Best Iroquois County Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

Applications due Jul 31, 2027

Up to US $5,000

Nicor Gas: Pillars of Giving - Family and Social Services

Pillars of Giving

Nicor Gas focuses its charitable giving on five pillars. Grants are most likely to be awarded to organizations that fall into one of the five focus areas noted below and whose programs benefit those within Nicor Gas’ service area.

Family and Social Services

Strong communities depend on good citizens working together. We invest in nonprofit organizations with programs that support families, improve quality of life, foster resilience and enhance social welfare.

The Family and Social Services pillar provides support to social services programs. We focus on communities where stabilization needs are the greatest. Organizations funded under this pillar include social services agencies, non-core health services such as mental health, substance abuse, disability services, and organizations that target civic development. Nicor Gas supports a broad range of programs that promote community and social services, including but not limited to:

Mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs
Domestic violence prevention and treatment programs
Disability services programs
Family support services programs
Rehabilitation programs

Nicor Gas

Unspecified amount

Nicor Gas: Critical Needs Fund

Rolling deadline

The Nicor Gas: Critical Needs Fund, managed by Northern Illinois Community Initiatives, provides essential grants to nonprofit organizations for emergency situations impacting service delivery. Focused on racial equity, the fund aims to support organizations across the Nicor service area, enabling them to address critical needs swiftly, ideally within 30 days. Applicants must demonstrate their 501(c)(3) status and submit detailed project plans, budgets, and impact reports to ensure compliance and responsible fund usage.

Northern Illinois Community Initiatives Inc

Up to US $250,000

Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response Program (IL)

Rolling deadline

The Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response Program in Illinois provides vital funding to assist communities facing urgent threats to public health and safety due to disasters. Grants, capped at $250,000, support initiatives that benefit low-to-moderate income individuals or address significant community needs. Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the program emphasizes enhancing economic development, improving infrastructure, and ensuring safe living conditions for all residents.

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)

Up to US $3,300

Fine Arts Fund Grant

Full proposal due Sep 11, 2026

The Fine Arts Fund Grant, administered by the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, aims to enhance cultural initiatives in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. Grants of up to $2,500 will support non-profit organizations in various artistic disciplines, including music, literature, and visual arts. The foundation seeks impactful projects that demonstrate creativity and community engagement, ensuring that funds are allocated effectively to foster artistic expression and community development.

US $5,000

PLTW Launch - Program Expansion (Ameren)

Ameren has partnered with PLTW to inspire students and provide the hands-on STEM learning experiences necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom. Ameren is a supporter of K-12 STEM education in the region and is working with PLTW to provide grant support to schools interested in implementing and our expanding their PLTW Launch programs.

PLTW Launch

PLTW Launch's 43 interdisciplinary modules bring learning to life. The program empowers students to adopt a design-thinking mindset through compelling activities, projects, and problems that build upon each other and relate to the world around them. And as students engage in hands-on activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they become creative, collaborative problem solvers ready to take on any challenge.

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Launch programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

Program Expansion

Applications due Nov 6, 2026

US $10,000

PLTW Gateway - Program Expansion (John Deere)

The PLTW Gateway program expansion, funded by the John Deere Foundation, aims to enhance access to STEM education for underserved students in John Deere communities. With a commitment to support 1 million youth by 2030, this initiative provides grants to schools seeking to expand their existing PLTW programs. Eligible schools must be within proximity of John Deere facilities and demonstrate a significant enrollment of students participating in free and reduced lunch programs, ensuring equitable educational opportunities.

Project Lead The Way Inc

Up to US $5,000

Nicor Gas: Pillar Grants - Environmental Stewardship

Applications due May 31, 2027

The Nicor Gas Pillar Grants for Environmental Stewardship aim to support initiatives that enhance community engagement in conservation and sustainable practices. Grants up to $5,000 are available for 501(c)(3) organizations that focus on clean air, environmental protection, and green space preservation. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply, particularly those that engage the public in environmental stewardship projects within Nicor Gas’ service area.

Nicor Gas

US $30,000

PLTW Engineering - New Program (Ameren)

PLTW Engineering

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Engineering programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

New Program

Grant Award and Distribution Schedule

Total Award: $30,000
- First Year: $15,000
- Second Year: $15,000

Eastern Illinois Foodbank seeks to enhance its network of partner agencies dedicated to alleviating hunger. Organizations must be located within a specified 18-county area and possess 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, or align with a qualifying umbrella organization. Partners are expected to maintain secure food storage, establish a budget for operational costs, and utilize the Link2Feed electronic system for record-keeping. This initiative ensures effective resource distribution and supports community members in need.

Unspecified amount in in-kind support

Eastern Illinois Foodbank Partnerships

Rolling deadline

Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Unspecified amount

IL Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

Applications due Jan 15, 2027

The Illinois Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) encourages landowners with five or more acres of unimproved land to manage their properties for environmental conservation. By implementing habitat management plans, participants can potentially lower their property tax valuations. Key goals include restoring native species, controlling invasive species, and enhancing critical habitats. This program is essential for preserving Illinois’ biodiversity in a predominantly private landscape, making it a valuable initiative for local landowners.

USDA: Natural Resources Conservation Service of Illinois

Unspecified amount

Hollie & Anna Oakley Foundation Grant

Applications due Oct 10, 2026

The Hollie & Anna Oakley Foundation Grant supports religious, educational, and charitable initiatives in the Wabash Valley, Indiana. Organizations with valid 501(c)(3) status can apply for funding to make a significant impact in west-central Indiana. The foundation prioritizes projects that directly benefit the community and encourages applications year-round, reviewed quarterly by its Board of Trustees. Note that scholarships are funded only for qualifying institutions.

Hollie & Anna Oakley Foundation

Up to US $20,000

ComEd Powering the Arts Program

Applications due Mar 13, 2027

League of Chicago Theatres

The League of Chicago Theatres was founded in 1979 by a small group of theaters formerly known as the Off Loop Producers Association. Their mission was to enrich and sustain the economic and cultural life in Chicago by developing marketing, advocacy and information services to strengthen the operations of member theatres.

Today the League serves many functions for the community including audience development, advocacy, government relations, grant-making, and professional development. The League remains an organization that is governed by our membership and is proud to serve more than 200 theaters. Our membership encompasses a diverse list of companies including not-for-profit and commercial operations, suburban and city-based, all-volunteer storefront operations and large regional theatres.

ComEd Powering the Arts Program

Purpose and Overview

Exposure to the arts is vitally important for the health of our communities. Coming together to share a cultural offering is a way to cultivate community and achieve social connection, which inspires and uplifts us all. Arts and culture should be accessible to everyone. Through this program, ComEd and the League of Chicago Theatres look to reach audiences that have otherwise been unable to access the richness of cultural offerings throughout the ComEd service area.

Experiences in the arts increase creativity across the spectrum of human endeavor. Each experience provides audiences with further opportunities for interaction, whether they are inspired to educate themselves further about the topic, create a work of art themselves, or perhaps to attend another event. Each exposure enhances the quality of life for the audiences but can also change lives in profound ways.

Recognizing that access to art is crucial to the quality of our lives, ComEd has partnered with the League of Chicago Theatres to support cultural institutions in northern Illinois in their efforts to reach new and diverse audiences. The ComEd Powering the Arts program has been designed to assist local institutions in these efforts by providing funding for some expenses toward these goals.

Applicants may request funding for either $20,000 or any amount up to $10,000. Requests for funding between levels ($10,001-$19,999) will not be considered.

League Of Chicago Theatres

Approximately US $42,000

Robert K. Dunn Perpetual Charitable Trust Fund Grant

Full proposal due Sep 11, 2026

The Robert K. Dunn Perpetual Charitable Trust Fund Grant supports nonprofit organizations in the Greater Kankakee River Valley Area, focusing on projects that directly benefit youth. This year, over $42,000 will be awarded to initiatives that enhance youth services, emphasizing visibility, impact, and the ability to demonstrate measurable outcomes. The grant prioritizes organizations with 501(c)(3) status that address pressing community needs, ensuring sustainable benefits for Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.

Letter of inquiry due Jun 15, 2027

Up to US $10,000

Wellness Grants for Leaders and Frontline Workers

The Lumpkin Family Foundation has launched the Wellness Grants for Leaders and Frontline Workers to combat burnout in nonprofit organizations. This program offers up to $2,500 for mental wellness initiatives and up to $10,000 for sabbatical leave for senior leaders. Eligible organizations must have received LFF funding within the last three years and adhere to specific guidelines. The foundation prioritizes the mental health of frontline workers to ensure sustainable community service.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation

US $20,000

PLTW Computer Science - New Program (John Deere)

Applications due Nov 6, 2026

The PLTW Computer Science program, funded by the John Deere Foundation, aims to enhance STEM opportunities for underserved students in John Deere communities. This initiative supports schools initiating or expanding PLTW Computer Science courses starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. With a commitment to inclusive education, the foundation seeks to empower students by providing essential resources and opportunities to develop critical skills that will serve them in future careers.

Project Lead The Way Inc

Up to US $5,000

Nicor Gas: Pillar Grants - Education and Workforce Development

Applications due Sep 30, 2026

Nicor Gas offers Pillar Grants focused on education to support secondary and post-secondary opportunities, including technical and vocational programs. These grants aim to enhance workforce development by fostering partnerships that create awareness of careers in energy and promote diversity and inclusion. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities serving Nicor Gas’ service area, and grants may not exceed $5,000. Applications are encouraged from those aligning with these educational initiatives.

Nicor Gas

Unspecified amount

Community Stewardship Fund Grant

Full proposal due Sep 11, 2026

The Community Stewardship Fund Grant, provided by the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, aims to enhance the quality of life in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties by awarding $6,500 to nonprofit organizations. This fund seeks to address evolving community needs by funding impactful projects that are actionable and clearly communicated. Eligible organizations must hold 501(c)(3) status and operate within the Greater Kankakee River Valley area, prioritizing categories such as education, health, and community services.

Applications due Mar 2, 2027

Up to US $10,000

Communityworks Grant Competition

The Communityworks Grant Competition, run by the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, aims to enhance community welfare through targeted funding. Focus areas include Early Childhood Education, Land Use & Protection, and Workforce Development. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, emphasizing initiatives that address unmet community needs. By fostering collaboration and innovative solutions, the Foundation seeks to ensure sustainable improvements in quality of life for local residents.

US $20,000

PLTW Gateway - New Program (Ameren)

PLTW Gateway

Ameren has partnered with PLTW to inspire students and provide the hands-on STEM learning experiences necessary to thrive in life beyond the classroom. Ameren is a long-time supporter of K-12 STEM education in the region and is working with PLTW to provide grant support to schools interested in implementing or expanding their PLTW Gateway programs.

Middle school is a time of exploration, a time when students are figuring out what they're passionate about today and how that relates to who they'll become tomorrow. During this transitional time, PLTW Gateway's 10 units empower students to lead their own discovery. The hands-on program boosts classroom engagement and excitement, drives collaboration, and inspires “aha! moments” and deep comprehension. And as students engage in PLTW's activities in computer science, engineering, and biomedical science, they see a range of paths and possibilities they can look forward to in high school and beyond.

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Gateway programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

New Program

Grant Award and Distribution Schedule

Total Award: $20,000
- First Year: $10,000
- Second Year: $10,000

US $15,000

PLTW Launch - New Program (Ameren)

PLTW Launch

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Launch programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

New Program

Grant Award and Distribution Schedule

Total Award: $15,000
- First Year: $10,000
- Second Year: $5,000

US $10,000

PLTW Computer Science - Program Expansion (Ameren)

PLTW Computer Science

At a time when computer science affects how we work and live, PLTW Computer Science empowers students in grades 9-12 to become creators, instead of merely consumers, of the technology all around them. The program's interdisciplinary courses engage students in compelling, real-world challenges. As students work together to design solutions, they learn computational thinking – not just how to code – and become better thinkers and communicators. Students take from the courses in-demand knowledge and skills they will use in high school and for the rest of their lives, on any career path they take.

Through this partnership, Ameren has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting or expanding PLTW Computer Science programs beginning in the next academic year.

PLTW Program Status

Program Expansion