

Since 1949, McGraw Foundation has been concerned with helping people in need. While the emphasis is on organizations serving children, funding also extends to people of all ages.

Children's issues such as these have been supported throughout the years:

• child welfare
• foster care and adoption
• family counseling
• enriching summer camps
• crisis intervention

Funding for quality-of-life issues for people of all ages has included:

• developmental disabilities
• health clinics
• domestic violence
• housing and homelessness
• job training and continued support
• seniors needs

Health & Medical 

Since its inception, McGraw Foundation has made grants in the health and medical fields.  Health and medical funding has included:

• specific medical research
• rehabilitation
• support programs for patients and their families
• medical attention for people without health insurance
• palliative care and hospice organizations

Civic & Cultural

Complimenting it's main focus on education and the environment, McGraw Foundation has supported some of Chicago's distinctive cultural and arts organizations.

Areas of interest include zoological societies' animal conservation, public communication, musical organizations, and civic organizations' promotion of science and the general welfare of society.

Mission

The Retirement Research Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our nation’s older adults. RRF is one of the first private foundations devoted exclusively to aging and retirement issues. As the issues facing an aging population gain ever-greater urgency, the Foundation remains committed to supporting innovative solutions that enhance the lives of older Americans.

Responsive Grants - Advocacy

The Retirement Research Foundation funds advocacy projects that have a regional or national impact for older Americans. Of particular interest are projects that:

• Advance policy issues of critical importance to our nation’s seniors such as economic security, health care, housing, etc. 
• Use clearly focused and strategic efforts to address systemic problems;
• Forge partnerships with organizations to achieve better use of resources and to share knowledge.

Organizations applying for Advocacy Grants will:

• Maintain a separation between their lobbying and advocacy work;  
• Describe the activities to be funded by RRF;
• Acknowledge in writing that RRF funds will not be used for lobbying efforts.

About Us

The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln accepts grant applications for several programs and charitable funds throughout the year. The Community Foundation encourages nonprofit organizations in Sangamon, Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, and Morgan counties to apply for funding from our competitive grantmaking funds when eligible.

King’s Daughters Organization Fund

The King’s Daughters Organization (KDO) mission is to support the well-being of and to charitably aid the elderly in Sangamon County.

In 2007, the KDO established a donor advised fund through the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln with assets from the closure of the King’s Daughters Home in Springfield, Illinois.

Issue: Senior Citizen Programs

Area: Sangamon County

The purpose and goals of the King's Daughters Organization Fund grants are to provide financial support to programs and services of charitable organizations that:

• Enhance the quality of life for older residents of Sangamon County.
• Address the unmet needs of older residents of Sangamon County.

Funding

Awards will range from $2,500 to $25,000, depending on availability of funds. 

Section 5310 Program

The Section 5310 – Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities is part of the Competitive Programs that East-West Gateway Council of Governments (EWG) administers. Section 5310 projects, like all federally funded transportation projects, are included in the Transportation Improvement Program that EWG develops for the St. Louis region. The Section 5310 program provides federal funding to improve mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. Certain portions of the St. Louis region are in the St. Louis, MO-IL Urbanized Area (St. Louis UZA).

The St. Louis UZA is a large urbanized area and must have a public entity that is designated as the recipient of Section 5310 funding. EWG, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), and Bi-State Development are the co-designated recipients of Section 5310 funding for the St. Louis UZA.

Community Needs Grants

The DeKalb County Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant program supports requests for capital assets or equipment associated with various projects, renovations of existing facilities, and services throughout DeKalb County, Illinois.

Funding Areas

The Community Foundation provides Community Needs Grants in the following areas:

• Arts and Culture – Supports organizations that provide opportunities for access, participation, education, awareness, and appreciation for a variety of arts and cultural experiences.
• Community Development – Supports organizations that focus broadly on strengthening, protecting, unifying, and building the economic, cultural, and social services of a community.
• Education – Supports organizations that provide educational opportunities from birth to adulthood.
• Environment and Animal Welfare – Supports organizations whose primary purpose is to preserve, protect, conserve, and improve the environment. Animal Welfare supports organizations that promote the well-being of animals.
• Health and Human Services – Supports organizations that provide essential programs and services addressing basic human needs to children, youth, adults, and senior citizens, and/or promoting physical and mental health.

Funding

The maximum amount that can be requested in an application is $20,000.

About

The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency.

AmeriCorps Formula Fixed

Program Description

This funding opportunity is open to new applicants and one continuation applicant. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by IDHS/Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee.

Program Summary

AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. The primary objective for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is to serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

AmeriCorps National grants are awarded to eligible organizations, proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence- informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. AmeriCorps National grants are administered in Illinois by a state commission, Serve Illinois, under the purview of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

About

The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency.

AmeriCorps Formula Traditional

Program Description

This funding opportunity is open to new, recompete, and continuation applicants. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by IDHS/Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee.

Program Summary

AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. The primary objective for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is to serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

An AmeriCorps member is an individual who engages in community service through an approved national service position. Members may receive a living allowance and other benefits while serving. Upon successful completion of their service, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that they can use to pay for higher education expenses or apply to qualified student loans.

AmeriCorps National grants are awarded to eligible organizations, proposing to engage AmeriCorps members in evidence-based or evidence- informed interventions/practices to strengthen communities. AmeriCorps National grants are administered in Illinois by a state commission, Serve Illinois, under the purview of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

About

The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency.

AmeriCorps Planning Grant

Program Description

This funding opportunity is open to applicants new to AmeriCorps funding. Any applicants selected for funding will be notified by IDHS/Serve Illinois and a contract will be sent requiring a signature from the program designee.

Program Summary

AmeriCorps State and National (ASN) Program improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. AmeriCorps brings people together to tackle some of the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteerism. The primary objective for AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers is to serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities and those serving. AmeriCorps helps make service a cornerstone of our national culture.

Serve Illinois planning grants provide support to a grant recipient to develop an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members in implementing evidence-based interventions to solve community problems. Grant recipients are awarded up to $125,000 for a 12-month planning period and are encouraged to compete for an AmeriCorps program grant in the following grant cycle if they deem the fit with AmeriCorps to be of use to their community. A planning grant may not be used to support AmeriCorps members. Please note that being awarded a planning grant for one year does not guarantee the applicant will be awarded a full cost reimbursement grant in the future nor does it guarantee the applicant will be awarded an additional planning grant in the future.

Organizations that propose to operate only in Illinois must apply through Serve Illinois. Organizations that propose to operate AmeriCorps programs in more than one State or Territory must access the federal planning grant guidance on the AmeriCorps website.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

Community Based Services for Equal Distribution to each of the 13 Area Agencies on Aging

The purpose of these Equal Distribution Grant funds are to supplement federal Older Americans Act funding, to maximize the quality of life of older persons. The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) provides federal Older Americans Act funds (Title III) and State Funds to regional Area Agencies on Aging for this purpose. The State of Illinois is divided into 13 Planning and Service Areas (PSAs), each with its own Area Agency on Aging, to stimulate the development or enhancement of coordinated community-based systems, resulting in a continuum of services to persons age 60 and older. These services help seniors stay as independent as possible in their homes and communities and avoid hospitalization and nursing home care. Using an intrastate funding formula, IDoA awards sub grants under each approved Area Agency on Aging Area Plan. The funding formula reflects the proportion among the Planning and Service Areas of persons age 60 and over in greatest economic or social need, with particular attention to low-income minority individuals and those at risk of institutionalization. The Area Agencies on Aging in turn make sub grants to local service providers, while advocating and representing the best interests of older persons and their caregivers.

Senior Health Assistance Program - BAA Reimbursement

Tobacco Settlement Recovery Funds and federal grants funds have been earmarked for the Department to provide educational outreach and enrollment/application assistance on Medicare Part D drug plans, Social Security's Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, Seniors Free Transit Ride, Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride, and the Secretary of State's License Plate Discount Program through the network of Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers.

The Benefit Access Application grant funds are to be used for the following purposes:

• Provide information and assistance services for the completion of applications relating to the Seniors Free Transit Ride, Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride, and the Secretary of State’s License Plate Discount Program.
• Provide technical assistance on applications relating to the Seniors Free Transit Ride, Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride, and the Secretary of State’s License Plate Discount Program.

The purpose of the Older Americans Act is to maximize the quality of life of older persons. The Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) provides federal Older Americans Act funds (Title III) and State General Revenue Funds (GRF) to regional Area Agencies on Aging for this purpose.

The grants fund a broad array of services that enable older adults to remain in their homes for as long as possible. These services include, but are not limited, to:

• Access to services such as transportation, case management, and information and assistance;
• In-home services such as personal care, chores, and homemaker assistance; and
• Community services such as legal services, mental health services, and adult daycare

This program also funds multi-purpose senior centers that coordinate and integrate services for older adults such as congregate meals, community education, health screening, exercise/health promotion programs, and transportation.

The State of Illinois is divided into 13 Planning and Service Areas (PSAs), each with its own Area Agency on Aging, to stimulate the development or enhancement of coordinated community-based systems, resulting in a continuum of services to persons age 60 and older. These services help seniors stay as independent as possible in their homes and communities, and avoid hospitalization and nursing home care. Using an intrastate funding formula, IDoA awards sub-grants under each approved Area Agency on Aging Area Plan. The funding formula reflects the proportion among the Planning and Service Areas of persons age 60 and over in greatest economic or social need, with particular attention to low-income minority individuals and those at risk of institutionalization. The Area Agencies on Aging in turn make sub-grants to local service providers, while advocating and representing the best interests of older persons and their caregivers.

What is the Lumpkin Family Foundation?

Who we are: The Lumpkin Family Foundation is a private, family foundation created in 1953 from the estate of Besse A. Lumpkin of Mattoon, Illinois. We are a multi-generational, family-governed organization whose programs reflect the collective aspirations of a diverse family living in communities across the country.

We make grants and conduct programs that support people working together to build healthy, sustainable communities in East Central Illinois and beyond.

Where we work: We are devoted to the region of East Central Illinois, where the Lumpkin family operated a business for more than 100 years. However, we look at the world holistically, through a systems lens, and direct resources elsewhere when it aligns with our goals.

How we work: We understand the Foundation's role as existing along a continuum - from responsive grant-making to the execution of our own programs that aim to spur innovation, foster leadership and encourage new approaches to old problems.

Wellness Grants for Leaders and Frontline Workers

The Lumpkin Family Foundation (LFF) recognizes that burnout is a constant threat to the sustainability of our grantee organizations and would be remiss if we did not prioritize the mental wellness of the people who lead, manage, and labor on the frontlines within the communities in which they serve. To that end, LFF has developed the Wellness Grant program to support the mental health and wellbeing of grantee staff and leaders.

Sabbatical Leave: New this year, organizations can apply for up to $10,000 toward sabbatical leave for a senior leader (e.g., Executive Director, President/CEO, or another senior leader). Sabbaticals must be a minimum of 6 weeks in duration and adhere to the leave or sabbatical policies of the organization applying for funding.*

Wellness Grants: Non-profit organizations that have received LFF funding during the last 3 years (2022-2025) may apply for funding to support the mental health and wellness of their leaders and staff. These are one-time grants of up to $2,500. Organizations may apply for this funding in addition to other funding opportunities as outlined on our website.

Background

The IEJF administers the State of Illinois’ appropriation for Civil Legal Aid, which is housed in the Attorney General’s budget. Attorney General Raoul requested and received $5,000,000 for the state appropriation for civil legal aid this year. The budget for this year's grants will be approximately $4.8 million

With this funding, we support programs that:

• Help people access basic needs
• Protect victims of domestic violence
• Recover funds for seniors victimized by fraud
• Help people resolve family crises

Purposes

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation makes Civil Legal Aid grants in five categories:

• Legal Information for the Public
• Self Help Legal Assistance Projects
• Mediation Services
• Telephone Advice & Referral Services
• Civil Legal Assistance

At its discretion, the Board may also request proposals from non-profit organizations to conduct research, training and technical assistance regarding legal information for the public, mediation, telephone advice and referral services and/or civil legal assistance.

The mission of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and quality of life.

The Department has an annual budget of over $1.6 billion and provides both federal and state funding to a network of community-based providers throughout the State of Illinois that provide services and supports to older adults to help them remain in their homes and communities. The Department also monitors the community-based providers that comprise the Aging Network to ensure high-quality and culturally appropriate services. IDoA administers the largest Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) Medicaid waiver in the state, the Persons Who are Elderly Waiver. This waiver, also known as the Community Care Program (CCP), serves over 150,000 older adults age 60+ in the State of Illinois. Under CCP, eligible older adults may receive services such as in-home care, adult day service, emergency home response technology, and medication dispensing technology.

Retired and Senior Volunteer Program

Short Description

The purpose of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is to engage persons 55 years of age and older in volunteer service to meet critical needs and to provide a high quality of experience that will enrich the lives of the volunteers. Funds will be used to match and/or complement the federal funds the Grantee receives from the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Objective

The purpose of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is to engage persons 55 years of age and older in volunteer service to meet critical community needs and to provide a high quality experience that will enrich the lives of the volunteers. RSVP volunteers have developed a lifetime of skills, talents, experience and work ethic that makes them a valuable resource in their community. RSVP recognizes the strength and wisdom of these older adults and places them in assignments that maximize and utilize their time and abilities. The Retired Senior and Volunteer Program is an opportunity to identify and provide meaningful volunteer opportunities for seniors and assist not-for-profit agencies and other organizations in meeting their needs and goals. RSVP offers “one stop shopping” for all volunteers 55 and over who want to find challenging, rewarding, and significant service opportunities in their communities.

Matching Requirements

Individuals age 55 and older utilize their skills and experiences to help their communities. They can serve from a few hours a week to forty hours a week in one or more efforts. Volunteers receive a pre-service orientation, followed by on-the-job training from the agency or organization where they are placed. While on duty, volunteers also receive supplemental insurance.

Illinois Department of Aging

The mission of the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) is to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and quality of life.

The Department has an annual budget of over $1.6 billion and provides both federal and state funding to a network of community-based providers throughout the State of Illinois that provide services and supports to older adults to help them remain in their homes and communities. The Department also monitors the community-based providers that comprise the Aging Network to ensure high-quality and culturally appropriate services. IDoA administers the largest Home and Community-Based Service (HCBS) Medicaid waiver in the state, the Persons Who are Elderly Waiver. This waiver, also known as the Community Care Program (CCP), serves over 150,000 older adults age 60+ in the State of Illinois. Under CCP, eligible older adults may receive services such as in-home care, adult day service, emergency home response technology, and medication dispensing technology.

Foster Grandparent Program

Short Description

The purpose of the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) is to provide limited income to seniors who are 55 years of age and older and the opportunity to serve as one-on-one tutors and mentors to many young people who have special needs in our schools. Forster Grandparents are role models, mentors, and friends to children with exceptional needs. FGP volunteers have developed a lifetime of skills, talents, experience and work ethic that makes them a valuable resource in their communities. Funds are to be used to meet the federal program matching requirement. Grantees are funded through the federal grant AmeriCorps Seniors. For 2024, 417 Foster Grandparents provided 423,819 volunteer hours of service and served 3,670 children.

Objective

Foster Grandparents serve 15 to 40 hours per week in locations including schools, hospitals, juvenile correctional institutions, daycare facilities or Head Start centers. Volunteers receive per-service orientation, training from the organization where they serve, supplemental accident and liability insurance, and meals while on duty. Volunteers who meet certain income guidelines also receive a small stipend.

Matching Requirements

To be a volunteer in the Foster Grandparents Program, you must:

• be at least 55 years of age;
• meet certain income eligibility requirements;
• love children; and
• be willing to volunteer 20 hours a week.

Illinois Department of Public Health

Assuring the quality of our food, setting the standards for hospital and nursing home care, checking the safety of recreation areas, overseeing the inspection of milk producing farms and processing plants, maintaining the state's vital records and screening newborns for genetic diseases are just some of the duties of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

IDPH is organized into 12 offices, each of which addresses a distinct area of public health. Each office operates and supports numerous ongoing programs and is prepared to respond to extraordinary situations as they arise.

Mission Statement: The Illinois Department of Public Health is an advocate for and partner with the people of Illinois to re-envision health policy and promote health equity, prevent and protect against disease and injury, and prepare for health emergencies.

Improving Blood Pressure Control Through Community-Clinical Linkages

Program Description

The purpose of this funding opportunity is for the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) to work with community-based and community-focused organizations to:

• Increase community-clinical links to identify and respond to social services and support needs for populations at highest risk of cardiovascular disease with a focus on hypertension,
• Increase multidisciplinary partnerships that address identified barriers to social services and support needs within populations at highest risk for cardiovascular disease,
• Improve blood pressure control among populations within partner and community settings,
• Reduce disparities in blood pressure control among populations within partner and community settings, and
• Increase utilization of social services and support among populations at highest risk of cardiovascular disease to improve health outcomes.

Objective

Increased use of community-clinical linkages to improve blood pressure control; reduced disparities in blood pressure control; increased identification of social determinants of health that prevent individuals from achieving optimal health outcomes; and increased use of social services and support resources to improve cardiovascular health outcomes.

Objective

The objective of the Social Services Grant (SSG) Program is to enhance social service activities for community benefit.

Strategy

Provision of financial support for enhancement of social services (including labor, supplies, and materials) including, but not limited to those concerned with employment, crime prevention, child care, health, drug abuse, education, fair housing counseling, energy conservation, emergency financial assistance, recreational needs, senior services, or training for local agencies and institutions. The grant year starts on January 1 and ends on December 31.

Funding Priorities

The Social Services Grant was established with five main priorities in mind. Those priorities and eligible activities are listed below. Depending on emerging community needs, Staff performs assessment each year to determine if additional funding priorities should be emphasized.

• Emergency Services
  • Provide funding for emergency shelter
  • Food and personal care items
  • Emergency assistance
• Seniors
  • Respite care
  • Meal delivery
  • Home sharing
  • Mental health counseling
• Self-Sufficiency
  • Medical care for the uninsured
  • Financial counseling
  • Childcare
  • Employment services
  • Counseling/Substance abuse services/Case management
• Special Populations: Individuals with mental, physical and developmental disabilities
  • Caregiver support/Respite services
  • Community integration/Socialization/Independent living skills
• Youth
  • Mentoring
  • Counseling
  • Pregnancy prevention/education

Transportation is a priority in each category to fund the following objectives:

• Provide subsidy for a public transit voucher program.
• Provide subsidy for a gas voucher program.
• Provide subsidy for a taxi voucher program.

Deaconess Foundation

Our Mission

In the spirit of our faith heritage, the mission of Deaconess Foundation is the improved health of the community and people of Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

Our Vision

Deaconess Foundation envisions a community that values the health and well-being of all and gives priority attention to the most invisiblized. This community only thrives if the allocation of power and distribution of resources, benefits, opportunities and burdens are not predictable by, nor predicated on race.

Seniors Community Revitalization & Development Fund

The Seniors Community Revitalization & Development Fund (Seniors Community Fund) aims to improve the public health system infrastructure to better serve residents 55 years of age and older and promote transparency and accountability. The Seniors Community Fund is done in partnership with the St. Louis Regional Health Commission to support services for seniors in the region.

Priority Areas

Proposals must support services for seniors ages 55 and above in one or more of the following priority areas:

• Transportation
  • includes transportation to more than just health-related services (transportation to grocery stores, self-care appointments, social activities, etc.)
• Safety
  • focuses on measures that increase overall safety AND the feeling of safety within neighborhoods (outdoor lighting, home maintenance and landscaping, security cameras)
• Navigation Support
  • includes support staff or programming that makes accessing social and health services more transparent, understandable, and accessible for seniors.

Funding

Applicants can request and be awarded up to $30,000 for each proposal.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Funding Opportunity Description

The SHIP mission is to empower, educate, and assist Medicare-eligible individuals, their families, and caregivers through objective outreach, counseling, and training, to make informed health insurance decisions that optimize access to care and benefits. The purpose of the SHIP Base Grant is to strengthen the capability of states and territories to support a community-based, local network of SHIP offices that provide personalized counseling, education, and outreach to help achieve the program mission.

The SHIP vision is to be the known and trusted community resource for Medicare information. Four strategic themes provide support for that vision. They are:

• Service Excellence
• Capacity Building
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation

Within each theme are a series of goals and objectives that can be used to achieve the overall vision for the project.

Program Information

State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) Basic Grant 5 years funding for the IL Department on Aging, Senior Health Insurance Program.

The primary objective of this funding opportunity is to demonstrate how funds received will be used to enhance the SHIP local network through outreach efforts, one-on-one counseling, and partnership building such as issuing sub awards to SHIP sites in the applicable PSA. Funds are to be used to support locally accessible counseling services and efforts to meet the below identified SHIP objectives of this grant:

• Provide funding to all eligible SHIP sites within the applicable PSA.
• Sub-grant to local SHIP sites to provide accurate, objective, and comprehensive counseling and assistance.
• Educate local SHIP sites on the latest changes in Medicare plans and and advise clients on the various types of Medicare coverage such as Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Part D plans.
• Support local SHIP sites as they provide beneficiaries access to enrollment assistance through the locally based SHIP sites performing Medicare plan analysis and enrollment via Medicare.gov website tools.
• Support local SHIP sites as they counsel beneficiaries on their retiree insurance benefits or Medicare supplement insurance policies, including performing Medicare supplemental policy quotes on the Medigap Plan Finder.
• Support local SHIP sites as they are assisting beneficiaries with enrollment in the Medicare Part D Extra Help/Low-Income Subsidy (LIS) program by using the on-line application through the Social Security Administration (SSA) website.
• Support local SHIP sites to assist beneficiaries with the Medicare Savings Program application located on the Application for Benefit Eligibility website (ABE system) at https://www.abe.illinois.gov/abe/access.
• Support local SHIP sites assisting beneficiaries in determining which forms of coverage best meet an individual’s coverage needs (for example, considerations relative to enrollment in Medicaid with a spend down or changing Medicare drug plans to save the beneficiary additional out-of-pocket expenses) utilizing innovative approaches to enhance beneficiaries' understanding of all programs, coverages and how each interact and impact the lives of the beneficiaries.
• Mandate a quality initiative for outreach conducted through a Medicare Group Education Satisfaction Survey quarterly.
• Support local SHIP sites to conduct outreach (in person, virtually via Zoom, Skype, WebEx, etc.) to educate Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers about choices for Medicare coverage and their Rights and Guarantees under Medicare law; and promote awareness of the SHI program through locally based media, radio and website public service announcements, and social media platforms such as Facebook or X (formerly Twitter).
• Footnote all materials developed with this grant, i.e. flyers, brochures, pamphlets, PowerPoint presentations, social media, etc. as ACL, as the funding source