Best Operating Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

Armstrong County Community Foundation (The Community Foundation Serving the Heart of Western Pennsylvania)

In 1997 Merchants National Bank, an Armstrong County community bank, marked its 100th anniversary. The centennial celebration included a unique expression of gratitude to the community in the form of $100,000 to be used as a seed fund to initiate a community foundation for Armstrong County. The bank challenged the community to keep the principal balance of the endowed funds intact and spend only a portion of the interest earnings to ensure a lasting legacy.

The Armstrong County Community Foundation, a public nonprofit corporation,

• Gives grants, scholarships, and organizational support to address the needs of our community.
• Builds a permanent endowment to help our donors create a legacy through this endowment.
• Promotes informed philanthropy to increase and sustain charitable resources for the region.
• Provides leadership and builds partnerships to identify and solve community issues.

Kay Detrick Owen Scholarship

The Kay Detrick Owen Scholarship Fund was established in 2007 by The ARC Manor Foundation to support the education of students who plan to major in, or are currently studying for, a degree in human services.

A human services professional is a generic term for people who hold professional and paraprofessional jobs in diverse settings such as group homes, halfway houses, community mental health centers, programs concerned with drugs and alcohol, domestic violence, aging, correctional programs, programs for people with intellectual disabilities, social workers, and probation/parole officials. Human services is a field of study that assists individuals and communities to function as effectively as possible in major domains of living. Its objective is to meet human needs through an applied knowledge base, focusing on prevention as well as remediation of problems, and maintaining a commitment to improving the overall quality of life of service populations.

Suggested (but not limited to) acceptable examples of college majors and human services positions are psychology, sociology, social work, adult education, individual and family guidance counseling, behavioral management, criminal justice, probation officer, rehabilitation, mental health counselor, marriage and family therapist, substance abuse counselor, grief counselor, case manager, child advocate, child life specialist, etc. 

The ISF Narrative Film Grant, established by the Islamic Scholarship Fund, supports emerging Muslim filmmakers by providing funding for narrative films in production or post-production stages. With a focus on compelling storytelling and positive portrayals of the Muslim community, the grant offers mentorship and networking opportunities to enhance the filmmakers' projects. Since its inception in 2014, it has awarded $625,000 to over 111 filmmakers, promoting diverse narratives that resonate with audiences.

The ROSES 2025: A.17 Hydrosphere program by NASA aims to enhance our understanding of Earth's water systems, focusing on Ocean Physics, Precipitation Science, and Terrestrial Hydrology. This initiative invites proposals targeting specific priorities within these disciplines to advance knowledge on water distribution and movement across the Earth. Proposals will undergo rigorous peer review to ensure transparency and scientific integrity, aligning with NASA's commitment to reproducible and collaborative research.

The Advancing Lives Grant, offered by the Advia Foundation, supports nonprofit organizations dedicated to making a meaningful impact in their communities. This grant focuses on initiatives that drive progress and improve lives, ensuring that the funding is directed towards organizations that meet specific eligibility criteria, including tax-exempt status and community involvement. Applications are limited to one grant per year per organization, fostering a fair distribution of resources.

The Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants support American citizens and permanent residents conducting scholarly research on Japan within the U.S. Offering up to $2,500, including daily expenses, these grants aim to enhance the quality of teaching and research in Japanese studies. Eligibility includes being an AAS member and not having received funding in the last three years. Applications are reviewed based on project merit and financial need, prioritizing those with limited access to institutional funding.

The EDA FY25 Disaster Supplemental program provides critical funding to support communities recovering from severe economic distress caused by natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. With no submission deadlines for Readiness and Implementation Paths, and a specific deadline for Industry Transformation applications, this initiative aims to enhance community resilience and improve economic trajectories through strategic projects that engage local stakeholders and private industries.

The Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants provide funding for small scholarly conferences on Japanese studies in the U.S. These grants, up to $5,000, support events that foster collaboration among scholars, focusing on cutting-edge research. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or Japanese nationals and current AAS members. Priority is given to those securing matching funds and for projects not previously funded by NEAC. Ineligible costs include stipends for organizers and travel to unrelated seminars.

The Northeast Asia Council Japan Studies Grants support seminars that enhance knowledge of Japan and improve Japanese language pedagogy. With grants up to $5,000, these projects are aimed at educators and scholars, emphasizing the importance of teaching Japan in academic disciplines. Eligibility includes a detailed project proposal, budget, and current membership in AAS. Preference is given to new projects and those not recently funded by NEAC, ensuring a broad impact on Japanese studies in the U.S.

The Historical Fiction Writing Artist-in-Residence Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports writers for one month, providing a stipend of $3,000. This fellowship encourages applications across various forms of historical fiction, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. Open to scholars of all nationalities, it aims to foster creativity and research in the field of historical narrative. The Newberry Library, a historic institution in Chicago, serves as a rich resource for artists and researchers alike.

Bucks County Foundation

Since our founding in 1979, the staff at BCF have been working closely with donors, local leaders, and nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Bucks County. Our work with local charitable organizations helps to improve the health and wellbeing of children and families across the county.

Scholarships

The Bucks County Foundation is proud to support students throughout Bucks County in their pursuit of higher education and attainment of academic, trade and life skills that translate into economic self-sufficiency. Through the generosity of donors in our region, we manage over 100 scholarship distributions for a wide variety of students with diverse educational journeys.

BC Chapter of the American Institute of Architects George J. Donovan Memorial Scholarship

Provides scholarships to students who attend high school in Bucks County and plan to pursue a career in Architecture by pursuing a major such as, but not limited to, Architecture, Architecture Engineering, Civil Engineering, CAD Technology Sustainable Design.

The Dorsey & Whitney Foundation Grant supports charitable initiatives in communities where Dorsey attorneys reside. Established in 1982, it focuses on organizations that provide legal services to the disadvantaged and engages attorneys in volunteer roles. Each year, around 200 direct grants are awarded across North America, alongside additional support for numerous other organizations through a matching program. This commitment highlights the foundation's dedication to cultural, civic, educational, and social welfare.

Proteus Fund

Proteus Fund partners with foundations, individual donors, activists, and other allies to work strategically towards racial, gender, queer, and disability justice and an inclusive, fully-representative democracy. We curate an ecosystem of mutually reinforcing, aligned donor collaboratives and fiscally sponsored projects that deploy a creative array of strategies and tactics to further this vision.

RISE Together Fund: Small Grants

Call For Application

RISE Together Fund (RTF), an initiative of Proteus Fund, is announcing an open call for inquiries for our 2026 Small Grants Fund for U.S. public charity organizations or fiscally sponsored projects of such organizations, that support Black, African, Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian (BAMEMSA) communities.

As part of RTF’s commitment to prioritizing the needs and sustainability of the fields we collectively support, RTF will provide organizations with general operating grants to allow for organizational flexibility when possible. 

About RTF's Small Grants Fund

BAMEMSA movements have a strong history of organizing and collaboration, and are well poised with the knowledge, learning and experience to build an inclusive, multiracial democratic future and respond to the current unconstitutional threats facing the country. Through this fund, RTF aims to resource community power building organizations that use a multiplicity of approaches to create change rooted in the strength and leadership of BAMEMSA movements.

RTF supports groups that build community power, strengthen movement bases, defend civil and human rights including freedom of protest, speech, religion, and association, end the criminalization and surveillance of our communities, and respond to the rise in xenophobia, Islamophobia, and hate. RTF values groups that are intersectional in their approach and have or are developing sustainable long-term strategies to support BAMEMSA communities and movements.

Priority Issue Areas

• Protecting and advancing the rights of immigrant and refugee BAMEMSA communities by responding to harmful policies and practices, and strengthening community-led advocacy at the local, state, or federal level.

• Mobilizing BAMEMSA communities for nonpartisan civic engagement and election protection by increasing nonpartisan voter participation, combating voter suppression, and building sustained civic infrastructure ahead of, during, and between elections.

• Advocating for U.S. policy changes that end violence in Gaza and the West Bank by elevating Palestinian voices, influencing public discourse, and engaging in advocacy that shifts U.S. political, diplomatic, or funding decisions.

• Challenging harmful national security frameworks and their impacts on BAMEMSA communities by documenting, exposing, and organizing against surveillance, Islamophobia, and policies rooted in the War on Terror, particularly in the context of 9/11’s 25-year legacy.

• Responding to emerging opportunities and threats affecting BAMESMA communities such as influencing policy developments, addressing civic issues in the U.S., or developing narratives to change public discourse. This includes work addressing weaponizing issues around bodily autonomy and LGBTQ+ identity to fracture movements and communities.

Priority Strategies

RTF values organizations that take an intersectional approach and are intentionally building long-term community power. We prioritize support for groups that strengthen movement ecosystems, deepen their base, and defend the rights of BAMEMSA communities through the following strategies:

• Convening, Collaboration, and Movement Coordination: Bringing together organizations, leaders, and coalitions to align shared goals, coordinate strategies to advance shared visions, and reduce fragmentation across the field. This includes facilitating strategic convenings, developing platforms for collaboration, building cross-issue or cross-regional partnerships, developing shared agendas or issue campaigns, and strengthening trust and alignment among movement actors.
• Community Power-Building, Base Building, Civic Engagement, and Organizing: Expanding and activating a grassroots base within BAMEMSA communities to drive collective action and policy change. This includes community leadership development, public education campaigns, community organizing, nonpartisan voter engagement and election protection, and ongoing nonpartisan civic participation efforts that build sustained community power.
• Legal and Policy Advocacy Infrastructure: Advancing legal strategies and policy advocacy that expand and protect the rights of BAMEMSA communities. This includes impact litigation, legal advocacy, know-your-rights efforts, policy development, and advocacy at a local, state, or federal level.
• Communications and Narrative Strategy: Shaping public discourse and advancing narratives that reflect the experiences, dignity, and demands of BAMEMSA communities. This includes developing messaging strategies, producing and amplifying media, countering harmful or divisive narratives (including those targeting immigrants, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ communities, and reproductive rights), and increasing the voice share of BAMEMSA community members.
• Bolstering Movement Infrastructure: Strengthening the internal capacity and long-term sustainability of organizations and the broader movement ecosystem. This includes organizations supporting leadership development and pipelines, data and technology infrastructure, security and safety, and other core functions that enable groups to operate effectively and respond to evolving challenges.

Limited funding may be available for requests above $25,000.

The Charles H. Revson Foundation's Education Grant Program promotes equitable access to knowledge and resources, supporting innovative projects in public libraries, community news publications, and the education of discerning news consumers. This program aims to empower students and strengthen community engagement through education. Eligible applicants are registered nonprofits in the U.S., while individuals and certain project types, such as film or biomedical research, are ineligible for funding.

Community Foundation of the Quincy Area

My Community Foundation (also known as The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving quality of life in the communities it serves by connecting compassionate donors with meaningful causes. The foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit partners to gather charitable contributions, grow those funds through professional investment strategies, and grant the earnings in ways that address local needs now and into the future. It builds and manages permanent endowments tailored to donors’ goals, ensuring their philanthropic visions—whether honoring a loved one, establishing a legacy, or supporting community needs—are realized. Serving a 12-county region across West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the foundation acts as a steward of charitable assets, helping donors make a lasting impact through customized giving opportunities, community grants, and strategic support for nonprofit organizations.

Becky Swisher Crowe Memorial Scholarship Fund

Becky Swisher Crowe Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarship support to graduating seniors from Quincy Senior High School who plan to major in education. Eligibility requirements and application criteria are administered through the school, and interested students should contact their school guidance counselor for additional information. Scholarships are awarded annually in the spring.

The Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund Program, established by Kane County, supports projects that enhance education, environmental initiatives, and economic development within the community. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and local government units. The program prioritizes projects that promote collaboration, practicality, and long-term solutions for community challenges. Notably, funds cannot be used for operating expenses or projects outside Kane County. Favorable consideration is given to initiatives that have broad impact and are designed for replication.

Community Foundation of the Quincy Area

My Community Foundation (also known as The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving quality of life in the communities it serves by connecting compassionate donors with meaningful causes. The foundation works with individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofit partners to gather charitable contributions, grow those funds through professional investment strategies, and grant the earnings in ways that address local needs now and into the future. It builds and manages permanent endowments tailored to donors’ goals, ensuring their philanthropic visions—whether honoring a loved one, establishing a legacy, or supporting community needs—are realized. Serving a 12-county region across West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri, the foundation acts as a steward of charitable assets, helping donors make a lasting impact through customized giving opportunities, community grants, and strategic support for nonprofit organizations.

Amelia E. Bauner, Frances A. Hall, and Walter J. Hall Scholarship Fund

Amelia E. Bauner, Frances A. Hall, and Walter J. Hall Scholarship Fund provides scholarship assistance to students enrolled at Quincy University who are pursuing a degree in education and reside in Adams County. Eligibility requirements and application criteria are coordinated through the school, and interested students should contact their school guidance counselor for additional information. Scholarships are awarded annually in the spring.

The Community Foundation of Carroll County supports nearly 70 academic, sports, special circumstances, and 4-H scholarships. Search scholarships by name, or sort by application type.

Georgia E Frank Scholarship

The mission of the Georgia E. Frank Scholarship Fund is to support graduating Carroll County high school students of all backgrounds and needs as they pursue their dreams of being a teacher. As Georgia was a life-long Family and Consumer Science teacher in Carroll County, this fund aims to invigorate, encourage, and support aspiring young educators as they transition from high school to the collegiate stages of their training. As a teacher, Georgia encouraged her students to love what they do, to do it well, in order to make the world around them a better place to live. We hope this fund provides assistance to similarly minded young people as they pursue their future teaching career.

The Mill Foundation Grant supports programs that benefit disadvantaged youth in the Rockford region, aiming to instill values and life skills. The foundation prioritizes innovative proposals that demonstrate clear goals and effective management. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and serve the greater Rockford area. Grants typically last one year, with the possibility of multi-year commitments. However, funding is not provided for ongoing operational expenses or campaigns.

The Colonel Stanley R. McNeil Foundation Grant, established in 1993, supports quality educational, human services, and healthcare programs for underserved populations, especially children. The foundation encourages start-up initiatives and multi-year funding requests, while prioritizing organizations with operating budgets under $1 million. It distinctly favors charitable organizations that honor its founders, Colonel Stanley R. McNeil and his wife, Merna, and considers requests for naming opportunities. However, grants for individuals and capital projects are generally not accepted.

NASA Internships

Background

NASA has developed a single, one-stop Agency system for the recruitment, application, selection and career development of undergraduate and graduate students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. Students access information about internship and fellowship opportunities across NASA to engage in research, aerospace education and space exploration. A student completes a single internship and/or fellowship application to express interest in up to 15 specific opportunities for each summer, fall, spring or year-long session.

Objectives

NASA Internships are competitive awards to support educational opportunities that provide unique NASA-related research and operational experiences for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as educators. These opportunities serve students by integrating interns with career professionals emphasizing mentor-directed, degree-related tasks, while contributing to the operation of a NASA facility or the advancement of NASA’s missions.

Award Level

Levels may vary per opportunity.

The ISF Policy Scholarship Program offers financial assistance ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for scholars dedicated to improving Muslim representation in media and government. Since 2009, ISF has awarded 747 scholarships to students in fields that influence public policy and opinion, such as political science and international relations. With a commitment to mentorship and real-world experience, ISF aims to foster positive narratives about American Muslims and encourage their involvement in the policymaking process.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grants aim to enhance the life-saving capabilities of public safety organizations. Established in 2005, the foundation supports funding for life-saving equipment, prevention education, scholarships, and disaster relief initiatives. Eligible applicants include public safety entities located within 60 miles of a Firehouse Subs restaurant. This program emphasizes early application submission, as only a limited number of applications are accepted quarterly.

The Snapdragon Book Foundation Grant aims to enhance school libraries for disadvantaged children by providing essential funding. Established in 2008, it supports public, private, and experimental schools in the U.S., including territories. The foundation emphasizes access to quality reading materials, aiming to address inequities caused by structural racism. Eligible libraries can apply for funding to acquire books, reference materials, and subscriptions, ensuring that all students have access to enriching literary resources.

The ENF Community Investments Program - Beacon Grants offers a unique opportunity for Elks Lodges to initiate and lead charitable projects in their local communities. This program encourages Lodges to develop sustainable initiatives, allowing them to address community needs effectively. By fostering collaboration and providing resources, the Beacon Grants enhance the quality of life for residents, including veterans and families. In 2025-26, all Lodges will have the chance to participate, promoting a culture of giving back.

The Henrietta Lange Burk Fund Grant supports arts, culture, education, and health care programs for underserved populations, particularly older adults. Established in 1994 as a memorial by Mrs. Henrietta Lange Burk, the fund emphasizes direct programming and research related to age-related health issues. Grants are typically awarded for one year, with a focus on organizations with operating budgets under $1 million located in the Chicago Metropolitan Area.

The Youth Fund for Social Change Grant, provided by the Crossroads Fund, aims to empower youth in the Chicago area to address social justice issues. This initiative supports organizations and projects focused on advocacy and activism, enabling young people to challenge systemic inequalities. Grants prioritize collaborative efforts and innovative approaches, fostering grassroots leadership among youth. Eligible applicants include youth-led organizations and coalitions with a budget under $1 million, promoting impactful community-driven change.

Broadening Narratives

Broadening Narratives supports diverse stories and collections that expand our understanding of who we are. ​

Our Vision for Broadening Narratives

We work to ensure that those whose stories are being told through collections are included in the decisions about how those stories are told. We seek to broaden the kinds of narratives being told, particularly stories that have never been told, or have been told incompletely or inaccurately.  

This includes stories from culturally specific communities including people of color, LGBTQ+ perspectives, working-class experiences, and small community stories.

We support collections that tell stories that have not been told, have been told incompletely, or have been told inaccurately. We require that those whose stories are being told be included in the decision-making process.

What is broadening narratives?

Why collections? And what do you mean by “Broadening Narratives”? What drove this change in strategy and approach to your collections work? ​

Read this answer and more here.