Best Mental Health Grants in Illinois

Illinois 501(c)(3) organizations serving Chicago and Cook County residents with mental health, youth, senior, or humanitarian programs can apply for flexible support from the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust. Focused on values-based initiatives, the Trust invites nonprofits addressing children’s mental health, emotional development, and related community challenges to seek funding for their work.

Illinois nonprofits and schools supporting children’s mental or physical health, financial education, or affordable housing may be eligible for funding to expand programs or services. Focused on financial education, children’s health, and affordable housing, GreenState Credit Union invites organizations in its Illinois service areas, including Rockford, Freeport, Quad Cities, and suburban Chicago, to apply for community-focused project support.

Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofits focused on mental health and social welfare can seek funding for capital projects, multi-year programs, and related operating costs serving Rock Island County. Focused on culture, education, and social welfare, the Hubbell-Waterman Foundation invites organizations supporting student and family mental health and related services to apply.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving financially disadvantaged children with health, education, welfare, or mental health programs in the St. Louis, Missouri–Illinois metro area may be eligible for this funding. Dana Brown Charitable Trust also supports child-focused programs using wild animals or zoology, especially those fostering mental health, support, and community building.

Nonprofit organizations, school districts, and government agencies working on mental health, education, youth, families, or Brown County, IL initiatives in select Illinois counties can apply for Tracy Family Foundation support. Tracy Family Foundation provides Illinois mental health and related programs with annual rolling and cycle grant opportunities, following an initial Interest Form review process.

Nonprofit organizations and community groups needing capital assets, equipment, or facility renovations for programs in DeKalb County, Illinois can apply for Community Needs Grants, with requests up to $20,000. Dekalb County Community Foundation supports mental health and human services, along with education, arts and culture, environment, animal welfare, and community development projects.

Illinois 501(c)(3) organizations creating or expanding community gardens on underutilized green spaces can seek project-based support to promote healthy living and wellbeing. Grants from The Lumpkin Family Foundation help Chicago-area groups increase access to healthy food, support youth wellness, and may benefit programs that incorporate mental health and holistic community health activities.

Legal services nonprofits, solo practitioners, and small law firms in Illinois pursuing impact litigation can apply for the Impact Fund’s recoverable grants, awarding US $10,000 - US $50,000 for out-of-pocket litigation costs. Cases addressing economic, environmental, racial, or social injustice that affect communities facing systemic oppression, including those involving mental health and incarceration, may be competitive.

Illinois community colleges seeking funding to strengthen campus mental health supports in Illinois can apply for grants ranging from US $50,000 - US $180,000 to enhance services and programs. Illinois Community College Board provides Illinois mental health and vocational education institutions with support to expand awareness, training, peer support, partnerships, and evaluation of mental health initiatives.

Illinois 501(c)(3) and state-recognized nonprofits providing social services, including mental health programs, can apply for the City of Naperville Social Services Grant to enhance community services. Naperville organizations addressing priorities like emergency services, seniors, self-sufficiency, special populations, youth, and related transportation needs may be eligible for support covering labor, supplies, and materials.

The 510-FEPP First Episode Presentation Program, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, aims to provide evidence-based treatment for early serious mental illness, particularly first episode psychosis. Utilizing Coordinated Specialty Care teams, the program targets individuals aged 14-40 who have experienced psychosis within the last 18 months. It focuses on reducing symptoms, improving functioning, and promoting recovery while addressing systemic inequities and fostering inclusivity across diverse communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations addressing domestic violence, homelessness, immigration support, or food insecurity in Rock Island County and Scott County can receive operational or program support through the Teens for Tomorrow Grant. Quad Cities Community Foundation’s youth-led program may benefit Illinois groups whose services include mental health support within these issue areas, with awards up to US $10,000.

Mental health providers delivering community-based psychiatric and nursing services in northwest Illinois counties can apply for the Illinois Department of Human Services’ Community Support Team Grant Program; awards approximately US $380,708 to expand CST capacity. Funding supports unfunded Northwest Crisis Care System consumers in Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago, and Whiteside counties.

Illinois organizations serving justice-involved youth with mental health needs can access funding for liaison-led screening, referral, and community-based service coordination in Illinois. Illinois Department of Human Services provides support to programs connecting juvenile court, probation, schools, and communities, with a focus on equity, racial justice, and inclusive mental health services for youth and families.

Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofits and quasi-governmental agencies serving Kankakee and Iroquois Counties can seek funding for early childhood education, land use, or workforce development projects, including children’s mental health. Focused on community improvement, the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley invites proposals that address these priorities with clear, publicly visible outcomes.

Illinois 501(c)(3) organizations working on mental health, nature-based wellness, and sustainable food systems in East Central Illinois can seek US $2,500 - US $50,000 for programs and projects. The Lumpkin Family Foundation prioritizes rural communities, especially Coles County and surrounding areas, that connect residents with nature, healthy food, and collaborative community initiatives.

Division of Early Childhood

The Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood (DEC) was established as a standalone IDHS division in 2021 to help strengthen and centralize the state's existing child care, home visiting, and early intervention programs, as well as operationalize and create administrative capacity to establish sustainable infrastructure needs in order to streamline services.

Working hand-in-hand with local communities throughout Illinois, the Division of Early Childhood provides low-income, working families with access to quality, affordable child care; administers community-based prevention and intervention programs; and helps all children between the ages of birth to three with disabilities or delays, to learn and grow.

480-50-3708 Migrant and Seasonal Head Start

Description

Scope of Work

Provide a full-day, comprehensive Head Start child development program to children, ages six weeks to six years, from migrant and seasonal farm-worker families. Program includes early childhood education, school readiness, developmental assessment, mental health screening, field trips, project work, immunizations, nutritious meal service and medical and dental examinations, completion of dental and medical treatment for children who need it, social-service referrals and transportation services.

Announcement Type: Renewal

Government, education, and nonprofit organizations in Illinois can apply for funding to operate community-based outpatient fitness restoration programs for adults and juveniles found unfit to stand trial. Grants from Illinois Department of Human Services support mental health, substance use treatment, housing case management, and legal education services, including telehealth, to expand outpatient forensic restoration and reduce inpatient waitlists.

Eligible behavioral health providers in rural Stark and Marshall counties can apply for approximately US $121,000 to expand mental health and substance use services across the lifespan. With a mission to strengthen access to care, Illinois Department of Human Services supports crisis intervention, case management, outreach, counseling, Mental Health First Aid, suicide intervention trainings, and community education events.

Illinois Black-led or Black-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public agencies providing community care, including mental health and wellness services for Black residents in metropolitan Chicago, can access funding through the Chicago Community Trust’s African American Legacy Grants; awards US $15,000 - US $75,000 for general operating or project-based support in defined focus areas.

Illinois children’s safety-net organizations sustaining or enhancing mental and oral health services for vulnerable children in Illinois can access funding through Illinois Children's Healthcare Foundation. Grants up to US $300,000 over three years support direct services, care coordination, referral networks, co-located services, and capacity-building to better serve children, including those enrolled in Medicaid.

Government agencies and nonprofits in Illinois that serve adults 60+ can receive funding for supportive services, in-home care, and senior centers that include mental health services. With a mission to maximize older adults’ quality of life, Illinois Department on Aging provides Area Agencies on Aging with resources to sub-grant for transportation, case management, adult day care, and related supports.

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.

Eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in Illinois and nearby counties that received Lumpkin Family Foundation funding in the last three years can apply for wellness support grants and sabbatical leave, with awards up to US $10,000 for staff and leader mental health and rest. Mental health nonprofits with smaller budgets may receive preference.

Communities of Color Special At Risk Population 

The initiative is funded through State of Illinois general revenue funding, and funds HIV prevention, education, testing, and care programs targeting communities of color - specifically programs with the capacity to reach special at risk minority populations to include, but not limited to, men who have sex with men, people experiencing homeless, ex-offenders, sex workers, those with a history of mental illness or substance abuse, and other difficult to reach populations. These specific efforts are necessary due to the unique problems that many of these individuals may face that places them at greater risk for HIV disease.

Objective

This funding should aim to reduce health disparities and health inequities where they exist. Health equity exists when all people have the opportunity to thrive and no one is limited in achieving comprehensive health and wellness because of their social position or any other social factors/determinants of health such as income, education, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and disability.

Nonprofit or public agencies providing employment services and mental health-supported employment in Illinois can apply for approximately US $360,000 to recruit and employ full-time IPS Trainers. Illinois Department of Human Services supports IPS implementation and technical assistance statewide, with a focus on equity, racial justice, and inclusive service provision for diverse communities.

Organizations in Illinois that train or support mental health and substance use recovery peers can apply for Illinois Department of Human Services’ CRSS Success Program, with awards from US $451,468 - US $1,178,000 for workforce development. Funding supports recovery support training, supervised experience, and wraparound services to expand the behavioral health workforce and advance equity.