Best Grants for Grassroots Organizations in Illinois

The Coaching Enhancement Grant - Division II aims to enhance diversity in NCAA coaching by providing financial support for new assistant coaching positions. This grant specifically targets increased representation of ethnic minorities and women in athletics. Selected schools receive funding for three years to cover salaries and benefits, totaling $370,000 annually for up to 21 institutions. Eligible schools must be active NCAA Division II members committed to these diversity efforts.

Illinois Department of Human Services

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.

Our Mission: We respond to the needs of all people in Illinois so they can lead healthy, safe, and enriched lives.

590 Crisis Care System

Program Description

Building a Unified Crisis Continuum

Under the leadership of the Chief Behavioral Health Officer (CBHO), the Illinois Department of Human Services - Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery (DBHR) and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) are partnering closely to advance a unified, comprehensive crisis response framework known as the Illinois Unified Crisis Continuum (UCC). Using the UCC framework, Illinois is adapting and implementing the Three Essential Elements of SAMHSA's 2025 National Guidelines for a Behavioral Health Coordinated System of Crisis Care: someone to contact, someone to respond, and a safe place for help. In doing so, the State is ensuring that individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, have equitable access to timely, appropriate, high-quality crisis care and follow up in a community setting.

Achieving this vision requires interagency alignment on crisis service definitions and expectations, allowing for the maximization of federal financial participation through the Illinois Medicaid program whenever possible. Doing so reserves DBHR's grant funding for serving individuals who receive crisis services and are uninsured or underinsured, including those not enrolled in one of the medical assistance programs administered by HFS.

This program supports the someone to respond element of the continuum in alignment with the State's overall UCC vision and plan.

The Strategic Alliance Matching Grant - Division II offers financial support to enhance ethnic minority and gender representation in mid- to senior-level athletics administration roles across NCAA Division II institutions. With an annual budget of $860,000, the grant aims to fund up to 20 schools and conferences each year. Eligible applicants must be active Division II members and are encouraged to collaborate with their human resources departments during the proposal process, ensuring compliance with grant requirements.

The Stimulating Hematology Investigation: New Endeavors (SHINE) program aims to enhance nonmalignant hematology research aligned with the goals of the NIDDK, NIA, and NHLBI. It invites R01 grant applications focused on innovative and early translational hematology topics, fostering growth in this critical research area. Key deadlines for applications span from February 2025 to October 2027, allowing for both standard and renewal submissions.

The Anderson-Rogers Foundation Grant supports U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations focused on environmental protection, animal welfare, climate change mitigation, and social support. Established in 2001, this family foundation prioritizes innovative projects and general operating support for small organizations facing financial constraints. Note that applicants must first submit a letter of inquiry, as the foundation does not fund scholarships or grants to individuals or religious organizations, nor does it support organizations outside the U.S.

FY27 Caregiver Support

Description 

To assist Planning and Service Areas, in providing multifaceted systems of support services for:

(1) Family caregivers;

(2) older relative caregivers.

Services to be provided include:

• information to caregivers about available services;
• assistance to caregivers in gaining access to the services;
• individual counseling, and caregiver training to caregivers to assist the caregivers in making decisions and solving problems relating to their caregiving roles;
• respite care to enable caregivers to be temporarily relieved from their caregiving responsibilities;
• and supplemental services, on a limited basis, to complement the care provided by caregivers.

The Grand Haven Offshore Challenge Scholarship, offered by the Grand Haven Area Community Foundation, supports students pursuing studies in natural resources, including fisheries and wildlife. This scholarship is available for applicants attending any public or private college or university. The fund was established to honor community contributions towards environmental preservation and is awarded based on academic merit and financial need. Apply once for all scholarships you may qualify for to streamline your application process.

The Residential Sharps Collection Program, funded by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, offers $600,000 to local governments for the collection, storage, and disposal of household sharps. Eligible costs include advertising, educational materials, and transportation fees. Each local government can receive up to $35,000 to ensure safe disposal practices, enhancing community health and environmental safety. This initiative aims to facilitate proper sharps disposal and reduce risks associated with improper handling.

The NSLP Equipment Assistance Grant, provided by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, aims to support Illinois schools in acquiring essential equipment for the National School Lunch Program. With grants up to $25,000, eligible School Food Authorities can purchase or refurbish equipment to enhance meal quality, ensure food safety, and promote healthier eating habits. This initiative is vital for improving school meal programs and increasing access to nutritious options for students.

Grant & Sponsorship Requests

The University of Chicago Medicine is committed to improving the health of residents in our South Side and Southland service areas. In addition to providing advanced medical care, research and medical education, UChicago Medicine collaborates with organizations that are committed to making a difference in their communities.

We believe partnering with like-minded organizations that share our vision and values is one way to work collaboratively to positively impact change in our community. As part of this commitment, UChicago Medicine and UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial Hospital offer community grant and the sponsorship opportunities. These opportunities extend financial support to local not-for-profit, community-based organizations to provide health-related services and programming for at-risk and underserved populations.

Community Benefit Grants and Sponsorships in Chicago

UChicago Medicine offers community benefit grants and sponsorships to partnering community organizations based within the 12 zip codes of our South Side service area.

UChicago Medicine’s community benefit grants focus on one or more of our health priority areas — as outlined in our Community Health Needs Assessment and Strategic Implementation Plan — to ensure that each priority area receives attention.

UCM Community Benefit Grants – Community Health

The University of Chicago Medicine (UCM) Urban Health Initiative is pleased to announce a grant opportunity for community-based organizations. The purpose of this funding is to improve the health and well-being of residents on Chicago’s South Side, as outlined in the University of Chicago Medical Center Strategic Implementation Plan.

In recognition of the need for additional streams of funding available to South Side social service organizations, these grants aim to provide critical support for individuals affected by heart disease and/or diabetes. Please review the RFP for more details.

The Connecting Joy Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to enhance the hospital experience for children battling illness through engaging gaming programs. This initiative supports children's hospitals and nonprofits by funding equipment, staffing, and connectivity, ensuring children can enjoy gaming at their bedside. With grants ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, the program focuses on offering joy and distraction, helping young patients cope with their hospital stays while facilitating connections with peers.

The SBIR/STTR Match Program, offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, provides state funding to support small businesses that have received federal grants through the SBIR and STTR programs. This initiative encourages innovation by facilitating research and development of high-tech products with potential federal interest. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are depleted, ensuring timely support for eligible companies.

The Dunkin’ Prom Grant, provided by the Joy in Childhood Foundation, aims to bring joy to teenage patients unable to attend their own prom due to illness. By funding hospitals to host prom-like events, the program ensures these patients experience this significant milestone. Grants typically range from $20,000 to $50,000, supporting the creation of memorable events with themes, food, entertainment, and formal wear for the teens, making a positive impact in their lives.

The Mazamas is committed to exploring and preserving mountain environments in the Pacific Northwest through research grants. These grants support nonprofit research that aligns with the Mazamas’ mission, encouraging proposals from graduate and undergraduate students. Successful applicants often conduct field studies that enhance understanding of the region's natural features. Notably, the Mazamas also welcome innovative research ideas that may fall outside traditional grant guidelines, promoting a diverse range of scientific inquiry.

The Illinois Civil Money Penalty Reinvestment Plan aims to enhance the quality of care and life for nursing home residents through grants funded by civil monetary penalties from non-compliant nursing homes. Starting in 2022, the Illinois Department of Public Health will administer these grants, focusing on projects that support resident care improvement, cultural change, and staff training, while ensuring compliance with federal regulations.

The Exhibitions Abroad Support Grant Program, initiated by the Japan Foundation in New York, offers financial aid to U.S. museums and art institutions organizing exhibitions that showcase Japanese art and culture internationally. This program supports a range of events, including biennials and triennials featuring Japanese artists. Eligible applicants are non-profit organizations from designated states, with a focus on promoting cultural exchange and understanding through art.

The Reproductive Health Security Grant, issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health, aims to bolster security for reproductive health care facilities at risk of violence, especially following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision. This funding opportunity, totaling up to $2 million, will support organizations providing essential reproductive health services, including abortion, in Illinois. By enhancing security measures, the program seeks to protect these facilities from unlawful activities and ensure the safety of both providers and patients.

Inflation Reduction Act Urban & Community Forestry Program

To plan for, establish, manage and protect trees, forests, green spaces and related natural resources in and adjacent to cities and towns. The urban and community forestry program provides ecosystem services, social and economic benefits. It links these benefits to governmental, private and grassroots organizations and resources to improve the quality of life in these cities and towns.

Category Explanation 

It is the mission of the Illinois Division of Forestry Resources to protect, perpetuate, restore, conserve, and manage the forest and related resources of Illinois, both public and private, rural and urban; and to ensure for future generations the greatest economic, scientific, and social benefits that can only be provided through a forest ecological system.

Opportunity Funding

• $5,000,000.00

The North Central Branch John Henry Comstock Award recognizes one graduate student from each of the Entomological Society of America's six branches. This award promotes graduate-level entomology and encourages attendance at the ESA Annual Meeting. Benefits include an all-expense-paid trip to the national meeting, a $500 cash prize, and a certificate presented during the meeting. Eligibility includes current enrollment in a graduate entomology program or recent graduation.

The State Planning Funds, provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation, aim to enhance statewide transportation planning activities. These funds establish a cooperative framework for making informed transportation investment decisions. Eligible entities must register and pre-qualify through the GATA Grantee Portal, ensuring compliance with federal regulations. This initiative supports comprehensive planning efforts across the state, fostering efficient transportation systems and infrastructure improvements.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a nationwide network of nearly 800 organizations and champions working for a Just Economy, where all Americans can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity.

Our vision: To solve America’s historic racial and socio-economic wealth, income and opportunity divides. This vision is the foundation of the Just Economy Pledge.

NCRC Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) - Housing Counseling Services

The Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) empowers NCRC network members to level up established service lines.

The Housing Counseling Services series within FEF supports HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in driving homeownership, such as through pre-purchase counseling. In addition, the program builds agency knowledge on heirs’ property challenges to better equip first-time and low-income homebuying households with the know-how to retain intergenerational wealth.

In doing so, FEF-HCS aims to help underserved families begin their homeownership journey, with an additional goal of ensuring foresight into the long-term future of their home purchase.

The FEF-HCS series is funded in partnership with Key Bank and HSBC, and targets communities within the Key Bank and HSBC branch footprints.

Through these partnerships, $2.5 million in Key Bank geographies and $1.5 million in HSBC geographies has been allocated for the subgrants for direct-to-client housing counseling services that will be awarded in three rounds in the FEF-HCS track.

Funding Support

Awardee agencies will receive subgrants to support their housing counseling services to clients.

Knowledge Building

Awardee agencies will attend a training session on heirs’ property challenges and best practices, hosted by NCRC National Training Academy. Bolstering counselor knowledge on this topic will ensure that your agency is not only serving clients in their personal wealth-building journey now, but also helping them preserve that wealth in generations to come.

The Corrine and Henry Bower Memorial Foundation Grant offers approximately $35,000 annually to support wellness, education, and visual arts programs in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The foundation prioritizes year-round programming, measurable outcomes, and collaboration with other organizations. However, it does not fund general operating costs, new programs, or for-profit entities. Eligible applicants must have a proven track record of service and demonstrate financial accountability.

The Coaching Enhancement Grant by the NCAA Division III aims to increase diversity in assistant coaching roles by providing financial support to member institutions. Over two years, selected schools receive $15,000 to cover salaries, requiring a matching contribution. This initiative encourages ethnic minority and gender representation, allowing up to 11 institutions to benefit annually, thus enhancing inclusivity in collegiate sports.

The ReFED Catalytic Grant Fund, managed by Refed Inc., supports innovative solutions to minimize food waste and reduce methane emissions, a cost-effective strategy for climate action. This fund prioritizes initiatives that enhance food recycling and improve supply chain efficiency in the beef and dairy sectors. By focusing on proven methods, the grant aims to accelerate impactful changes in the food system, ultimately fostering sustainable practices and collaborative efforts to combat food waste.

The Wellness on Wheels (WOW) initiative aims to address health disparities in Illinois by providing culturally competent, accessible preventive health services in underserved communities. Funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the program focuses on immediate outreach adjustments based on community needs, ensuring screenings for HIV, Hepatitis C, and other health issues. Established partnerships will facilitate comprehensive care and support, promoting health equity across diverse populations.

MRC/SOT Victor A. Drill Award

This award recognizes the top student abstract at the MRC/SOT Spring meeting. The student must present a poster at the Midwest Regional Chapter meeting. Please include your poster (if available) as part of your application submission.

Winners will receive funds to be used for continuing education in toxicology (e.g., travel to national or regional meeting and/or purchase of textbook(s), participation in workshops).

The Small Equipment Grant Program, offered by the Illinois Department of Public Health, supports fire departments, fire protection districts, township fire departments, and not-for-profit ambulance services in acquiring essential small equipment. This funding opportunity aims to enhance the operational capabilities of these organizations, ensuring they can effectively serve their communities. Interested applicants should review eligibility criteria and application processes to take advantage of this vital support.