Search Through Medical Equipment Grants in Illinois in the U.S.

What does this program do?

This program provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community for the orderly development of the community in a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.

What is an eligible area?

Rural areas including cities, villages, townships and towns including Federally Recognized Tribal Lands with no more than 20,000 residents according to the latest U.S. Census Data are eligible for this program.

How may funds be used?

Funds can be used to purchase, construct, and / or improve essential community facilities, purchase equipment and pay related project expenses.

Examples of essential community facilities include:

• Health care facilities such as hospitals, medical clinics, dental clinics, nursing homes or assisted living facilities.
• Public facilities such as town halls, courthouses, airport hangars or street improvements.
• Community support services such as child care centers, community centers, fairgrounds or transitional housing.
• Public safety services such as fire departments, police stations, prisons, police vehicles, fire trucks, public works vehicles or equipment.
• Educational services such as museums, libraries or private schools.
• Utility services such as telemedicine or distance learning equipment.
• Local food systems such as community gardens, food pantries, community kitchens, food banks, food hubs or greenhouses.

Grant Approval

Applicant must be eligible for grant assistance, which is provided on a graduated scale with smaller communities with the lowest median household income being eligible for projects with a higher proportion of grant funds. Grant assistance is limited to the following percentages of eligible project costs:

Maximum of 75 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 5,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 60 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 55 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 12,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 70 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 35 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 80 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income.

Maximum of 15 percent when the proposed project is:

• Located in a rural community having a population of 20,000 or fewer; and
• The median household income of the proposed service area is below the higher of the poverty line or 90 percent of the State nonmetropolitan median household income. The proposed project must meet both percentage criteria. Grants are further limited.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

Mission

The DanPaul Foundation will use its resources to help train teachers and parents in early childhood development, protect children from abuse and neglect, stimulate children's personal social responsibilities, and offer them opportunities for enrichment and growth.

The Foundation will also encourage children to be concerned and informed about the environment and the underprivileged, particularly with regard to clean air and water, and adequate housing and nutrition for all.

Beliefs

The DanPaul Foundation believes that children should have ample opportunities for enrichment in their lives, and thus strives to provide many different ways to enrich and expand children's minds through direct programs and monetary support to organizations doing similar work.

We have provided or currently provide grants related to the following program areas:

• Workshops, Conferences, + Seminars: We strive to offer educational workshops, conferences, and seminars for parents and teachers on topics related to early childhood development.
• Student Scholarships: We aim to help students attending post-secondary education institutions by providing need-based and academic scholarships.
• Scientific Endeavors: We desire to advance scientific endeavors which seek to improve the quality of life for everyone in the world.
• Clean Air + Water: We hope to pass on knowledge and practical life skills to youth regarding their personal responsibility to the environment, teaching them about issues surrounding clean air and water.
• Child Advocacy: We believe in protecting children from abuse and neglect and particularly love to support programs that provide education and assistance to children as well as organizations advocating or caring for vulnerable children.
• Homelessness: We want to encourage young people to take a personal interest in seeing that adequate housing and proper nutrition, especially for the underprivileged and homeless, are available.
• Poverty + Neglect: We seek to help those in poverty as well as educate youth about their responsibility to consider the underprivileged and take care of those most in need of life's basic essentials like adequate housing and proper nutrition.
• Refugee Enrichment: We wish to help refugee youth by supporting programs that provide them enrichment and help them transition to life in a new country.

The DanPaul Foundation provides grants to 501(c)3 tax-exempt non-profit organizations as defined by the IRS. The Foundation is interested in providing funding to programs that directly serve the health, education, development, and welfare of the world's youth.

Grants range from a few hundred dollars up to $15,000 per calendar year.

Global Impact Cash Grants

Cisco welcomes applications for Global Impact Cash Grants from community partners around the world who share our vision and offer an innovative approach to a critical social challenge.

We identify, incubate, and develop innovative solutions with the most impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofits and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We’re looking for programs that fit within our investment areas, serve the underserved, and leverage technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services. We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. An initial information form is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application.

Social Investment Areas

At Cisco, we make social investments in three areas where we believe our technology and our people can make the biggest impact—education, economic empowerment, and crisis response, the last of which incorporates shelter, water, food, and disaster relief. Together, these investment areas help people overcome barriers of poverty and inequality, and make a lasting difference by fostering strong global communities.

Education Investments

Our strategy is to inclusively invest in technology-based solutions that increase equitable access to education while improving student performance, engagement, and career exploration. We support K-12 solutions that emphasize science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as well as literacy. We also consider programs that teach environmental sustainability, eliminate barriers to accessing climate change education, and invite student engagement globally to positively affect the environment.

What we look for:

• Innovative early grade solutions using the internet and technology to bridge the barriers preventing access to education for underserved students globally.
• Solutions that positively affect student attendance, attitudes, and behavior while inspiring action by students to improve learning outcomes, whether they participate in person, online, or in blended learning environments. 
• Solutions with high potential to replicate and scale globally, thereby increasing the availability of evidence-based solutions that support student-centricity, teacher capacity in the classroom, and increased parental participation to help students learn and develop.

Economic Empowerment

Our strategy is to invest in early stage, tech-enabled solutions that provide equitable access to the knowledge, skills, and resources that people need to support themselves and their families toward resilience, independence, and economic security.

Our goal is to support solutions that benefit individuals and families, and that contribute to local community growth and economic development in a sustainable economy.

We target our support in three interconnected areas:

• Skills development to help job seekers secure dignified employment and long-term career pathways in technology or other sectors, including environmental sustainability/green jobs.
• Inclusive entrepreneurship with small businesses as engines of local growth as well as high growth potential start-ups as large-scale job creators nationally and internationally, in technology or other sectors, including environment sustainability/green businesses.
• Banking the unbanked through relevant and affordable financial products and capacity building services.

Cisco Crisis Response

We seek to help overcome the cycle of poverty and dependence and achieve a more sustainable future through strategic investments. We back organizations that successfully address critical needs of underserved communities, because those who have their basic needs met are better equipped to learn and thrive.

What we look for:

• Innovative solutions that increase the capacity of grantees to deliver their products and services more effectively and efficiently
• Design and implementation of web-based tools that increase the availability of, or improve access to, products and services that are necessary for people to survive and thrive
• Programs that increase access to clean water, food, shelter, or disaster relief and promote a more sustainable future for all
  • By policy, relief campaigns respond to significant natural disaster and humanitarian crises as opposed to those caused by human conflict. Also by policy, our investments in this area do not include healthcare solutions.

Climate Impact

Our strategy is to invest US$100 million in Cisco Foundation funds over the next decade to help reverse the impact of climate change, working toward a sustainable and regenerative future for all.

The commitment includes both grant and impact investment funding for early-stage climate innovation. Both categories of support will be focused on bold climate solutions, and the grants side will also concentrate on community education and activation. Grants will go to exceptionally aligned nonprofit organizations, while impact investments will go to highly promising for-profit solutions through the private sector and climate impact funds.

Funding comes from the Cisco Foundation and will focus on:

• Identifying bold and innovative solutions that:
  • Draw down the carbon already in the atmosphere
  • Regenerate depleted ecosystems and broadly support the transition to a regenerative future
• Developing curricular initiatives to spur community engagement that can lead to measurable behavioral change and collective action

We will prioritize organizations that can achieve, measure, and report outcomes such as:

• Reduction, capture, and/or sequestering of greenhouse gas and carbon emissions
• Increased energy efficiency and improved mapping and management of natural resources, such as ecosystem restoration, forest treatments, reforestation, and afforestation that also will help repair our water cycles
• Transition to inclusive, just, coliberatory, and regenerative operating models, ways of being, and ways of organizing economies
• Creation of, and increase in, access to green jobs and job training
• Changes in community and individual behavior that lead to carbon footprint reduction, community climate resilience, and localized roadmaps to a sustainable shared climate future for all

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to implement a capital grant program to support reproductive health care facilities in Illinois that are experiencing increased demand for their services.

Program Description

Illinois residents should have the ability to make autonomous, informed, and evidence-based decisions about their reproductive health and to have timely access to quality reproductive health care that adheres to accepted standards of medical practice or care. Following the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, Illinois clinics have seen an influx of out-of-state patients, resulting in limited capacity and stress to reproductive health care service providers.

To address the need to maintain and expand access to care, the Illinois Reproductive Health Facilities Capital Grant Program will help abortion providers in Illinois address their needs for capital investment. Grant funds may be used to invest in facility construction or durable equipment. Projects could include:

• New construction, renovation, or major repairs that facilitate expansion or continuation of pregnancy-related medical services
• Investment in new or upgraded equipment that improve care quality or facility capacity, including medical devices or vehicles for mobile care units
• Investment to upgrade or enhance security (barriers, alarm/surveillance systems, etc.)

Award amounts for eligible projects may range from $50,000 to $500,000. Grant recipients must provide a 15% total project cost match.

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Grants

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation only accepts unsolicited proposals for specific areas within the education, family economic stability and childhood health sectors in select countries where we work, namely the United States, India and South Africa.

As a guideline, the foundation does not fund more than 25% of a project’s budget or more than 10% of an organization’s total annual operating expenses.

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has always recognized the power of providing grants to partner organizations that we knew were already working hard to improve the lives of urban children living in poverty. By aligning with organizations that are already making a difference, we continue to make an immediate impact on the lives of thousands of children.

Foundation priorities:

We fund social enterprises that directly serve or impact children or youth from urban low-income communities in the areas of education, health, and family economic stability (including livelihoods and financial inclusion). These social enterprises may be structured as for-profit or nonprofit entities.

Partnerships

We collaborate with a range of organizations focused on creating opportunities for children and families living in urban poverty, with a deep emphasis on measuring impact. Our funding advances projects already making an impact in education, health, and family economic stability. Through these enduring and long-standing partnerships, we create lasting change together.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Pew Biomedical Scholars 

The Pew Scholars Program in the Biomedical Sciences provides funding to young investigators of outstanding promise in science relevant to the advancement of human health. The program makes grants to selected academic institutions to support the independent research of outstanding individuals who are in their first few years of their appointment at the assistant professor level.

Based on their performance during their education and training, candidates should demonstrate outstanding promise as contributors in science relevant to human health. Strong proposals will incorporate particularly creative and pioneering approaches to basic, translational, and applied biomedical research. Candidates whose work is based on biomedical principles but who bring in concepts and theories from more diverse fields are encouraged to apply.

Ideas with the potential to produce an unusually high impact are encouraged. Selection of the successful candidates will be based on a detailed description of the work that the applicant proposes to undertake, evaluations of the candidate’s performance, and notable past accomplishments, including honors, awards, and publications. In evaluating the candidates, the National Advisory Committee gives considerable weight to both the project proposal and the researcher, including evidence that the candidate is a successful independent investigator and has the skill set needed to carry out their high-impact proposal.

Funding from the NIH, other government sources, and project grants from nonprofit associations do not pose a conflict with the Pew scholars program.

Funding

The current grant level is $300,000.

An award of $75,000 per year for four years will be provided to the sponsoring institution for use by the scholar, subject to annual review of the scholar’s progress. Grant agreements will be issued in August of the award year. The awarded funds may be used at the discretion of the Pew scholar, for personnel, equipment, supplies, or travel directly related to the scholar's research and as to best advance his or her research and career.

• The amount of the award that may be used for the principal investigator’s salary is limited to $12,500 per year (including benefits) or $50,000 over the duration of the grant. There are no limits on student or postdoctoral salaries.
• Not more than 8 percent ($24,000) of the total award value may be allocated for facilities and administration (F&A) charges or indirect costs (IDCs).
• Should the funds not be immediately required, they may be accumulated and carried over through the grant period and, with written approval of the program office, the grant may receive a no-cost extension for one additional year (without additional funds).
• Subawards are allowed.

During the four-year grant term, program participants are required to attend an annual meeting held in March or April. All eligible expenses for attendees’ travel, lodging, and meals are paid by Pew. The meeting provides Pew scholars with an opportunity to present their research and for scientific collaboration and exchange with other scholars and members of the National Advisory Committee.

About the Foundation

Jesse W. Couch lived a life of zeal, honor, and dedication to the betterment of his community. The Couch family now humbly stewards the foundation he created to carry on his legacy of service for future generations. We believe that impact is best accomplished through partnerships with local organizations that know the people and communities they serve. We invest in and support efforts to protect the environment, further conservation and preservation initiatives, and save historical architecture that preserves community heritage. We also support initiatives that promote wellness and mental health and organizations seeking to provide and further education for all communities.

Annual Grant Focus

Each year, we seek to partner with and support non-profit organizations making an impact in the focus areas listed here.  The focus areas for 2025 are:

• Animal Wellbeing: We are dedicated to helping nonprofit organizations that nurture compassion and respect for all living animals. We must have animal-focused organizations that advocate for animal rights and provide humane treatment across all spectrums.
• Early Childhood Education: We are looking for schools that are providing young children with a creative and balanced approach to education. Things we love in early childhood curriculums:
  • Life Skills
  • Collaboration With Their Peers and Teachers   
  • Having Fun   
  • Montessori Teachings   
  • Project Based Teachings   
  • Diversity   
  • More Time Outside   
  • Less Screen Time
• Teachers: Teachers are essential to providing children with the best possible education. We must invest in their future and are always looking for teams that help them succeed in educating future generations.
• Get Outside: Being outside can improve memory, fight depression, lower blood pressure, and more! We support organizations that facilitate and encourage more outdoor activities that help create healthier communities. 

Illinois Racing Board Charity Grant

For more than 30 years, the Illinois Racing Board Charity Fund Program has provided more than $26 million for medical, dental, family, counseling, and other services (“Wellness Services”) to persons who reside or work on the backstretch of Illinois’ pari-mutuel race tracks. The State of Illinois’ Illinois Racing Board (“IRB”) is the only racing jurisdiction in the United States that has this type of program. Specifically, Section 31.1 of the Illinois Horse Racing Act of 1975 (“Racing Act”) requires organization licensees (a/k/a race tracks) collectively to contribute annually to charity the sum of $750,000 to non-profit organizations that provide Wellness Services to persons who reside or work on the backstretch of Illinois’ pari-mutuel race tracks. Workers care for the wellbeing of the equine athletes participating in the live race meets.

OBJECTIVES & GOALS

• To provide Wellness Services on site at all Illinois pari-mutuel race tracks to fulfill the needs of the persons who reside or work on the backstretch of Illinois’ pari-mutuel race tracks.
• To maximize the overall number of backstretch residents and workers being treated and provided Wellness Services while limiting non-treatment expenses.
• To assist backstretch residents and workers in receiving timely, adequate, and necessary Wellness Services to continue employment on the backstretch with the least amount of inconvenience and disruption to such persons and Illinois horse racing.

FUNDING INFORMATION

• The IRB Charity Fund Program is a state-funded program [230 ILCS 5/31.1].
• For calendar year 2024, the IRB anticipates the availability of approximately $767,193 in total funds.
• The anticipated number of State awards will be one (1), with average awards ranging from $0 to $767,193.40.
• The grant period will begin January 1, 2024, and will end on December 31, 2024; provided, however, the IRB may include 2 “one-year” renewal terms and execution of a new Uniform State Grant Agreement for each renewal term.
• The release of this NOFO does not obligate the IRB to make an award. Services may not be provided until a Uniform State Grant Agreement is fully executed.
• All grants are subject to the terms of the Illinois Grant Funds Recovery Act [30 ILCS 705].
• The grant program may provide up to a maximum of 100% funding assistance on total approved project costs.
• No IRB Charity Fund Program funds shall be used for construction that is not an expansion of an already existing program facility or included in applicant’s application; provided, however, prior written approval of the IRB is required for any capital construction expenditures.
• Rules and regulations are enforced limiting the use of funds for their intended purpose of the program via audit, reporting, on-site reviews, and monitored on a quarterly basis.
• Specific contract deliverables and expenditures of grant funds shall also adhere to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (“Uniform Guidance”), Title 2 CFR 200, as applicable.
• Although this program is not funded through federal funds, the State of Illinois has adopted the Uniform Guidance as the standard for funds distributed through State of Illinois agencies.
• Applicant must submit a project plan which supports the level of funding and details how the award will be executed by the applicant.
• The project plan must include necessary detail to enable the IRB to manage the grant agreement activity against planned project performance.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education,
• environment,
• enrichment and
• entrepreneurship.

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

The Lawrence Foundation is a private family foundation focused on making grants to support environmental, human services and other causes.

The Lawrence Foundation was established in mid-2000. We make both program and operating grants and do not have any geographical restrictions on our grants. Nonprofit organizations that qualify for public charity status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or other similar organizations are eligible for grants from The Lawrence Foundation.  

Grant Amount and Types

Grants typically range between $5,000 - $10,000. In some limited cases we may make larger grants, but that is typically after we have gotten to know your organization over a period of time. We also generally don’t make multi-year grants, although we may fund the same organization on a year by year basis over a period of years.

General operating or program/project grant requests within our areas of interests are accepted. In general, regardless of whether a grant request is for general operating or program/project expenses, all of our grants will be issued as unrestricted grants.

PLTW Gateway

John Deere Foundation has partnered with PLTW to increase access and participation to PLTW programs for students located in John Deere home communities who historically have been underserved and underrepresented in STEM. This partnership is part of the John Deere Foundation's Bold Commitments to support 1 million underserved and underrepresented youth by 2030. 

As part of their 10-year commitment, the John Deere Foundation is dedicated to ensuring inclusive and equitable student access to resources and educational opportunities critical for human dignity and self-sufficiency. 

PLTW programs empower students to develop and apply in-demand, transportable skills by exploring real-world challenges. Through this partnership, John Deere Foundation has committed funds to support PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW Gateway programs beginning in the 2025-2026 academic year.

Program Requirements

Grantee must offer at least one PLTW Gateway unit in the 2025-2026 academic year and must offer one additional unit each academic year of the grant period (two different units in two years). Grantee may implement any PLTW Gateway units of their choosing, except for Medical Detectives. 

PLTW Program Status - New Program

School Type: Public, Private, Charter

Grantmaking

The great majority of grants are given to organizations located in, and for projects to be conducted within, the state of Iowa and portions of Illinois, as well as to other organizations in which Mr. Carver had an interest during his lifetime. Generally speaking, the Carver Trust supports biomedical and scientific research, scholarships, and programs addressing the educational and recreational needs of youth. 

Program Areas

Elementary and Secondary Education

Supporting educational opportunities for youth, beginning with kindergarten and continuing through high school graduation, is a cornerstone of Carver Trust giving. Grant-making activities in this area may be divided into three, broad categories, each with the goal of enhancing access to resources and the application of innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Read more about this program area.

Higher Education

The Trust’s interests in the area of higher education extend to those projects that strengthen institutions and offer innovative learning opportunities to students enrolled in baccalaureate and graduate programs throughout the grant-making region of Iowa and parts of Illinois. Typically, funding is awarded to capital or programmatic initiatives that seek to substantively improve instruction or increase access to educational resources, with the goal of better preparing students for future academic and professional challenges. Projects incorporating interdisciplinary approaches and demonstrating the potential for lasting impact among a diverse range of students are especially encouraged. Read more about this program area.

Medical and Scientific Research

The goal of the Trust’s program in medical and scientific research is to provide support for innovative investigation that may hold great promise for advancing scientific knowledge and, in many cases, improving human health. To this end, the Trust has supported a variety of university-based scientific endeavors, most notably in the basic medical sciences, the chemical and biological sciences, and engineering. Although a majority of funding is awarded for the purpose of addressing institutional capital needs, a parallel focus of this program area is the research efforts of particular laboratories, often emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and encouraging the development of untried, and inherently risky, specific aims. Read more about this program area.

Youth Services and Recreation

Projects receiving Trust funding under the youth program designation are typically designed to complement curriculum-based education and encourage individual development and physical well-being. Of the grants awarded within this category, a significant portion has been directed toward the efforts of organizations advocating for disadvantaged and disabled youth and their families. As an example, improving the conditions at adolescent residential facilities in Iowa, including those that offer opportunities for special-needs populations, has represented an important area of Trust charitable giving around the state.

In addition, grants to help communities establish safe and affordable recreation opportunities are also part of the youth-directed programming. The Trust offers strategic funding for the development of public recreation facilities and related activities for children, with priority given to projects in the Iowa counties of Muscatine, Cedar, Louisa and Scott, as well as Rock Island and Mercer Counties in Illinois. More information on the youth recreation program area may be found under Trust Initiated Programming & Guidelines.

Miscellaneous

Grants listed under this designation are those that, for various reasons, do not fall within the Trust’s primary program classifications. Many grants classified as miscellaneous are for projects receiving special consideration for their direct impact on the local Muscatine region.

Awards in this category of Trust giving may, for example, provide support to organizations mobilizing to help area residents following a natural disaster or emergency, such as flooding or storm damage. Other assistance of this type has been directed to local first-responder and law enforcement agencies, which have received occasional support for specialized medical, firefighting and policing equipment, as well as situations whereby certain area nonprofits are seeking one-time support for urgent capital or programming needs.

Still other miscellaneous grants celebrate special events and aspects of Muscatine and its history, as well as organizations and projects that share a unique connection to the life and interests of Roy Carver. Additionally, occasional grants in this program area may serve to emphasize important natural resources throughout the local area and the upper Mississippi River region, with a focus on projects that help to guide children and youth toward a deeper understanding of, and respect for, the ecosystem and surrounding environment.

Ameriprise Financial Grantmaking

At Ameriprise Financial, giving back is deeply rooted in our culture. We’ve initiated positive change in the communities where we live and work for more than 120 years. We believe our community involvement enables us to actively live our values. Through grant making, volunteerism and employee and financial advisor gift matching programs, we support a diverse group of over 6,000 nonprofits across the country.

Focus Areas

Awarding grant dollars to nonprofits is one way we strengthen our communities and help individuals on a path to financial independence. To ensure we're meeting the needs of our communities and making an even greater collective impact, we focus on three key giving areas when awarding grants.

Volunteer engagement is a priority across all focus areas:

The engagement of Ameriprise employees and financial advisors is a critical component of our philanthropy. Whether it’s serving on a nonprofit board, engaging friends, clients and community members in volunteering or providing skills-based support, our relationships with nonprofits go deep. For this reason, we give priority across all focus areas to applications where there is active volunteer engagement of Ameriprise advisors and employees. 

Meeting Basic Needs

At Ameriprise Financial, we help clients achieve financial security and peace of mind. That’s satisfying, meaningful work. We also help the people in our neighborhoods who struggle to meet basic needs such as where their next meal comes from, where they’ll sleep tonight or how they’ll find a higher wage job. We’re here to help them through the three platforms of our Meeting Basic Needs focus area.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Hunger
• Food banks, food shelves and food pantries, daily meal programs or meal services for the homebound
• Hunger-relief programs targeted to meet the special needs of children, ethnic populations or veterans
• Food programs run by nonprofits where hunger is not their sole focus, for example a youth meal program at the YWCA or a backpack program run by a Boys & Girls Club
• Shelter
• Emergency shelter, including youth homelessness
• Transitional housing, permanent supportive housing and efforts to end chronic homelessness
• Housing-first models (programs quickly providing housing and then addressing needed services)
• Achieving and maintaining home ownership, repair and maintenance efforts helping keep seniors, veterans and other populations in their homes 
• Adult Self-Sufficiency: Programs serving adults age 21 and older that help address the following areas:
• Basic hard and soft skills that help adults achieve economic and family stability
• Basic financial and budgeting skills
• Increase employability and wages, including work readiness and job transitions
• Employment of disabled adults

Supporting Community Vitality

We believe communities should be strong, healthy and resilient. We want livable places for all, where neighbors look out for one another, cultural events are well-attended and people pull together in times of crisis and joy. We work to create economic vitality and cultural enrichment through the following areas of focus.

Consideration is given to applications addressing the following: 

• Community Development
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Economic development
• Strengthening and supporting small businesses and nonprofits through technical expertise
• Cultural Enrichment
• Arts education
• Access for underserved populations
• Diverse artists and performances that spark topical community conversations 

Volunteer Driven Causes: Ameriprise employees and financial advisors are outstanding volunteers who serve in teams and also as individuals bringing personal skill-sets to nonprofits. Volunteering is part of the culture at Ameriprise and we are proud to support communities through contributions of both service and financial resources. 

Funding for Volunteer-Driven Causes is determined by current Ameriprise volunteerism. In general, funding is in proportion to the size of the Ameriprise volunteer team supporting a nonprofit. A team may include employees, financial advisors and/or staff or a combination of any Ameriprise volunteers. 

Mission

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust is a private foundation focused on preventing cruelty to animals and promoting the humane treatment of animals, particularly companion animals such as dogs and cats, and other species of animals commonly kept as household pets. The Foundation also supports efforts to protect the well-being of urban-suburban native wildlife, captive exotic wildlife, farmed animals, working animals, and non-human animals generally. It extends in perpetuity the generosity toward animals in need shown by Kenneth Allen Scott during his lifetime, and assists those who care for them today.

Grant Guidelines

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust invites applications for projects to advance the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. It is focused on helping organizations go beyond basic care with innovative projects that provide an enhanced quality of life today and in the future.

Program Areas

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust’s priority is helping organizations go beyond basic care to support initiatives that will provide an enhanced quality of life for homeless and abused companion animals today and in the future. Funding applications should address one of the following program areas:

• Animal Adoption, Behavior Training, and Fostering
• Continuing Education and Training
• Humane and Wildlife Education
• Medical Care, Rehabilitation, and Wellness Care for Animals
• Pet and Feral Animal Population Control through Spay/Neuter
• Equipment
• Other Animal Care Initiatives

Who we are

At Mercyhealth, our doctors, nurses and staff are committed to making lives better for our patients and their families. They bring knowledge and innovation to ensure that our patients receive world-class health care. From the hospital to home, our integrated health system offers high-quality care at every step of the health journey.

Benefits of choosing an integrated health system

As an integrated health system, we provide exceptional, coordinated health care for almost every need. Integration improves access to services, technology and treatments, and leads to better outcomes.

To best serve our patients, our integration centers around four core service areas.

• Hospital-based services

When you or a loved one are sick or injured, you want expert doctors, state-of-the-art technology, a compassionate medical team and comfortable surroundings. Mercyhealth provides this and much more.

Mercyhealth has hospitals in Crystal Lake, Rockford and Harvard, Illinois, and Janesville and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

• Clinic-based services

We offer you convenient care close to where you live, work and play. With four dozen clinics and hundreds of primary and specialty care doctors throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, care is always close by. Find a clinic near you.

• Post-acute care and retail services

From home health and hospice services, to pharmacies, to medical equipment and supplies, we've got you covered.

• Health insurance

MercyCare Health Plans offers a variety of plans to meet your needs. MercyCare has been providing dependable, affordable health care coverage since 1994.

Mercyhealth Ethnic Minority Nursing Scholarship

Three $2,000 scholarships are available to ethnic minority individuals pursuing a nursing degree and residing in Mercyhealth’s northern Illinois service area. Students must also be fluent in Spanish. Must have obtained and maintained a grade point average of 3.0 on a scale of 4.0 in related studies. Scholarships will be awarded based on an individual’s academic standing, extracurricular activities, volunteer efforts and financial need. This scholarship is funded by the Mercyhealth Volunteer Association of Northern Illinois.

Who we are

At Mercyhealth, our doctors, nurses and staff are committed to making lives better for our patients and their families. They bring knowledge and innovation to ensure that our patients receive world-class health care. From the hospital to home, our integrated health system offers high-quality care at every step of the health journey.

Benefits of choosing an integrated health system

As an integrated health system, we provide exceptional, coordinated health care for almost every need. Integration improves access to services, technology and treatments, and leads to better outcomes.

To best serve our patients, our integration centers around four core service areas.

• Hospital-based services

When you or a loved one are sick or injured, you want expert doctors, state-of-the-art technology, a compassionate medical team and comfortable surroundings. Mercyhealth provides this and much more.

Mercyhealth has hospitals in Crystal Lake, Rockford and Harvard, Illinois, and Janesville and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

• Clinic-based services

We offer you convenient care close to where you live, work and play. With four dozen clinics and hundreds of primary and specialty care doctors throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, care is always close by. Find a clinic near you.

• Post-acute care and retail services

From home health and hospice services, to pharmacies, to medical equipment and supplies, we've got you covered.

• Health insurance

MercyCare Health Plans offers a variety of plans to meet your needs. MercyCare has been providing dependable, affordable health care coverage since 1994.

Mercyhealth Harvard Medical Staff Scholarship

Two $1,000 scholarships are available to graduating seniors at Harvard High School who are pursuing a career in health care: one female and one male recipient.

Who we are

At Mercyhealth, our doctors, nurses and staff are committed to making lives better for our patients and their families. They bring knowledge and innovation to ensure that our patients receive world-class health care. From the hospital to home, our integrated health system offers high-quality care at every step of the health journey.

Benefits of choosing an integrated health system

As an integrated health system, we provide exceptional, coordinated health care for almost every need. Integration improves access to services, technology and treatments, and leads to better outcomes.

To best serve our patients, our integration centers around four core service areas.

• Hospital-based services

When you or a loved one are sick or injured, you want expert doctors, state-of-the-art technology, a compassionate medical team and comfortable surroundings. Mercyhealth provides this and much more.

Mercyhealth has hospitals in Crystal Lake, Rockford and Harvard, Illinois, and Janesville and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

• Clinic-based services

We offer you convenient care close to where you live, work and play. With four dozen clinics and hundreds of primary and specialty care doctors throughout northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, care is always close by. Find a clinic near you.

• Post-acute care and retail services

From home health and hospice services, to pharmacies, to medical equipment and supplies, we've got you covered.

• Health insurance

MercyCare Health Plans offers a variety of plans to meet your needs. MercyCare has been providing dependable, affordable health care coverage since 1994.

Mercyhealth Minority/Veteran Scholarships

Two $2,000 scholarships are available to minority or veteran individuals residing in Mercyhealth’s service area in Wisconsin and Illinois who are pursuing secondary education in a health care career.

FY26 NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Program

The Illinois State Police Office of the Statewide 9-1-1 Administrator (hereafter “Administrator”) seeks NG9-1-1 Expenses Grant Proposals as defined in 50 ILCS 750/30(b)(1)(E) with priority given to 9-1-1 Authorities that provide 9-1-1 service within the territory of a Large Electing Provider as defined in Section 13-406.1 of the Public Utilities Act for NG9-1-1 Expenses Grants. 9-1-1 systems outside of municipalities with a population over 500,000 shall be eligible to apply. Applicants must submit proposals in compliance with the Act.

The Administrator’s goals in administering the program are to defray costs associated with the replacement or upgrade of legacy 9-1-1 call handling positions to a hosted solution (preferred) that is Next Generation 9-1-1 i3 capable, the replacement of a legacy recording system with an i3 capable multimedia recording system, GIS projects that meet the criteria defined below to support the implementation of NG911, EMD Protocol Upgrades to a CAD Integrated solution, a CAD-to-CAD Interface between a Primary and Backup PSAP or between PSAPs in the same 911 System and Indoor K-12 School Mapping.

Grants will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated to the Illinois State Police (ISP) under the Act from the Statewide 9-1-1 Fund. The ISP shall administer the program and award grants based on criteria that include but are not limited to the following:

i3 CAPABLE CALL HANDLING EQUIPMENT

Implementation of Hosted (preferred) NG9-1-1 Call Handling Equipment that upgrades or replaces a primary PSAPs legacy call handling equipment.

i3 CAPABLE MULTIMEDIA RECORDING SYSTEM

Upgrade or replacement of a legacy recording system with a NG9-1-1 i3 standards-based multimedia recording system.

NG911 GIS PROJECTS

GIS Projects that support the creation, quality control, and updates of the required GIS data layers in preparation for NG9-1-1 readiness. The required data layers, as defined in the Illinois NG9-1-1 GIS Data Standards, include road centerlines, address points, PSAP boundaries, emergency service boundaries, and provisioning boundary layers. Strongly Recommended and Recommended layers as defined in the Illinois NG9-1-1 GIS Data Standards are encouraged to be part of the project proposal and GIS Projects that support the creation, quality control, and updates of the required GIS data layers in preparation for NG9-1-1 readiness.

CREATION - This can include purchasing data necessary to create required GIS layers, digitization of data layers listed in the NG9-1-1 GIS Data Standards document, and creation and review of attributes in data layers.

QUALITY CONTROL – This can include checking existing data for areas needing correction, such as mismatches in comparison data of GIS data to legacy MSAG data. This also includes addressing match issues with the ALI and MSAG databases, topology errors (slivers, gaps, or overlaps in data, roads split at intersections and on boundary lines.), missing required fields, null values in required fields, and mismatches between road names in the street centerline layer and road names in the address layer. This includes street centerline edits focusing on duplicate/overlapping address ranges, ensuring attributes are accurate to Illinois data standards, and addressing match issues with the street centerline data layer and mismatches between the number in the address layer and the address range in the centerline layer and reconciling with address data, and general centerline corrections (missing attributes, spatial accuracy, etc.).

DEVELOPMENT - This can include adding new roads or address points to existing data, removing roads or address points no longer in use, correcting updated road names, addresses, and emergency service provider names, adding and populating any missing fields that are required by the Illinois NG9-1-1 GIS Data Standards, changing field types as needed to meet standards (text to numeric or numeric to text) and conversion of legacy Emergency Service Zone (ESZ) layers to required Emergency Service Boundary (ESB) layers. In addition, the emergency service zone GIS data layer will be reviewed and updated to ensure the proper assignment of 911 calls for service as prescribed through the NG9-1-1 database. g. Conversion of GIS data to the current version of the Illinois NG9-1-1 Geodatabase template, as defined in the Illinois NG9-1-1 GIS Data Standards.

MAINTENANCE PLAN - To guarantee the continued value of the investment made in the abovementioned data improvements and dataset synchronization efforts, it is essential to implement sustainable practices for their ongoing maintenance to ensure that the data is kept current, complete, and accurate in the future. To this end, a set of workflows policies, and procedures need to be established and documented to enable ongoing system maintenance. Wherever practical, these procedures will employ automation through scripting and models, data review tools, and domains to simplify maintenance tasks, minimize manual effort, and ensure the quality and consistency of relevant public safety datasets.

CAD SYSTEM

Where necessary, configuration changes may need to be made to current CAD mapping applications to accommodate the current version of the Illinois NG9-1-1 Geodatabase template. The goal is to have a GIS database that can fully support NG9-1-1 technology (from the 9-1-1 System Provider to NG9-1-1 to GIS to the CAD system) and to develop the necessary structure to sustain GIS data maintenance activities.

Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Protocol Upgrades to an Integrated CAD Solution. Upgrade of current guide cards to an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocol software required to be integrated with your Computer Aided Dispatch System (CAD).

EMD PROTOCOL SOFTWARE

The EMD system will provide protocols for emergency communications personnel to give to the emergency or non-emergency caller during the pre-arrival period of first responders and is integrated to the CAD System. EMD Protocol Software shall comply with current National Emergency Number Association (NENA) best practices for providing Emergency Medical Dispatch Services to be considered responsive. The NENA website is: https://www.nena.org/default.aspx. Must have or will be upgrading after January 1, 2016, to be eligible for grant funding.

CAD-to-CAD INTERFACE

NENA-STA-021.1a-2021, Emergency Incident Data Object (EIDO) is the standard for emergency incident data exchange for CAD-to-CAD Interfaces that support a Primary PSAP to a Backup PSAP, a Primary to Secondary Answering Point (SAP) or between PSAPs in the same or neighboring 911 Systems. An EIDO contains information about a single incident including the calls related to that incident, the responders assigned to the incident, the participants and vehicles involved in the incident, etc. EIDOs often include the caller's information like name, number, and location

INDOOR K-12 SCHOOL MAPPING

Projects that support the creation of indoor school map data layers (K-12), to provide critical geospatial information to assist first responders in emergencies. Indoor data layers should include detailed floor plans of each level of the building, all room names and numbers, doorway locations, and any other locational details that may be useful in emergency response. Wherever possible, indoor data layers should be developed with an eye toward current or future integration into multiple-use situations, including but not limited to 911 dispatch mapping, mobile CAD applications, and real-time emergency response tracking applications. Indoor school maps will utilize Esri ArcGIS and will be incorporated as a layer in the Illinois State Police NG911 GIS Hub. The objective is to provide geospatial mapping software (GIS) polygon data layers as well as paper maps to assist first responders with timely and effective decision-making through the dissemination of mission-critical geospatial data. Data should be georeferenced for spatially accurate integration into other platforms, including but not limited to CAD mapping or emergency response maps, and include the ability to survey, map, and label each school building (public or private) in the State of Illinois. Ability to provide a visual representation of an emergency action plan. Ability to augment maps with multi-layered real-time tracking and deployment data. Ability to integrate with local field data and imagery. Ability to be accessible from all mobile devices regardless of the operating system, including laptops, cell phones, and tablets. The Respondent will provide general user training and administrator training. Funding is available for local GIS resources to rent Lidar scanners to support the project or to contract with a third-party K-12 school mapping provider. The mapping provider must adhere to the Illinois State Police Indoor School Mapping Guidance, the mapping provider validates school mapping data, and prepares data for PSAP and First Responder access.

FUNDING PRIORITY

• NG9-1-1 Call Handling Equipment funding shall be given first to 1st time 9-1-1 Authority grant applicants that provide 9-1-1 service within the territory of a Large Electing Provider as defined in Section 13-406.1 of the Public Utilities Act for NG9-1-1 expenses.
• NG9-1-1 Call Handling Equipment funding to 1st time 9-1-1 Authority grant applicants that provide 9-1-1 service within all other territories.
• NG9-1-1 Multimedia Recording System
• NG911 GIS Readiness Projects
• EMD Protocol Upgrades that Support CAD System Integration
• CAD-to-CAD Interface between a Primary and Backup PSAP, Primary and Secondary Answering Points, or between PSAPs in the same 911 System
• Indoor K-12 School Mapping

Funds awarded through this grant shall only be used to offset NON-RECURRING costs associated with NG9-1-1 Expenses grant projects.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

Supporting Golf's Fine Traditions

John T. Holmstrom Jr. died on July 20, 2010. He was born on December 19, 1920 in Rockford, Illinois. He attended Jackson and Lincoln Schools, and graduated in the last class of Central High School. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Illinois. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corp in the Pacific Theater during World War II. John was a law partner at Holmstrom & Kennedy. He was a member of Second Congregational United Church of Christ.

He faithfully served his community by participating in numerous civic and political activities, including: Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, SwedishAmerican Hospital, SwedishAmerican Medical Foundation, Community Hospital Council, P.A. Peterson Center for Health, the Rockford Pro-Am, and many more.

John was devoted to the growth and development of the Rockford Community Trust, now the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. His service to this institution will always be remembered.

John was an avid golfer, winning five City Junior Championships, the State Amateur Championship, the Western Junior Championship, three Men’s City tournaments and serving as the captain of the University of Illinois golf team that won two Big Ten Championships in the 1940s. John was a member of the Rockford Golf Hall of Fame. His memory and spirit live on through his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and colleagues.

Purpose

John’s love for golf defines the mission of the John T. Holmstrom, Jr. Memorial Fund - to support golf’s fine traditions by promoting junior golf in Rockford and by providing resources that enable young people to play golf.

Grant awards from this fund may be used for green fees, golf lessons, golf equipment, and similar golf-related expenses. It is the wish of the Holmstrom Family that young people throughout the Greater Rockford area have an opportunity to play golf due to John T. Holmstrom, Jr.’s legacy. 

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.

Community Ties Giving Program

As part of the Community Ties Giving Program, Local Grants help us achieve our mission by providing small and medium-sized grants within our priority cause areas to local organizations spread widely across Union Pacific's footprint.

Funding Priorities & Objectives

Throughout its existence, the success of Union Pacific's business has been inextricably linked to the economic and community wellbeing of cities and towns across the nation. We take pride in the role we have played in helping communities thrive and believe the impact we can have on local communities is greatest when it is authentic to our history and reflective of the diverse company we are today.

As such, we have carefully aligned our Local Grants cause areas to our company's unique heritage, strengths, and assets. Specifically, we prioritize funding for direct services and efforts that build the capacity of organizations focused on the following causes within our local operating communities. Within each focus area, we aim to support programs and organizations working to advance the diversity, equity and inclusion of underrepresented populations within the local context and issue areas addressed. Find more information about our commitment to DEI in our FAQs.

Safety

In order for communities to thrive, all residents must feel safe. Just as the safety of our employees and community members is paramount to how we operate, Union Pacific is committed to helping communities prevent and prepare for incidents and emergencies, and helping residents get home safely at the end of each day. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to: 

• Encourage safe behaviors and prevent incidents through education and awareness, particularly projects which focus on rail, driver, bike, and pedestrian safety, and ensure outreach efforts reach underserved populations.
• Eliminate risks and improve safe and equitable access to community spaces through infrastructure improvements, such as signage, proper lighting, and public trail improvements.
• Prepare and equip residents and emergency responders* to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies if or when they occur.
  • *Union Pacific supports publicly funded emergency responders through a variety of corporate programs; only independent nonprofit, 501(c)(3) emergency response organizations, such as volunteer departments, are eligible for funding through this grant program
• Prevent crime and violent incidents and support survivors of domestic violence through efforts that address the root causes of these issues and seek to mitigate their occurrence.
• Build the capacity of safety-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Workforce Development

For more than 160 years, Union Pacific has helped stimulate economic growth in cities and towns throughout the nation by training and providing employment to millions of workers. More than ever, we are committed to helping underrepresented residents in our communities achieve family-supporting careers like those offered by Union Pacific. As such, we prioritize funding for programs that seek to:

• Put youth on the right track by creating awareness of and pathways toward employment opportunities; building foundational skills, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); establishing necessary technical skills and life skills; and providing mentorship and positive role models for the future.
• Raise awareness of, educate and prepare young adults for middle skills jobs like those Union Pacific offers, for instance through community colleges, vocational and career training programs, workforce readiness initiatives, and programs that assist with job placement and/or on-the-job experience.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas relevant to Union Pacific operations such as welding, electrical work, machine operations, and civil and electrical engineering are given priority.
• "Up-skill" the existing workforce by providing training and resources that enable them to reach the next level of their career.
  • Programs that develop proficiency in areas of relevance to Union Pacific operations are given priority.
• Resolve barriers to employment such as transportation, childcare, acquiring necessary equipment for work, and second chance employment programs.
• Build the capacity of workforce development-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Community Vitality

Union Pacific Railroad is committed to establishing vibrant, healthy and inclusive communities for employees, customers and residents to work, visit and call home. Just as the railroad opened avenues for economic development and opportunity more than 160 years ago, we maintain this tradition by cultivating unique cultural and recreational experiences and equipping community members with opportunities to live healthy, vital lives. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Create, sustain or expand artistic and cultural experiences offered to a broad and diverse audience (e.g., museums, theaters, zoos, cultural and local heritage, visual and performing arts, etc.)
• Provide recreational opportunities that foster wellbeing, enrichment and/or an appreciation for our natural environment (e.g., parks, libraries, senior centers, recreation centers, learning centers, etc.).
• Revive neighborhoods and main street areas, especially in historically underinvested neighborhoods, to improve livability, promote commerce and attract more residents, businesses and visitors to town.
• Ensure residents’ basic needs are met and barriers are overcome (e.g., safe shelter and homelessness prevention, hunger relief, mental health and community health needs, etc.).
• Offer youth development and educational opportunities to ensure young people can thrive into healthy and productive community members (e.g., mentoring, leadership development, tutoring, services for youth in foster care, etc.).
• Build the capacity of community vitality-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience. 

Environmental Sustainability

The future of our business, communities and planet depends on bold, collective action to reduce and slow the impacts of climate change while building a more sustainable economy for the next generation. Union Pacific is taking deliberate steps to reduce our environmental impact and helping our partners improve their own. Extending this commitment to our community investments, we seek to support leading environmental nonprofits and community-based organizations to advance the health of our environment. As such, we prioritize funding for projects and programs that seek to:

• Preserve and restore nature, including programs focused on natural habitats, ecosystems, and biodiversity.
• Protect and enhance water, soil and air quality through innovative and proactive solutions such as water conservation, carbon sequestration and emission reduction programs.
• Reduce waste through initiatives focused on promoting recycling and circularity throughout the community, including recycling and composting programs and other efforts that reduce waste.
• Develop environmental stewards through youth programs focused on fostering environmental appreciation, responsibility, and leadership.
• Advance a sustainable economy by helping communities accelerate their transition to environmental jobs and renewable energy, as well as helping nonprofits and small businesses build their own capacity to operate more sustainably.
• Promote environmental justice through initiatives that ensure access to clean air, water, and land and protect underserved populations from disproportionate and adverse environmental effects.
• Build the capacity of sustainability-focused organizations to integrate practices that improve upon the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts of the organization. This can take the form of internal capacity building or the creation/expansion of culturally relevant programming and services that seek to impact a broad and diverse audience.