Search Through Grants for Small Nonprofits in Illinois in the U.S.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) promotes the well-being of children, youth, and families by responding to reports of potential abuse and neglect and, when needed providing family-centered care and connection to resources. Our vision is that every child and youth can grow and thrive in family.

Advocate Agency - Safe Families PLUS

Short Description

Safe Families PLUS (Providing Lasting Unconditional Support) is a mentoring program for 14 to 21-year-old youth and young adults who are at risk of not achieving permanency and aging out of care. Youth aging out of foster care will be connected with a volunteer adult or couple age 23 years and older who will develop a relationship and support the youth as they navigate independence and the transition to adulthood. The adult(s) will connect with the youth at least three times per month, including at least two in-person meetings. The Safe Families PLUS Program will follow the six core standards of practice for successful mentoring. They are:

• Recruitment: The program engages in recruitment strategies that realistically portray the benefits, practices, supports, and challenges of mentoring youth; utilizes recruitment strategies that build positive attitudes and emotions; recruits volunteer mentors whose skills, motivations, and background best match the goals and needs of youth; encourages mentors to assist with recruitment.
• Screening: Establishes criteria for accepting and disqualifying mentors; written application, face to face interview; references; background checks
• Training: Minimum 2 hours pre-match training; length, frequency and duration of contact; goals and expectations; obligations and roles; ethical and safety issues; relationship building tasks and strategies
• Matching and Initiation: minimum contact of three times per month; strategies to develop relationships with mentees
• Monitoring and Support: staff connect with mentee and mentor monthly to ensure meetings have occurred, evaluate progress made, and provide support and resources.
• Closure.

Objectives of this program:

• Enhanced resilience: Adaptive and problem-solving skills so the youth can thrive in adverse life situations.
• Social Connections: Relationships that lead to increased social skills in order to ward off social isolation
• Concrete Support in Times of Need: A massive network of resource friends willing to provide Just in Time tangible support to help get through resource limitations.

Our Mission

We are committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

The world is more just when actions are inclusive, and fair, where past and present barriers are removed to provide equitable access, treatment, consideration, and opportunity.

The world is more verdant and abundant when the planet and its people flourish.

The world is more peaceful when people are free from fear, conflict, violence, and war.

We believe that the people closest to the ground know best how to respond to the pressing challenges of the communities we seek to serve. Our support is centered on mutual respect, learning, and relationship building. We follow the lead of individuals and organizations rooted in spaces, communities, and experiences, investing in their ideas and giving them space to grow.

We focus resources on promising solutions to pressing challenges and embrace creative thinking to increase the odds of meaningful change.

Chicago Commitment

Chicago is a global city with vibrant, diverse neighborhoods and a strong civic culture. And yet historical and current systemic racism creates unequal access to resources and opportunities for Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people and communities—especially when these multiple identities intersect. A resilient and dynamic Chicago region is dependent upon a more equitable Chicago, where every Chicagoan has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to their community and where Chicago’s diverse voices are elevated, recognized, respected, and included.

We focus on strengthening local organizations including the creative sector; supporting civic partnerships on timely issues; investing in vital communities; and advancing influential leaders with a diversity of experiences and a commitment to racial equity.

Our Areas of Focus

Our focus areas were designed with the priorities of Chicagoans in mind—taking heed of what residents and leaders believe are the most urgent concerns and promising solutions.

• Civic Partnerships
  • Leading or participating in partnerships to address critical or timely challenges with the goal of advancing racial equity and building a more inclusive Chicago.
• Vital Communities
  • Investing targeted resources in a small number of place-based initiatives and organizations that provide infrastructure support to neighborhoods.
• Advancing Leadership
  • Promoting and advancing leaders committed to diversity whose influence will inform and improve decision making across the city.
• Culture, Equity, and the Arts
  • Reflecting diverse creative sector voices and sustaining the creative life of the city.

Advancing Leadership

In conversations with dozens of individuals and organizations across the city of Chicago, we heard a call to support leaders who reflect the city's population. In the private, public, and philanthropic sectors, many individuals who are leaders in their communities, professional fields, or interest areas are not heard in public discourse.

Structural racism has prevented many leaders from being considered for leadership roles. Other forms of discrimination and classism hinder the ability of some leaders to gain recognition for the wisdom and expertise they have earned through lived experience. Our goal is to promote and advance leaders who face or have faced adversity, discrimination, or prejudice to increase their representation across the civic sector; foster their ability to influence decisions; and use their leadership skills to advance policies and practices that contribute to a more equitable Chicago.We include leaders who represent a broad array of Chicago residents and communities and who reflect diversity across multiple dimensions. 

The Chicago Commitment supports leadership advancement within our three focus areas:

• Culture, Equity, and the Arts
• Vital Communities
• Civic Partnerships

Within these areas, we seek to advance equity by expanding access to a wide range of leadership opportunities and by fostering conditions that recognize and support people who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to leadership positions.

Our approach consists of these components:

• Support for Leadership Programs
  • Our priority is to support current and emerging leaders from historically marginalized backgrounds and disinvested communities as they pursue leadership advancement opportunities.
  • We identify and fund leadership programs that:
    • Reflect, serve, and amplify the voices of leaders across Chicago, with an emphasis on communities that have been underrepresented in civic discourse;
    • Are led by and/or predominantly staffed by individuals able to effectively represent communities most affected by structural racism, discrimination, or disinvestment;
    • Provide an in-depth, cohort-based experience over the course of several months, enhancing individual leadership skills, building resiliency in nonprofit leaders, and expanding professional networks; and
    • Demonstrate a clear connection to the arts, community and economic development, or community safety and violence prevention sectors, or substantial participation by staff members of existing grantee organizations in the Culture, Equity, and the Arts; Vital Communities; and Civic Partnerships focus areas.
  • We also consider support for efforts to develop collaborative projects and alumni networking among existing leadership programs.
• Support for Individual Leaders
  • In 2019, we launched a collaborative initiative with the Field Foundation of Illinois entitled Leaders for a New Chicago.
    • These awards support individuals who are leaders in their communities, professional fields, or interest areas and work in the Field Foundation’s focus areas of arts, justice, or media and storytelling.
    • This program advances equity and access to opportunity; it fosters conditions that recognize and promote people who bring a broad diversity of background and experience to leadership positions.
  • Leaders for a New Chicago awards $50,000 to 10 to 15 recipients a year: a no-strings attached $25,000 award to enable individuals to pursue their own self-defined goals, and a $25,000 general operating grant for the individuals' affiliated nonprofit organizations. The program supported 65 recipients during its first six years.
• Support for Leadership Advancement Within Organizations
  • Organizations with a strong infrastructure can often reduce stress on their leaders and prevent the loss of talented staff. To this end, we offer awards to organizations to improve their effectiveness through technical assistance and capacity building.

Community Charging and Fueling Infrastructure Grants

Program Information

The Illinois Finance Authority was awarded $14,962,506 in federal grant funds to strategically deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and other fueling infrastructure projects in urban and rural communities in publicly accessible locations, including downtown areas and local neighborhoods.

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) promotes the well-being of children, youth, and families by responding to reports of potential abuse and neglect and, when needed providing family-centered care and connection to resources. Our vision is that every child and youth can grow and thrive in family.

Educational Mentoring Program

Short Description

The Educational Mentoring Program is to assist youth in gaining the skills and confidence to reach their full academic and developmental potential through a meaningful and supportive mentoring relationship. This relationship inspires youth in care’s educational and employment success and thereby facilitates positive youth development. Services include:

• Educational Services – Educational achievement for participating youth will be supported through Education Coaches’ advocacy and increased knowledge of the various educational programs available for youth. In addition to coaches being well-versed on CPS and DCFS education policies and resources to support and eliminate and educational barriers for participating youth, coaches will build relationships with CPS, ASN, and other educational institutions to promote educational knowledge, options to promote youth’s educational achievement. Coaches will provide 1:1 support to youth in learning proper skills such as study habits, understanding academic expectations, and how to effectively advocate for academic needs. Education Coaches will provide ongoing monitoring and advocacy with multidisciplinary teams to promote, support and pursue youth’s educational objectives. Education Coaches will also encourage and emphasize the pursuit of higher education.
• Vocational/Employment Services – Coaches will also take into account that many youths will face barriers that limit their opportunities to obtain a high school diploma/GED or go into higher education. These barriers include: dislike of school setting, financial limitations, school anxiety, parenting stressors, academic performance, placement status, mental health issues, and/or trauma history.
• Social Supports – Expanding youth’s positive long term social supports has been correlated to improved self-sufficiency. Education Coach and youth will discuss the need and benefits of having positive social supports and identify current persons who fulfill this role in the youth’s life during the engagement process and reassess each support quarterly and upon case closure.
• Barrier Reduction –Education Coaches will identify potential barriers for youth to enroll or participate in educational, vocational and employment programs that require immediate financial assistance. The program will ensure that these barriers are addressed in a timely manner to ensure steady progress is made in the youth’s defined goals.

Objective

Services are to promote permanency by maintaining, strengthening and safeguarding the functioning of families to (1) prevent substitute care placement (2) promote family reunification, (3) facilitate youth development, and (4) ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children.

The Minneapolis Foundation

The Minneapolis Foundation drives collective action to realize strong, vibrant communities. We cultivate generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs—partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a difference in their communities.

Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

In partnership with the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network, the Minneapolis Foundation will award environmental justice grants to organizations working in and for underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region.

Grants will be awarded to community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations in the following three tiers:

• Tier 1: Assessment and Engagement
• Tier 2: Community Education and Planning
• Tier 3: Project Development and Implementation

We aim to distribute 30% of grant funding to federally recognized tribes and Native American organizations, 25% to rural communities, and 45% to urban communities. The partnership anticipates making 206 grants: 83 in Year 1, 85 in Year 2, and 38 in Year 3.

You may submit an application for multiple tiers at the same time, in any order.

Program Goal

The Great Lakes TCGM Partnership will distribute grants to organizations working in and for underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region. The partnership was selected by the EPA as one of 11 grantmakers around the nation in its new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program.

The program’s goal is to lift up community-led innovation and strengthen community-based groups by breaking down barriers to federal funding. All grants will be given to environmental and public health efforts in underserved communities as defined by the EPA.

Issue Areas

Grants will support projects that focus on issues including, but not limited to:

• Environmental health
• Air, soil, and water quality
• Healthy homes
• Access to healthy food
• Stormwater and green infrastructure
• Emergency preparedness
• Disaster resilience
• Environmental job training

Tier 2: Community Education and Planning

Tier 2 awards are one- to two-year grants of up to $250,000 for community-focused efforts that design, inform, and highlight solutions to local environmental or public health priorities. Up to 50% of the grant can be used for relevant property acquisition. Grants will be paid on a reimbursement basis, with a small number of grantees eligible for one advance payment of up to 10% of the total grant.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Developing project plans
• Developing communications and outreach plans
• Conducting workshops and trainings
• Developing curricula, toolkits, or guidelines; developing social media content
• Producing videos or printed materials
• Hosting events and gatherings
• Building or strengthening partnerships and collaboration
• Creating local advisory committees
• Engaging in public review or comment periods
• Developing or updating disaster resilience plans, emergency preparedness plans, or other community planning and visioning efforts

You need not develop a new project to receive a grant. These one-time grants are well suited to support existing work that is currently not funded by another source or to complement other projects for which you already have funding. We also welcome proposals for high-priority new projects. 

The Minneapolis Foundation

The Minneapolis Foundation drives collective action to realize strong, vibrant communities. We cultivate generosity by taking action on the greatest civic, social, and economic needs—partnering with nonprofits, facilitating grantmaking, driving research and advocacy, and providing services to donors seeking to make a difference in their communities.

Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking Program

In partnership with the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network, the Minneapolis Foundation will award environmental justice grants to organizations working in and for underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region.

Grants will be awarded to community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations in the following three tiers:

• Tier 1: Assessment and Engagement
• Tier 2: Community Education and Planning
• Tier 3: Project Development and Implementation

We aim to distribute 30% of grant funding to federally recognized tribes and Native American organizations, 25% to rural communities, and 45% to urban communities. The partnership anticipates making 206 grants: 83 in Year 1, 85 in Year 2, and 38 in Year 3.

You may submit an application for multiple tiers at the same time, in any order.

Program Goal

The Great Lakes TCGM Partnership will distribute grants to organizations working in and for underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region. The partnership was selected by the EPA as one of 11 grantmakers around the nation in its new Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Grantmaking program.

The program’s goal is to lift up community-led innovation and strengthen community-based groups by breaking down barriers to federal funding. All grants will be given to environmental and public health efforts in underserved communities as defined by the EPA.

Issue Areas

Grants will support projects that focus on issues including, but not limited to:

• Environmental health
• Air, soil, and water quality
• Healthy homes
• Access to healthy food
• Stormwater and green infrastructure
• Emergency preparedness
• Disaster resilience
• Environmental job training

Tier 3: Project Development and Implementation

Tier 3 awards are one- to two-year grants of up to $350,000 to pilot or implement project plans. Projects may have educational and outreach components, but must focus on developing tangible community assets or providing environmental or public health benefits to one or more disadvantaged communities. Up to 50% of the grant can be used for relevant property acquisition or purchase. Grants will be paid on a reimbursement basis, with a small number of grantees eligible for one advance payment of up to 10% of the total grant.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Strengthening cumulative impact, public health, or environmental protections
• Increasing access to healthy food
• Reducing the use of pesticides or toxic substances
• Cleaning up contaminated sites
• Conducting healthy home assessments
• Increasing energy or water efficiency in homes or buildings
• Launching community energy or water efficiency programs
• Installing water filters; developing community gardens
• Creating community resilience hubs
• Installing green infrastructure projects
• Creating internships or implementing workforce development programs

You need not develop a new project to receive a grant. These one-time grants are well suited to support existing work that is currently not funded by another source or to complement other projects for which you already have funding. We also welcome proposals for high-priority new projects. 

Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) promotes the well-being of children, youth, and families by responding to reports of potential abuse and neglect and, when needed providing family-centered care and connection to resources. Our vision is that every child and youth can grow and thrive in family.

Family Education & Support

Short Description

The Family Education and Support program provides families with a variety of options that nurture both the parent and family through educational programs that focus on healthy family relationships, child development, support systems, social connections, family emotional support and family stability. Services will include:

• An ongoing cycle of 16 week/48 hour classes to encourage/reinforce positive family interactions, strengthen families, support family reunification
• Supervised Family Visits, One-on-One Sessions and home visits provided before, during and after supervised visits. One-on-One sessions provided before and/or after supervised visits to encourage appropriate activities, communication, meal suggestions, etc. 
• Additional Family Support Workshops are held throughout the fiscal year to aid in child abuse prevention through teaching positive parenting skills to those in our community.

Objective

Services promote child safety through providing parents with child development education to assist in developing appropriate expectations for their children which reduces the risk of frustration and anger attributed to unrealistic expectations, which may also lead to child abuse or neglect. Participating parents learn to nurture themselves as well as their families by making healthy lifestyle choices in who they befriend, how they communicate, and what they put into their bodies. Clients are taught to develop support networks throughout the community and receive referrals and resources to utilize when feeling isolated, stressed, enraged or overwhelmed.

Legal Assistance for Nonprofits

Our Economic Justice program aims to address the systemic inequalities in income, wealth, and access to economic opportunities by providing critical support to communities of color that helps spur economic development in historically disinvested communities. Part of our Economic Justice program includes providing free legal assistance to nonprofits and small businesses that would not otherwise have access to those services. This work helps to close the racial wealth gap by:

• Providing education and legal support for nonprofits to maximize their potential to provide services in historically disinvested communities of color.
• Providing education and legal support for small businesses to spur economic development and wealth-building in historically disinvested communities.
• Supporting investment in communities to reduce the racial wealth gap by advocating for economic development efforts and access to capital in historically disinvested communities of color.

Our Mission

The Old National Bank Foundation believes that social responsibility is essential to fostering vibrant, sustainable communities. We realize this belief through strategic partnerships with charitable organizations addressing defined community needs.

Old National Bank Foundation

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The Foundation is part of Old National's overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin where our clients, associates and shareholders live and work.

Invested in our communities

Caring for our clients means being an active and dynamic partner in the cities and towns we serve. Through sponsorships, Old National helps organizations improve the quality of life in the areas where our clients, associates and shareholders live and work.

Old National Bank Foundation Sponsorships

Old National sponsorships provide monetary support for events or activities, while enabling us to partner with many community organizations. Typically such sponsorships are in exchange for advertising and/or publicity that directly benefits Old National. Our goal is to make meaningful contributions, measure the results of our sponsorships, and work closely with the organizations we support.

Here are examples of the types of activities we sponsor:

• One-time events
• Fundraisers
• Golf tournaments/scrambles
• Corporate tables at galas
• Sporting events
• Special events (telethons, marathons, races or benefits)

Advancing Sustainable Communities

Since 2002, we’ve been empowering local communities with sustainability solutions. Through nonprofit partnerships and sustainability grants, we’ve delivered projects promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

Mission

"Choose wisely. It's a small planet." That's how it all started back in 1997, when a crew of like-minded folks in Vermont set out on a mission: to use the power of consumer choice and help change the way power is made. Over 20 years later, we’re proud to be a carbon-neutral company that continues to keep sustainability at the heart of everything we do. Join us as we help make the planet a cleaner, greener place to be.

Sustainability Grants

If you’re a U.S.-based nonprofit looking to make a positive environmental impact and you want access to a network of sustainability experts, it’s time to plant seeds of sustainability in your community.

Eligible Sustainability Initiatives

In addition to supporting rooftop solar installation projects, we've expanded our mission to support other sustainability initiatives that include but aren't limited to:

• Clean Transportation
• Education and Awareness
• Energy Efficiency
• Renewable Energy
• Resource Conservation
• Sustainable Agriculture

We’re open to new, creative ideas from nonprofit organizations interested in utilizing and promoting sustainability initiatives.

Selection Process - Impact Measurement

We measure environmental, social and financial impacts:

• Environmental impact calculations consider how the project is more impactful for the planet than the alternative.
• Examples: CO2 prevented (renewable versus traditional generation methods), miles not driven, gallons of water conserved, green space created, pounds of waste diverted.
• Social impact calculations assess how the project will elicit change in the community.
• Examples: results of an email or newsletter story about the project, number of students impacted through curriculum, attendee numbers on sustainability tours.
• Financial impact calculations assess how the project will save your organization money, and how those savings can further support your mission.
• Example: a solar array would save your organization $2,000 per year, resulting in 100 more meals distributed to the homeless or 30 more children receiving free tuition.

Award Amounts

Donation amounts depend on a number of factors, including evaluation of the environmental, social, and financial impact of the donation. Past donations have ranged from $50,000 to $400,000.

Green Infrastructure Grant (IL)

This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to advise potential applicants of the availability of grant funds through the Green Infrastructure Grant Opportunities (GIGO). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) is seeking proposals for projects to construct green infrastructure best management practices (BMPs) that prevent, eliminate, or reduce stormwater runoff, reducing localized or riverine flooding in Illinois’ rivers, streams, and lakes. Projects that implement treatment trains (multiple BMPs in series) and/or multiple BMPs within the same watershed are encouraged as they may be more effective and efficient than a single large green infrastructure BMP. BMPs may be located on public or private land.

For the purposes of GIGO, Green Infrastructure means any stormwater management technique or practice employed with the primary goal to preserve, restore, mimic, or enhance natural hydrology. Green Infrastructure includes, but is not limited to, methods of using soil and vegetation to promote soil percolation, evapotranspiration, and filtering or the harvesting and reuse of precipitation.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), localized and riverine flooding will likely become more frequent. Localized flooding happens when rainfall overwhelms the capacity of the drainage systems, while riverine flooding happens when river flows exceed the capacity of a river channel. By reducing stormwater runoff, detaining water away from impacted areas, and reconnecting streams to their floodplains, GIGO can help reduce the number and duration of both localized and riverine flood events.

Project Types

Eligible GIGO projects, through the construction of BMPs, will decrease stormwater runoff prior to release into rivers, streams, and lakes, and include:

•  reconnection of a stream with its floodplain (e.g., two-stage ditch, daylighting);
• flow control of stormwater runoff at sites directly upstream or downstream of an impervious area that currently impacts rivers, streams, or lakes through stormwater runoff discharge; and/or
• flow control of water generated from impervious surfaces associated with existing urban land use (such as roads and buildings).

Examples of Project Types/BMPs that may be funded through GIGO are provided below. The list is not all-inclusive, and inclusion of a BMP here does not equate to an automatic eligibility for funding under GIGO.

• Bioinfiltration -
  • Vegetated practices designed to facilitate the infiltration of stormwater through infiltration media and/or vegetation uptake (e.g., bioretention areas, swales, infiltration basins, and green roofs)
• Retention/Infiltration -
  • Practices which allow stormwater to infiltrate into underlying soil; (e.g., permeable pavement/pavers (roadway, alleys, and parking lots)); underground infiltration; and retention areas)
• Detention Pond Creation/Retrofit - 
  • Projects which create a new wet detention basin
  • Projects which retrofit an existing dry retention basin into a wet detention basin
  • Projects which modify an existing wet detention basin to increase its stormwater retention capacity (e.g., additional freeboard)
• Wetland Creation/Modification -
  • Projects which create a wetland to intercept runoff, reduce peak flows, decrease runoff volume to rivers, streams, and lakes
  • Projects which modify an existing wetland (within limits of State and federal law) to improve its stormwater retention capacity
• Floodplain Reconnection -
  • Projects which reconnect a river, stream, or lake to its floodplain to increase water infiltration through access to larger water retention area and/or for a longer water retention period such as:
  • A two-stage ditch includes a ‘floodplain’ within its channel design.
  • Daylighting restores an open-air watercourse that was previously diverted below ground to an above-ground channel, allowing it to reconnect with its floodplain.
  • A levee retrofit allows water access back to a specific area within its floodplain.
• Watershed-Wide Projects -
  • Smaller BMPs (e.g., rain gardens, green walls, trees, tree boxes, infiltration planters, dry wells, pocket wetlands, etc.) and the BMPs listed above that are constructed throughout the watershed. This type of project benefits communities that do not have large tracts of land to convert into green infrastructure.
    • Applicant must describe the ranking process used for watershed-wide projects to confirm that the BMP sites proposed address the most critical areas with structural and non-structural practices that, if properly managed, will provide the greatest stormwater runoff control for the longest duration.
• Rainwater Harvesting -
  • Projects that capture, divert, and store rainwater for later use (e.g., rain barrels and cisterns)
• BMP Design and Construction - 
  • Projects including both BMP design and its construction (See Funding Source Description for funding restrictions for design costs.)
    • Illinois EPA will prioritize and select projects, according to the ranking criteria outlined in the Evaluation and Scoring Section, that are most cost-effective and yield the largest potential for stormwater runoff control. BMPs proven effective to reconnect a waterbody to its floodplain or BMPs proven effective at reducing impacts from stormwater runoff will receive priority. Project match requirements and selection criteria are provided later in this NOFO.

Funding

GIGO has a set maximum total grant award of $2,500,000 with a minimum grant award of $75,000. No more than 50% of the program total, per funding cycle, shall be allocated to any one applicant or project.

GIGO may provide up to 75% of the approved project costs. The remaining 25% is the responsibility of the grantee and constitutes the match. Match may include money spent or in-kind services utilized to complete the approved project tasks. Match can be provided by the grantee, sub-contractor, or project partners (e.g., State programs, private foundations, landowners). A grantee may match greater than 25%.

Proposed projects that benefit an environmental justice (EJ) area may be eligible for up to 85% of GIGO assistance, with the applicant responsible for 15% of the costs as match. Design costs, up to $50,000 or 15% of the total BMP costs, whichever is less, are eligible for grant funds and/or as match.

The Impact Fund awards recoverable grants to legal services nonprofits, private attorneys, and small law firms who seek to confront economic, environmental, racial, and social injustice. Since our founding in 1992, the Impact Fund has made more than 800 recoverable grants totaling more than $10 million for impact litigation. We award grants four times per year, most within the range of US$10,000 to US$50,000.

Social Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants and legal support to assist in human and civil rights cases. We have helped to change dozens of laws and win cases to improve the rights of thousands. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Texas and North Carolina, incarcerated people with mental health disabilities are forced to remain in jail despite being found not guilty and unable to proceed with a criminal trial.
• In Orange County, California there are currently 13 gang injunctions under effect, which disproportionately affect young men of color.
• In Chicago, Illinois, the city’s homeless shelter program is inaccessible to people with disabilities.
• In Springfield, Oregon, the city and its police department used excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters.
• In West Virginia, the state fails to protect children in foster care from abuse and neglect. 
• In Montana, voter suppression laws disadvantage young adults and give priority to gun owners.
• In Gary, Indiana, a gun manufacturer negligently marketed and distributed its guns, leading to an epidemic of gun violence in the city. 
• In Vancouver, British Columbia, the police perpetuate systemic discrimination against Indigenous people through bureaucratic measures.

Environmental Justice

The Impact Fund provides grants to support local litigation for environmental justice. These grants are for cases aiming to help people or communities who are affected by environmental harm or who lack access to basic environmental needs, such as clean water, clean air, adequate waste treatment, and green spaces. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Centreville, Illinois, the city’s failure to maintain its sewer system has caused raw sewage to flood peoples’ homes, endangering the property and health of a predominantly Black community.
• In Fresno County, California, the California Department of Transportation approved a highway expansion project that would increase air pollution and traffic in one of the state’s most environmentally burdened communities.
• In downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the proposed expansion of a highway would divide the region's Black, Asian, and Latine neighborhoods and cause pollution and ill health.
• In North Dakota, the five-month closure of a highway in response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests disproportionately affected the livelihoods and health of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe members.
• In Ontario, Canada, mercury contamination of the English-Wabigoon river system causes catastrophic environmental and health impacts for the Grassy Narrows First Nation.
• In Sacramento, California, the county government and Sacramento Area Sewer District violated the Clean Water Act by discharging raw sewage into nearby rivers.
• In the Eastern Coachella Valley in California, 1,900 residents of the Oasis Mobile Home Park suffer from arsenic-laced drinking water, wastewater contamination, and overcharging for utilities.

Economic Justice

The Impact Fund provides financial and other forms of support to cases fighting for economic justice. From workers' rights to consumer protection for vulnerable populations, impact litigation is a powerful tool to hold corporationss and the government accountable. The cases we are funding allege that:

• In Brooklyn, New York, a prominent mortgage lender engaged in predatory practices, leaving homeowners of color at risk of losing their homes. 
• In Washington, live-in caregivers are unconstitutionally excluded from the state’s wage-and-hour protections.
• In Ravalli County, Montana, the county has created a “modern-day debtors’ prison” by incarcerating people unable to afford pre-trial fees. 
• In San Diego, California, vehicle ordinances target unhoused vehicle owners even when no adequate housing alternative exists.
• In New York, a federal immigration detention facility is violating minimum wage and forced labor laws by forcing detainees to work for just a dollar a day. 
• In Minneapolis, Minnesota, the city and county destroy the property of unhoused individuals and conduct forced evictions from public spaces. 
• In Miami, Florida, insurance companies discriminate against a nonprofit community development corporation renting to tenants with Section 8 rental subsidies.

What does this program do?

It provides loans and grants to Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) to:

• To help microenterprises startup and growth through a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund.
• Provide training and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and micro entrepreneurs.

Microenterprise Development Organizations must demonstrate experience in managing a Revolving Loan Fund, or:

• Certify that it or its employees have received education and training from a qualified microenterprise development training entity so that the applicant has the capacity to manage such a revolving loan fund.
• Demonstrate that it is actively and successfully participating as an intermediary lender in good standing under the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan Program or other similar loan programs as determined by the Administrator.

 What kind of funding is available?

• Grants are available to provide technical assistance to rural micro-entrepreneurs or microenterprises, up to $205,000 annually.
  • Funding at the requested level is not guaranteed, and at least 15 percent matching funds are required.
• Loans of $50,000 to $500,000 may be used for establishing a Rural Microloan Revolving Fund managed by the Microenterprise Development Organization.
  • Total aggregate debt is capped at $2.5 million.

What are the loan terms?

• Maximum term is 20 years.
• Two-year payment deferral.
• Must establish a loan loss reserve fund.

What terms are required on loans to ultimate recipients?

• Up to $50,000.
• Fixed interest rate.
• Limited to 75 percent of project cost.

How may the funds be used?

Microlenders may make microloans for qualified business activities and expenses including, but not limited to:

• Working capital.
• Debt refinancing.
• Purchasing equipment and supplies.
• Improving real estate.

Old National Bank Foundation

The Old National Bank Foundation makes contributions to nonprofit organizations to fund widespread community impact programs and/or projects. The Foundation is part of Old National's overall charitable giving initiative, which enables us to support programs that improve quality of life in areas of Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. We believe in supporting where our clients, team members and shareholders live and work.

Funding Priorities

Our funding targets innovative programs that enhance the quality of life within our communities in support of the following four strategic initiatives: Affordable Housing, Workforce Development, Economic Development, and Financial Empowerment. We prioritize programs that serve underrepresented communities and low- to moderate-income people. 

Examples of funding priorities with measurable outcome focus areas include:

Affordable Housing

• Increase Homeownership Opportunities: We seek initiatives that enable individuals and families to purchase homes through accessible financing, down payment assistance, and homeowner education.
• Support Critical Home Repairs and Revitalization: We fund programs that ensure safe, habitable housing by assisting with essential repairs for homes
• Promote Multi-Family Housing Developments: We prioritize programs that develop or sustain affordable rental units

Economic Development

• Small Business Development and Growth: We aim to support programs that help small businesses scale, access resources, and build sustainable growth plans.
• Capacity Building for Technical Support: We encourage projects that enhance the capability of organizations offering technical support to small businesses and nonprofits.
• Entrepreneurship and Business Coaching: We support programs that offer entrepreneurship education, business coaching, and professional development for new or aspiring business owners.

Financial Education

• Old National Bank’s Real-Life Finance e-learning curriculum provides robust financial education training for community partners

Workforce Development

• Access to Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning: We support workforce readiness through initiatives offering hands-on training, particularly in trades and high-demand fields.
• Job Creation, Employment Entry, and Retention: We support projects that connect individuals to stable employment and increasing levels of income. This can include higher education with dual credentialing, leadership and professional development

Financial Empowerment

• Financial Wellness: We fund long-term initiatives that reduce barriers to banking and credit access, especially for underbanked groups. This can include culturally relevant and multilingual outreach, foreclosure prevention, and credit counseling with the goal of financial independence
• Community Lending Access: We support organizations that provide access to affordable microloans, emergency loans, and community cooperative lending as safe and sustainable alternatives to predatory loans

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What is an eligible area?

Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Check eligible areas.

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. Opportunity grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.

How may funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Distance adult learning for job training and advancement.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

Opportunity grants can be used for:

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

About Us

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

Activate History Micro-Grants Program

Activate History micro-grants provide $750 project-based grants to enable those who maintain local collections of various kinds (archives, texts, photos, stories, and more) to explore creative ways for community members to become more engaged with them. We see this work as encouraging individual curiosity and connections to local history; as celebrating the efforts of amateur and other local historians; and as an avenue for growing the outreach efforts of local collections– all of which helps bolster community identity. Illinois Humanities has designed this micro-grants program to be accessible with a quick turnaround, in response to the dearth of available funds for individuals and smaller entities to host discussions on history and related matters.

Funding

• The Activate History micro-grants are for $750 each.
• Applicants can request up to $150 in additional support to help make their events more accessible to audience participants, particularly those with physical disabilities, as well as an additional $100 for documentation of the project (say hiring a photographer to cover a key event, for example). This might include such features as American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), but can also include other resources such as providing transportation to and from events for those who need it.

Non-Enforcement Programs

This funding opportunity houses most of the non-enforcement programs. Please see the specifications for each program explained below. Please note that applications are not limited to these programs.

• Child Passenger Safety Resource Center (CPSRC)
• DUI Court Program
• Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP)
• Injury Prevention Program (IP)
• Law Enforcement Liaison Program (LEL)
• Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP)

This grant is administered by the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) within the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). IDOT serves as the federally-required State Highway Safety Office for the state of Illinois.

Funding amount: $8,000,000.00

DUI Court Program

The DUI Court Program is an initiative of BSPE that promotes the safety and well-being of all people using Illinois’ roadways. The DUI Court Program focuses specifically on DUI Courts, a relatively new court that borrows from the successful Drug Court Model. DUI Courts have been utilized very effectively in many states and focus directly on repeat DUI offenders and/or high-BAC offenders – essentially only high-risk, high-needs offenders. DUI Courts are proven to change behavior and reduce recidivism by holding offenders accountable.

Project Goal

To encourage the further proliferation of DUI Courts in jurisdictions throughout Illinois.

Proposal Guidance

The objective of this grant is to provide the resources necessary for the startup and operating costs of the establishment and administration of a DUI Court.

Applicants may propose a comprehensive program. A DUI Court is a problem-solving court and is required to be certified by the Illinois Supreme Court. Applicants are strongly encouraged to follow the parameters put forth in The National Center for DWI Courts’ The Ten Guiding Principles of DWI Courts.

Example Projects

Applicants may focus on one, multiple, or partial of the following DUI Court activities:

• Training
• Treatment/evaluation
• Participant substance testing
• Probation services
• Prosecutor/and or defense legal services
• Evaluation

Funding

Grant application maximum funding request shall not exceed $350,000.

Non-Enforcement Programs

This funding opportunity houses most of the non-enforcement programs. Please see the specifications for each program explained below. Please note that applications are not limited to these programs.

• Child Passenger Safety Resource Center (CPSRC)
• DUI Court Program
• Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP)
• Injury Prevention Program (IP)
• Law Enforcement Liaison Program (LEL)
• Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor (TSRP)

This grant is administered by the Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) within the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). IDOT serves as the federally-required State Highway Safety Office for the state of Illinois.

Funding amount: $8,000,000.00

Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP)

The Impaired Driving Prevention Program (IDP) is an initiative of BSPE that promotes the safety and well-being of all people using Illinois’ roadways. This program is preventative in nature by focusing on solutions designed to create awareness and reduction in alcohol and drug-impaired driving.

Project Goal

To create a coordinated effort to address alcohol and drug-related traffic fatalities and serious injuries.

Proposal Guidance

Applications should focus on one or both of the following objectives:

• Prevention Projects:
  • The objective of this activity is designed to increase public awareness and knowledge about alcohol and drug-impaired driving, promote safe and healthy behavior among underage and/or adult individuals, and to increase the awareness of the consequences associated with a DUI arrest, other sanctions for impaired driving, or an impaired driving motor vehicle crash.
    • Public information and prevention education programs should consist of comprehensive, coordinated efforts that are designed to present a clear message that fosters the attitude that driving impaired by alcoholic beverages, cannabis, and/or other impairing drugs or substances is unacceptable, criminal behavior.
    • These messages should be sustained and emphasize existing holiday enforcement campaigns and should also occur throughout the grant year.
    • Additional prevention initiatives include educational programs and activities. These may occur through schools, community groups and/or religious organizations and may include parent education, formalized curricula, coalition development/community involvement, and peer education programs.
  • Community outreach prevention activities may include:
    • employer programs
    • responsible alcohol and or cannabis sales/service (including enforcement efforts)
    • policies and/or educational programs to reduce alcohol, other drug and traffic safety problems on college campuses
    • transportation alternatives
    • adult and underage drinking/substance abuse prevention
    • underage and/or adult educational programs
    • school-based activities
    • institution of working relationships with school health and guidance personnel as a means of providing information to students about a variety of traffic safety and health behaviors
    • develop and conduct alcohol, cannabis, other drug and/or impairing substances training sessions for a variety of professional disciplines
    • establish and support student-led safety and/or prevention-focused clubs and activities
• Criminal Justice Projects:
  • The IDP program can include criminal justice projects that provide necessary resources and training to law enforcement, prosecutors, and additional judicial personnel.
    • Applicants may propose a comprehensive program that will effectively utilize resources to combat impaired driving.
  • Criminal Justice activities may include:
    • Full-time ARIDE and/or DRE law enforcement officer and associated costs
    • underage alcohol and or cannabis sales law enforcement activities and associated costs
    • effective use of criminal justice, medical or other professionals through presentations in the classroom or the design of and delivery of training courses and materials
    • law enforcement impaired driving training
    • law enforcement forensic phlebotomy activities
    • forensic toxicology efforts

Project Examples

Community outreach programs include, but are not limited to:

• Communities should promote responsible alcohol and/or cannabis service policies and practices in the retail alcohol service industry through laws, regulations, and policies, with appropriate publicity, signage, and enforcement.
  • Communities are also encouraged to promote alternative transportation programs that enable impaired persons to reach their destinations without driving and risking harm to themselves and others.
• A comprehensive alternative transportation program uses a community-wide approach addressing all types of drinking  and cannabis-use situations (in commercial establishments and private homes) with one or more transportation alternatives.
  • Two (2) types of alternative transportation programs are designated driver and safe rides programs.
• In a designated driver program, the designated driver for a group agrees not to drink alcoholic beverages, use cannabis or other drugs and/or impairing substances so that all participants can arrive safely at their destination.
  • Alcohol servers and social hosts who support and sponsor designated driver programs usually provide non-alcoholic beverages free to the designated driver.
  • Alternatively, safe rides programs provide free or reduced-price rides to drinkers using taxis, buses or private automobiles.

Employer programs include, but are not limited to:

• model policies regarding impaired driving, seat belt use, and/or other traffic safety issues
• employee awareness and education activities
• management training to recognize and deal with alcohol and drug impairment/abuse
• education and substance use treatment programs for employees.

Responsible alcohol services include, but are not limited to:

• promotion of alcohol and/or cannabis server training programs
• enforcement programs to prevent the sale of alcoholic beverages and/or cannabis to minors (e.g., “Cops in Shops” and “Shoulder Tap” operations)
• adequate staffing to enforce existing alcoholic beverage control and regulations
• awareness of dram shop provisions as they relate to individuals and providers

Criminal Justice programs include:

• give prosecutors the skills and resources to obtain convictions and seek appropriate and effective sanctions for offenders (reduce number of plea bargains)
• ensure screening of all high-risk DUI offenders for substance abuse
• provide training and technical assistance to law enforcement officers regarding one or more of the following:
  • SFST, ARIDE, DRE, and/or phlebotomy
• facilitate uniformity and consistency in prosecution and adjudication of impaired driving cases
• give judges the skills and resources necessary to appropriately adjudicate impaired driving cases
• ensure that judges are well versed in DUI issues and prepared to adjudicate youthful offenders
• educates medical facility personnel regarding no civil liability for the truthful reporting of blood and urine tests in DUI cases
• encourage reporting of blood and urine tests
• assist with the development, implementation or expansion of “No-refusal” search warrant and/or e-search warrant programs
• Toxicology activities
• oral fluid and/or other testing for DUI drug identification
• personal services up to  time and a half in overtime for DRE callouts

Pedestrian and Bicycle Program

Motor vehicle crash data shows bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are a major issue in Illinois. In order to prevent these from happening, the Illinois Department of Transportation has created the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Program. The main impacts on highway safety are made through enforcement, education, EMS, and engineering.

This program offers grant funds for agencies to address these highway safety issues in their local areas or statewide. The programs main emphasis should be on the educational and enforcement aspects of pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Project Goal

The goal of the pedestrian and bicycle safety program is to reduce the incidence of crashes involving pedestrians and bicyclists and the resulting fatalities and serious injuries. 

Opportunity Funding

$4,000,000.00

About Us

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

Vision Grants

Vision Grants support nonprofit organizations in their pursuit of planning, evaluation, and DEI initiatives. Through research, workshops, and more, these vision-driven projects help steer organizations to make a positive impact. As a funder and partner, we provide the resources and support to help your organization grow more equitable while strengthening your programs and initiatives.

Guidelines

Planning plays a critical role in smaller groups’ ability to successfully carry out humanities initiatives. Especially for groups that wish to delve into more interactive public humanities programming or target new audiences, planning grants can help develop a series, explore collaborations, or look into harnessing digital technology or other tools. We believe that better planning leads to stronger programming and that stronger programmatic initiatives can lead to stronger organizational vitality. Vision grants can also be used for succession planning.

Working with consultants to conduct research, provide training, and help develop evaluation tools is entirely acceptable. Projects can include convening scholars, bringing together or surveying audience members, traveling around the state to research an initiative, and other activities to help groups plan.

In addition, Vision grants can be used for groups to go through workshops and trainings meant to help them become more effective as anti-racist organizations and more intentional in holistically addressing gender, class, sexuality, disability/ability, and other issues.Additional Funding

• Optional Accessibility Fund: An additional stipend of up to $150 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.
• Optional Media Fund: An additional stipend of up to $100 for services such as documentation, photography, videography, etc.

Chicago Region Artistic Vitality

We support over 175 small, professional arts organizations of all disciplines. We provide general operations grants, technical assistance, and other support to help our arts partners sustain their artistry and strengthen their operations. We call this Gen Ops Plus.

To Value Small Arts Organizations

The ecosystem of arts in the Chicago region is big and diverse, yet most nonprofit arts groups operate on small budgets. Together, small arts groups produce most of the art in our region. They reach beyond downtown into nearly every neighborhood. They ensure a perpetual wellspring of new and emerging talent. They challenge. They risk. They fail. They try again. They blow us away.

Many small arts groups – especially the smallest of the small – tend to have fewer options for grants. That’s why we make it our business to support professional arts groups, of all disciplines, that operate on less than $1 million per year.

To Support With Few Restrictions

Unrestricted general operating grants are the life blood of small arts groups, big or small. It allows them the flexibility to spend those dollars where they see fit. Multi-year general operating support provides an extra measure of stability.

To Grow Stronger

It takes training, discipline and often years of experience to master one’s art. Just as challenging, just as important, is mastering the art of running an arts organization. Stronger, more efficient operations tend to allow more time, attention and resources to go toward the art itself. We support the Arts Work Fund and several other technical assistance providers to help organizations grow stronger.

Grant Amounts

Organizations are eligible for grant amounts based on annual expenses for the most recently-completed calendar or fiscal year, ranging from $2,500 to $13,500.

Charitable Trust – Helping Small Nonprofits Across Illinois

The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund (“Fund”) was created in 2007 to help small non-profits across Illinois. Money for the Fund comes from the filing fees not-for-profit organizations pay to incorporate with the State of Illinois. The program is funded by non-profits and exists to support non-profits. 

The Spring 2024 Grant Cycle, running from January 1 – March 31, will award grants to non-profit charitable programs in two categories:

• Food
• Housing

The Fall 2024 Grant Cycle, running from July 1 – September 30, will award grants to organizations in two categories:

• Food
• Economic & Workforce Development

In each area, the Charitable Trust Board will consider a range of programs such as but not limited to the following:

Food Programs:

• Food Pantries
• Supplemental School Feeding Programs 
• Summer Feeding Programs 
• SNAP Outreach 
• Farmer’s Market SNAP expansion 
• Access to fresh produce 
• Meal Deliveries

Housing:

• Short Term Housing and Supportive Services
• Emergency Financial Support to prevent homelessness 
• Foreclosure Prevention Counseling 
• Affordable Housing advocacy/construction/rehabilitation 
• Accessibility in Housing 
• Fair Housing Counseling/Education 
• Homeownership Counseling 
• Renters Rights

Workforce & Economic Development:

• Small Business Development Councils 
• Entrepreneurship Training or Services
• Resume Preparation 
• Interview Training 
• Placement and Retention Services 
• GED Classes 
• Vocational Training 
• Apprenticeship Training 
• Industry Certifications 
• Workforce Development for People with Disabilities

Our Mission

We are committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world.

The world is more just when actions are inclusive, and fair, where past and present barriers are removed to provide equitable access, treatment, consideration, and opportunity.

The world is more verdant and abundant when the planet and its people flourish.

The world is more peaceful when people are free from fear, conflict, violence, and war.

We believe that the people closest to the ground know best how to respond to the pressing challenges of the communities we seek to serve. Our support is centered on mutual respect, learning, and relationship building. We follow the lead of individuals and organizations rooted in spaces, communities, and experiences, investing in their ideas and giving them space to grow.

We focus resources on promising solutions to pressing challenges and embrace creative thinking to increase the odds of meaningful change.

Chicago Commitment

Chicago is a global city with vibrant, diverse neighborhoods and a strong civic culture. And yet historical and current systemic racism creates unequal access to resources and opportunities for Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people and communities—especially when these multiple identities intersect. A resilient and dynamic Chicago region is dependent upon a more equitable Chicago, where every Chicagoan has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to their community and where Chicago’s diverse voices are elevated, recognized, respected, and included.

We focus on strengthening local organizations including the creative sector; supporting civic partnerships on timely issues; investing in vital communities; and advancing influential leaders with a diversity of experiences and a commitment to racial equity.

Our Areas of Focus

Our focus areas were designed with the priorities of Chicagoans in mind—taking heed of what residents and leaders believe are the most urgent concerns and promising solutions.

• Civic Partnerships
  • Leading or participating in partnerships to address critical or timely challenges with the goal of advancing racial equity and building a more inclusive Chicago.
• Vital Communities
  • Investing targeted resources in a small number of place-based initiatives and organizations that provide infrastructure support to neighborhoods.
• Advancing Leadership
  • Promoting and advancing leaders committed to diversity whose influence will inform and improve decision making across the city.
• Culture, Equity, and the Arts
  • Reflecting diverse creative sector voices and sustaining the creative life of the city.

Culture, Equity, and the Arts Grant

The Culture, Equity, and the Arts (CEA) program is based on the ideal that arts and culture are essential to furthering the Chicago Commitment’s goal: To invest in people, places, and partnerships to advance racial equity and build a more inclusive Chicago.

The arts help to introduce people to diverse perspectives, build bridges across social boundary lines, expose people to culturally relevant experiences, and develop human empathy.

Through this program, we offer unrestricted general operating support, directly and through regranting partners, to large, mid-sized, and small organizations. These resources provide flexible, reliable funding that helps organizations maintain stability, plan ahead, pursue new ideas, and invest in new artistic directions.

We offer multi-year, general operating support directly to organizations with budgets above $1 million. Grant sizes range from $55,000 to $80,000 per year, typically for three years.

Executive Summary

Outpatient Fitness Restoration provides for outpatient mental health services and fitness education to non-dangerous defendants who are adjudicated unfit to stand trial. The standard for Fitness draws on fundamental principles of fairness to establish that it is both unlawful and unethical for defendants to proceed in a criminal matter without an understanding of the proceedings, its consequences, and the ability to assist their attorneys due to mental illness or intellectual disability. After defendants are adjudicated Unfit to Stand Trial by a judge, they may be committed to restoration in an inpatient or outpatient setting. Illinois courts allow for Fitness Restoration on an outpatient basis and is interested in increasing access to this option for adults and juveniles charged with Misdemeanor and other non-violent offenses for whom outpatient treatment is clinically appropriate. Outpatient Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI) consumers may also be monitored through this program. Recognizing that Outpatient Restoration will include a range of customers having varied insurance coverage, the Division of Mental Health clarifies that resources from this grant must not be applied to any costs associated with the delivery of any services and supports that can be reimbursable by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), Medicare, or a private insurance company.

The purpose of this program is to operate an Outpatient Fitness Restoration Program by licensed mental health professionals who will provide community-based fitness restoration services, which include psychiatric, mental health and substance abuse treatment services, housing case management and linkage, as well as legal education, for adults and juveniles found Unfit to Stand Trial (UST) by the County Criminal Courts and remanded by court order to the Department of Human Services for treatment on an outpatient basis. Adults and juveniles will be referred to a Community Mental Health Agency, by the Department of Human Services/Division of Mental Health (IDHS/DMH) Forensics and Justice Services Bureau for court ordered outpatient forensic restoration and treatment services. Services will be provided on site or by telehealth by clinical staff.

The Outpatient Fitness Restoration program is designed to:

reduce the number of adults and juveniles determined to be UST, with mental illness and/or co-occurring psychiatric, intellectual disabilities or substance use disorders, on the State Mental Health Hospital waiting list for inpatient fitness restoration services and,

increase prompt access to clinically appropriate outpatient fitness restoration services for adults and juveniles determined to be UST who do not require the restrictiveness of a hospital setting.

The IDHS/DMH will provide outpatient fitness restoration training to clinical staff on an ongoing basis as well as provide technical assistance on clinical and administrative matters involving court ordered consumers. Outpatient NGRI monitoring may include psychiatric, mental health and substance abuse treatment services, housing case management and linkage and/or quarterly progress reporting to the court.

Funding Purpose

The general purpose of this program's funding is Outpatient Fitness Restoration for outpatient mental health services and fitness education to non-dangerous defendants who are adjudicated unfit to stand trial. The standard for Fitness draws on fundamental principles of fairness to establish that it is both unlawful and unethical for defendants to proceed in a criminal matter without an understanding of the proceedings, its consequences, and the ability to assist their attorneys due to mental illness or intellectual disability to achieve for the public good.

Number of Grant Awards

The Department anticipates funding approximately 16 grant awards to provide this program:

• One in Cook County
• 15 outside of Cook County

Expected Dollar Amount of Individual Grant Awards

The Department anticipates that the dollar amount of individual awards will be $ between $17,500 and $350,000 in Cook County and $17,500 and $200,000 outside of Cook County.

Cost Sharing

Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

Executive Summary

Will-Grundy Medical Clinic (WGMC) will promote a healthy community by providing free healthcare and wellness services such as care coordination, case management, primary/specialty care, therapy, dental care, free medication, and street outreach services. These services are provided for individual families with behavioral health needs. The funds provided by the Division of Mental Health will support the salaries of staff focused on serving those with behavioral health needs, as well as refurbished or new laptop equipment, technology expenses, and program supplies. The funds will support the program director's salary for these programs, as well as the psychiatric nurse practitioner, therapist, nurse, and licensed clinical social worker overseeing the quality of these programs.

The following services will be provided for individuals with mental health or behavioral health needs:

• Provide covid-19 and flu testing, vaccinations, and education activities that the Clinic conducts onsite or refers out to partner agencies.
• Provide medical health care to individuals with behavioral and mental health needs by a psychiatric nurse practitioner, doctor, nurse, and/or other licensed medical.
• Provide oral health services that prevent and/or treat cavities, toothaches, and other oral issues.
• Provide behavioral health services that focus on an individuals' mental wellbeing and the external factors of their environment (social determinants of health).
• Dispense essential medication to patients after being prescribed by a provider. This medication is provided for all patients with mental health conditions.
• Monitor patients with behavioral and mental health needs to prevent the development of serious illness and screening for common preventable/treatable health concerns. Services include but are not limited to: A1c, strep, cholesterol, HIV, blood glucose, and STD.
• Provide stable housing to individuals with mental health needs through tenant-based rental assistance to individuals who are homeless.

Number of Grant Awards

This funding opportunity is a Legislative Add-On (LAO) and the award will be issued in totality to Will Grundy Medical Center.

Cost Sharing:

Providers are not required to participate in cost sharing or provide match.

Grant Program Overview

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.

Junior League of Springfield Capacity Building Fund

Through the Junior League of Springfield Capacity Building grant program, the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln provides capacity building grants (up to $1,500) to small nonprofits in Central Illinois to help staff and board members access training and professional development aimed at improving their management, governance and leadership.

Issue: Professional Development for Nonprofits

Area: Sangamon, Montgomery and Christian counties

Capacity building grants are strategic investments in people and organizations to be used to defray the cost of attending programs targeted at improving the management, governance and leadership of the applicant organization. Grants can be used to send staff or board members to a specific workshop or conference or to engage a consultant to provide customized training to one or more organizations.

Our Mission

Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.

Our Vision

An Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.

Founded in 1974, we are the state partner for the National Endowment for the Humanities and supported by state, federal, and private funds. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration. 

Envisioning Justice Grants

These project-based grants support collectives, non-profit organizations, and other groups that use the arts and humanities to work toward a truly just society. Prison education programs, independent media, community dialogues, and conferences are just a few of the impactful initiatives we fund to create understanding about mass incarceration and its impact on communities in Illinois. By supporting those doing this important work, we build more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities.

Envisioning Justice grants have been awarded since 2017, and we work diligently to ensure that the organization will continue to offer this funding opportunity. 

Priority will be given to projects that are:

• regional or statewide in scope
• partnership oriented
• centering impacts of mass incarceration on the following populations:
  • currently or formerly incarcerated individuals
  • people serving long-term sentences
  • young people, particularly those who are justice involved
  • women, particularly women of color and/or impacted by gendered violence
  • LGBTQAI+ community
  • migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, and immigrants
  • elderly populations
  • people with disabilities
  • Indigenous populations
• Or that focus on communities that are:
• The site of a prison or jail
• Experiencing significant incarceration; and/or
• Experiencing significant demographic change as a result of the criminal legal system

Guidelines

• Organizations can apply for grants of up to $10,000.
  • No matching funds are required.
• Optional Accessibility Fund
  • An additional stipend of up to $250 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.
• Optional Media Fund:
  • An additional stipend of up to $100 for services such as documentation, photography, videography, etc.