Best Kankakee County Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

Nonprofit organizations and public entities running food access or nutrition education programs in Kankakee County, Illinois can access funding via Bayer Fund to address malnutrition and hunger. Eligible, established 501(c)(3)s, schools, and local governments in designated legacy-Monsanto communities may be invited to apply for behavior-change nutrition initiatives and food security efforts like pantries, backpack programs, or community gardens.

County fair boards and similar entities in Kankakee County, Illinois can seek funding to renovate, update, or construct agricultural buildings and facilities on fairgrounds. Focused on livestock, youth exhibitors, and agriculture education spaces, Compeer Financial offers up to US $4,000 for projects within its 144-county territory, including Kankakee County.

The DEW Foundation Grant supports tax-exempt charitable organizations globally, aiming to promote the common good through financial contributions and personal involvement. The foundation prioritizes charities where family members are actively involved and focuses on ministries, health, education, and community service. While it may fund its own projects, it typically does not exceed 10% of an organization's operating budget and avoids supporting politically affiliated causes or normal church operations. Innovative and effective organizations are especially welcome.

The PNC Foundation's Grow Up Great Grant is a significant initiative aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for children from birth to age 5. With a commitment of $500 million, this program focuses on improving school readiness through support in vocabulary development, social-emotional learning, and the arts. By partnering with community-based nonprofits, PNC aims to foster stronger, smarter, and healthier communities, ensuring a brighter future for the next generation.

The Special Education - EI Child & Family Connections program, managed by the Illinois Department of Human Services, aims to provide essential services for families with children under three years old facing challenges like child abuse or neglect. This initiative ensures equitable access to early intervention services throughout Illinois, enhancing the welfare of vulnerable children and promoting their developmental needs effectively.

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.

The Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation offers Local Impact Grants to nonprofit organizations in 11 markets, providing $225,000 to support local programs addressing community issues. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits with a revenue exceeding $100,000 and must operate in one of the specified television markets. The grants aim to empower youth through education, promote diverse storytelling, and enhance community engagement. This initiative underscores Comcast's commitment to fostering inclusion and equitable opportunities for underserved communities.

ATI Physical Therapy is dedicated to enhancing community health and wellness through its sponsorship and donation initiatives. With a mission to exceed customer expectations, ATI actively engages in philanthropic efforts that improve lives and promote quality care beyond clinic walls. They encourage requests for support while emphasizing a review process that ensures timely responses. Partnering with local organizations, ATI aims to elevate awareness of health and wellness, impacting thousands of lives each year.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations offering child abuse prevention, youth enrichment, job training, children’s health, or aging-in-place services in the greater Chicago area, including Kankakee County, may be eligible for funding. Focused on self-sufficiency, Topfer Family Foundation invites year-round applications, reviewed quarterly, from community-based service providers.

Apply for Chicago Region Land Conservation Grants

We offer general operating and project grants to organizations that further natural and working land protection and stewardship in the greater Chicago region, with emphasis on integrating climate resiliency, advocacy, and inclusive conservation strategies. ​

Primary Goals of the Foundation’s Chicago Region Land Conservation Strategy

The PLTW Launch program, supported by Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance student engagement in STEM education within eligible communities. This initiative will provide grants to schools that implement at least one PLTW Launch module in the 2025-2026 academic year, followed by another module in subsequent years. The program is designed to empower students with hands-on learning experiences that connect real-world challenges to essential skills, fostering a stronger future in STEM fields.

The Universal Leaf Foundation Grants support 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations primarily in areas where Universal Leaf Tobacco Company operates. Focus areas include education for at-risk individuals, higher education, civic/community arts, and environmental initiatives. The Foundation emphasizes good corporate citizenship and community engagement through financial support and employee volunteerism. Organizations must operate within designated geographic areas and cannot be involved in political advocacy or restrict services based on demographics. Grants aim to enhance community well-being and educational opportunities.

The Cultivate: Leadership Grant Program empowers women and nonbinary leaders of color in Chicago by enhancing their skills in social, economic, and racial justice. Since 2013, it has fostered collaboration among diverse leaders, promoting gender and racial equity through intentional developmental support. Participants receive mentorship and coaching to strengthen their professional capabilities while building a connected community. This initiative is a partnership among significant local foundations, focusing on sustainability and growth within organizations led by women of color.

The PLTW Launch program, in collaboration with Burns and McDonnell, aims to enhance STEM education by expanding access to innovative educational modules in eligible schools. This initiative supports public and charter schools in targeted counties, focusing on increasing student engagement in STEM fields. Through grant funding, participating schools can introduce new PLTW Launch modules and provide essential training for teachers, fostering a richer learning environment to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Nonprofit and community-based organizations advancing equitable community and economic development in Kankakee County, Illinois and other designated Chicago-area communities can apply for the MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment: Vital Communities support. Funding backs place-based initiatives, creative placemaking and placekeeping, and infrastructure organizations providing planning, research, and data analysis for neighborhood revitalization.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Kankakee County, Illinois can seek support for general operating needs and programs in arts empowerment, LGBTQ+ health and rights, legal services, historic preservation, and community advocacy. Focused on equity and justice, Alphawood Foundation prioritizes groups serving the Chicago metropolitan region and invites only strongly aligned new applicants to submit inquiries.

Emergency Response Fund

In response to tornadoes that touched down in Kankakee County on Tuesday, March 10, the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties have activated their joint Emergency Response Fund of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties to support individuals and families impacted by the storm. The Emergency Response Fund was designed to provide swift and coordinated assistance during times of crisis. By pooling resources with a shared grants process and working closely with local nonprofits and community partners, this fund will ensure that local support reaches those most affected by emergencies.

The Emergency Response Fund was originally created during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties. Between 2020 and 2021, the partnership raised more than $680,000, distributing seven rounds of relief funding to local nonprofits so they could continue serving families during the height of the crisis.

​The fund remained on standby for future disasters affecting our community — and has now been activated in response to the recent tornadoes.

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation Grant supports organizations in the Metro Atlanta area, focusing on education, entrepreneurship, community enrichment, and environmental sustainability. Established in 1958, the foundation prioritizes investments that align with its mission and values, promoting long-term well-being within communities where Georgia-Pacific operates. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, and local government entities located within 30 miles of GP manufacturing sites.

Farmers market vendors in Kankakee County, Illinois who are Compeer Financial clients can receive up to US $500 to improve education, marketing, or technology for their booths. Grants from Compeer Financial help fund branding, websites, mobile payment tools, and equipment like scales, tents, tables, coolers, labeling tools, and signage.

Rural volunteer fire, rescue, or ambulance departments collaborating across adjacent jurisdictions in Kankakee County, Illinois can seek funding for specialized emergency response equipment. With a mission to support rural communities, Compeer Financial provides up to US $7,500 toward items like chest compression systems or hydraulic extrication tools within its 144-county Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin territory.

The Chicago White Sox Grant aims to improve the lives of Chicago's underserved communities through funding for programs in child abuse prevention, health and wellness, youth education, and cancer research. With over $47 million distributed, the grant seeks qualified nonprofit organizations that demonstrate strong financial health and impactful outcomes. Interested parties should prepare for the 2027 grant cycle, as inquiries for the 2026 cycle are no longer accepted, with reviews starting in June 2026.

Potawatomi Hotel & Casino is committed to community support through philanthropy, providing jobs and financial assistance. Their Heart of Canal Street program has donated over $13.6 million since 1994, helping local children. They recycle used playing cards for nonprofit organizations and donate auction items for fundraising events within a 125-mile radius. However, they do not support K-12 schools or for-profit entities, ensuring their contributions are directed to those in need.

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.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting children’s education, health, and well-being in Kankakee County, Illinois can request product donations or support that foster outdoor active play. Radio Flyer supports early childhood development, youth services, and related children’s programs, with remaining giving directed to local Chicagoland nonprofits serving kids from infancy through age eight.

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

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.