Best Grants for Free Clinics in Illinois

Nonprofit health and education organizations in Illinois and across the U.S. can receive US $10,000 - US $75,000 to expand proven programs improving health care access, mental health, or educational outcomes for underserved groups. L B Research and Education Foundation prioritizes mid-sized, established 501(c)(3)s addressing disparities through innovative, research-informed, and scalable models.

501(c)(3) nonprofits and governmental units providing health care access, basic human needs, or community programs in Illinois can apply for Frankenmuth Insurance Foundation’s charitable grants. Free clinics and similar providers may be eligible if they serve communities in Illinois and align with priorities like health and wellness, affordable housing, food, or community betterment.

Federally Qualified Health Centers and FQHC Look-Alikes in Illinois can seek capital funding for health care facility construction, renovation, new sites, or equipment purchases, with awards up to US $3,000,000. With a mission to expand health care access, Illinois Capital Development Board supports projects serving Medically Underserved Areas or Populations, which may include free and community clinics.

Illinois nonprofit organizations hosting community events or raising general operating funds can seek community sponsorship support that advances FNBO’s focus areas. Focused on health care access and community wellbeing, First National Bank of Omaha invites eligible groups to request unrestricted sponsorships for free clinics, health initiatives, and related community programs in its Illinois service communities.

Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofits and qualifying public entities can seek funding for health care access, early childhood education, conservation, and family empowerment projects, including capital campaigns and special initiatives. Grants from James M Cox Foundation help organizations in Cox service areas expand facilities, purchase equipment, or build capacity; Illinois applicants outside metro Atlanta need a local Cox endorsement letter.

ICAHN Workforce Funding Framework

Expanding a Resilient Rural Healthcare Workforce

ICAHN Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Purpose:

• Expand and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce
• Support sustainable workforce solutions for rural hospitals
• Improve access to high-quality healthcare across rural communities

ICAHN's Role:

• Identified as the subrecipient to administer workforce funding
• Provide resources and guidance to participating rural hospitals
• Empower hospitals to determine their own workforce priorities

ICAHN Educational Award Funding

Growing Our Own Workforce

Supports both future healthcare professionals and current employees.

• Design education awards are targeted at three key groups:
  • Graduating high school seniors interested in healthcare careers.
  • Current entry-level healthcare workers (like CNAs or support staff) looking to advance.
  • Individuals seeking a career change into high-need roles.

Prioritizing fields with the greatest shortages ensures the investment aligns with workforce needs. These awards can include tuition, books, housing, and transportation. 

ICAHN Workforce Funding Framework

Expanding a Resilient Rural Healthcare Workforce

ICAHN Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Purpose:

• Expand and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce
• Support sustainable workforce solutions for rural hospitals
• Improve access to high-quality healthcare across rural communities

ICAHN's Role:

• Identified as the subrecipient to administer workforce funding
• Provide resources and guidance to participating rural hospitals
• Empower hospitals to determine their own workforce priorities

Retention Funding

Growing Our Own Workforce

Supporting and strengthening the existence workforce

• Retention Bonuses
• Develop or continue Career Ladder programs
• Paid Mentors or preceptors
• Develop or expand creative retention and onboarding programs

ICAHN Workforce Funding Framework

Expanding a Resilient Rural Healthcare Workforce

ICAHN Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP)

Purpose:

• Expand and strengthen the rural healthcare workforce
• Support sustainable workforce solutions for rural hospitals
• Improve access to high-quality healthcare across rural communities

ICAHN's Role:

• Identified as the subrecipient to administer workforce funding
• Provide resources and guidance to participating rural hospitals
• Empower hospitals to determine their own workforce priorities

ICAHN Recruitment Funding

Building the Rural Healthcare Workforce

Recruitment funding supports innovative and sustainable workforce strategies.

• Recruitment of providers (stipends, short-term housing assistance (up to six months), and other financial supports to attract and retain clinicians)
• Expansion of specialty access services
• Develop an apprenticeship program

Illinois health and community organizations offering breast cancer education and outreach can seek funding to promote equity in breast cancer outcomes through the Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure program. With a mission to improve women’s health, the Illinois Department of Public Health provides up to US $50,000 for community health education, especially in high-mortality counties like Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Peoria, and St. Clair.

Illinois health care providers and community organizations can apply for Illinois Department of Public Health’s Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure grants, awarding up to US $300,000 for breast cancer patient navigation and support services. Programs statewide, especially in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Peoria, and St. Clair counties, may be eligible.

Nonprofit Area Agencies on Aging serving rural Illinois can use this grant to improve transportation, broadband access, volunteer engagement, and workforce recruitment for older adults and caregivers. Grants from Illinois Department of Aging help Illinois health care access and senior service providers strengthen rural aging networks and reduce social isolation through targeted community-based initiatives.

Municipal governments in Illinois and other eligible Great Lakes and Southern states seeking help accessing federal health care and related funding can apply for the National League of Cities’ free Federal Grant Navigation Program. This pilot offers one-on-one assistance and peer cohorts to improve applications for ARPA and IIJA grants supporting local services and infrastructure.

Nonprofit organizations providing wellness and health services to people who live or work on the backstretch of Illinois pari-mutuel racetracks can receive funding for medical, dental, counseling, and related programs. Illinois Racing Board offers up to US $767,193 to support on-site clinics, staffing, equipment, and wellness initiatives that may overlap with free clinic services in Illinois.

Illinois health care and community organizations, including nonprofits, clinics, schools, governments, and small businesses, can access funding through the Illinois Department of Public Health to strengthen community networks that support family well-being and crisis prevention. Awards up to US $150,000 help convene diverse partners and connect families with needed health and support resources across Illinois.

Free and charitable clinics and other 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Illinois can seek funding to expand health care access, education, and community services. Grants from Cleveland Cliffs Foundation help organizations in company operating communities improve health outcomes, support underserved populations, and contribute to safe, vibrant neighborhoods through eligible programs and initiatives.

Illinois nonprofit organizations undertaking capital campaigns or major projects to improve community health and wellbeing can apply for First National Bank of Omaha’s capital or major donations program. Funding supports restricted capital needs such as construction, renovation, or other large-scale projects, and free clinics may be eligible if their initiatives align with FNBO’s community focus areas.

Illinois 501(c)(3) nonprofits collaborating with participating CommonSpirit Health hospitals can seek funding to improve community health, health equity, and local health service systems. With a mission to improve health for vulnerable people, CommonSpirit Health provides grants up to US $150,000 for defined health care access, delivery, and community health education projects identified in community health needs assessments.

About

Being deeply connected to the community means more than providing access to excellent healthcare. It means understanding, and investing in, the health needs of our community.

Through our Community Investment Fund (CIF), Endeavor Health has awarded more than $38.5 million to 59 local partnerships dedicated to enhancing community health and wellbeing, advancing health equity and supporting local economic growth. Together, we’re committed to helping everyone in our communities be their best.

Award categories

Through the CIF, we will make meaningful and intentional investments through impact awards and capacity builder awards. These awards are intended to meaningfully advance the health of our community over time towards three bold aspirations through investments in five areas of focus.

We aspire to a future where:

• A person’s zip code does not determine how long they will live
• Hunger and homelessness in our communities are history
• The healthcare workforce is thriving and representative of the communities we serve

To help advance these aspirations, the CIF will invest in the following areas:

• Access to healthcare
• Behavioral health
• Food insecurity
• Housing insecurity
• Workforce development for careers in healthcare

Impact awards

• Designed for 5-year initiatives where organizations come together to drive measurable impact and longer-term change in the communities we serve by improving existing systems and innovation
• Emphasize strategic cross-sector and/or intra-sector partnerships between community-based organizations
• Uplift community members of greatest need
• Directly align with CIF areas of focus and meaningfully contribute to CIF goals
• Award amount: $1 million per year, up to 5 years

Free and charitable clinics and other U.S.-based 501(c) nonprofits in Illinois can seek funding for community programs improving health care access, nutrition, STEM education, or climate and nature-related health. Grants from Astrazeneca Foundation help address health disparities for historically excluded and disenfranchised populations, with awards up to US $30,000.

Illinois medical students at schools with active Alpha Omega Alpha chapters can receive support for 2–12 month health research projects through this fellowship. Projects may address clinical investigation, basic science, epidemiology, health services, leadership, or professionalism, and can complement work in free and charitable clinics. Awards provide US $7,000 plus limited travel reimbursement.

The Health Information Outreach Award, funded by the National Library of Medicine, aims to enhance access to essential health information for underrepresented populations and healthcare professionals. This initiative focuses on improving health literacy and equity through diverse projects, including training, technology access, and community outreach. Eligible organizations from select Midwestern states can apply, prioritizing innovative solutions that address health disparities and promote informed health decisions among vulnerable communities.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Food as Medicine Initiative

The Food as Medicine Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to address food insecurity as a critical driver of health outcomes for uninsured and medically underserved patients. Research continues to demonstrate the strong connection between food insecurity and poor health, including increased risk of chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and certain cancers. Through this initiative, NAFC will provide $20,000 grants to member free and charitable clinics to implement or expand food insecurity screening and patient-centered interventions that improve access to healthy food and nutrition education as measured by the US Household Food Security Module or Hunger Vital Signs and patient education focused on food as medicine for eligible patients in order to increase the percentage of patients with improved food security scores within one year of project implementation.

The Centers of Excellence in Healthcare Quality and Safety program aims to establish a collaborative network of healthcare systems and public health partners to enhance patient and healthcare worker safety. This initiative focuses on improving the quality and resilience of U.S. healthcare delivery across various settings, including hospitals and outpatient facilities. By fostering partnerships, the program seeks to effectively detect, respond to, and prevent safety threats, ensuring a higher standard of care and safety for all.

Northern Trust

Guided by our founding principles of service, expertise and integrity, we are passionate experts from around the globe who turn ideas into action to help the world’s most successful individuals, families and institutions achieve their goals.

Since 1889, when our founder Byron Smith built Northern Trust on our enduring principles, we have shown time and again that we exist to serve not only clients, but also the community at large.

Corporate social responsibility and philanthropy are essential elements of our mission and culture. Driven by our strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, community engagement and environmental sustainability, we strive to be socially accountable – to ourselves, our stakeholders and the public.

The Northern Trust Foundation Grants

Increasing access to essential human needs will broaden opportunities for Chicago's young people and support them in fulfilling their potential and achieving long-term financial success. The Northern Trust Foundation is focusing its funding on communities in Chicago's South and West Sides by providing general operating support and program grants that specifically target youth ages 16-24.

Funding Priorities & Objectives

Northern Trust prioritizes the following areas to help low-income youth ages 16-24 on Chicago’s South and West sides.

Food Security: Youth who experience food insecurity are more likely to struggle in school and face both mental and physical health challenges. We prioritize funding for programs that:

• Increase access to, awareness of, and participation in free food distribution programs and services
• Raise awareness of, and increase participation in, state and federal nutrition assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, WIC, Summer Food Service Program, etc.)
• Increase access to affordable, nutritious foods for purchase, particularly within food deserts, and leverage innovative solutions to address the issue of access to food

Affordable Housing: Stable housing can serve as the foundation for a secure future. We prioritize funding to organizations assisting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with access to safe and permanent housing through programs that:

• Support youth experiencing homelessness and help navigate and access services available in their local communities with a goal of getting them into permanent housing
• Assist low-income college students by providing supportive services and affordable housing
• Provide temporary or permanent free/affordable housing options for youth; highest priority will be given to programs that focus on moving youth efficiently into permanent housing solutions
• Provide housing-related case management, foster care or other services to youth who are living in unsafe or unstable home environments including LBGTQ+ and youth transitioning out of the foster care system

Educational Excellence: Low-income youth attend and complete college at a much lower rate than their peers. We prioritize funding for programs that support students “to and through” college (including trade schools) and specifically focus on removing barriers for low-income youth that:

• Focus on academic readiness, including college-level coursework during high school, and high school completion with an emphasis on post-secondary school enrollment
• Support post-secondary school persistence, including those that focus on alternatives to remedial coursework
• Assist students through the college search, application and enrollment process, ensuring students ultimately are admitted to, enroll in and attend schools which are a good match and fit for their individual needs
• Provide access to financial aid for low-income youth and/or provide ongoing financial planning and credit building for students and their families, to ensure students complete their post-secondary education

Accessible Healthcare: The transition from child to adult healthcare is a greater challenge for low-income individuals. We prioritize funding to hospitals, healthcare centers and community organizations providing physical or mental healthcare that:

• Provide access to physical or mental healthcare for free or at a sliding scale
• Provide primary and preventative care, including health screenings for young women
• Focus on providing solutions that remove common barriers to care among this population (e.g., telehealth visits, pop-up clinics, after-hours appointments, etc.)
• Raise awareness and provide education of healthcare services and/or Medicaid and assist this population to apply for and access Medicaid

Young Health Programme

The Young Health Programme (YHP) is a global disease prevention initiative, aiming to provide education for young people to feel empowered to make informed choices about their health and catalyse a global, youth-led advocacy movement.

The programme operates in over 40 countries and partners with more than 60 non-profit organisations, including UNICEF and Plan International. The YHP combines community programmes, research, advocacy, and the development of young leaders, with a focus on underserved communities.

Since its launch in 2010, the YHP has directly reached over 23 million young people, trained over 1 million, and engaged more than 23,000 AstraZeneca employees, who have volunteered their time with more than 140,000 hours.

The YHP aims to prevent the most common non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and respiratory disease, by addressing five main risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, and air pollution. Additionally, the programme tackles climate-health impacts to build healthier communities, recognising, as projected in the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, that children born after 2010 will be the first generation to enter adulthood in a world where the average temperature will reach 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, and are expected to experience a +2°C rise within their lifetime.1

AstraZeneca Young Health Programme Impact Fellowship 2026

AstraZeneca is looking for passionate, driven young leaders to join their 2026 Young Health Programme (YHP) Impact Fellowship. The Fellowship supports young advocates to create actionable change to: 

• Advance health equity – with a focus on acting early to prevent non-communicable diseases among young people, or supporting young people living with rare diseases.
• Take action on climate and nature – advocating for the mitigation of the harmful effects of climate change on the health and well-being of young people.
• Build health systems resilience – contributing to stronger health systems that prioritise earlier intervention to meet today’s needs and mitigate tomorrow’s disease burden.

Benefits

The selected Fellows will gain access to networks, funding and development opportunities, enabling them to drive a global health movement led by and for young people:

A fully-funded scholarship to attend the 2026 One Young World Summit in Cape Town, South Africa (3–6 November 2026) as well as access to the One Young World Ambassador Network and the Young Health Programme (YHP) Alumni group of other young changemakers working to improve youth health.

Structured learning and development offerings to enable them to scale their impact, including both self-directed and live learning. This includes access to the One Young World Academy, an award-winning mini-MBA programme, mentorship from AstraZeneca colleagues and professional training.

Each selected Fellow will receive a grant of either USD $10,000 or USD $50,000 (if selected as the Lead2030 winner** for Sustainable Development Goal 3, for which applicants will be automatically considered) from AstraZeneca, through their non-profit organisation. Fellows are expected to use the grant to implement a project focused on either (1) advancing health equity (2) taking action on climate and nature (3) building health systems resilience.

NAFC Open Grant/Product Donation Applications

The National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (NAFC) is the only nonprofit 501c(3) organization whose mission is solely focused on the issues and needs of the medically underserved throughout the nation and the more than 1,400 Free and Charitable Clinics that serve them. The NAFC has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar and a 4-Star rating from Charity Navigator. Founded in 2001 and headquartered near Washington, D.C., the NAFC is working to ensure that the medically underserved have access to affordable quality healthcare and strives to be a national voice promoting quality healthcare for all. For more information about the NAFC, including how to become a member, please visit https://www.nafcclinics.org.

Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Initiative

The Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Initiative, supported by the McKesson Foundation and administered by the NAFC, aims to improve medication access, adherence, and patient understanding among uninsured and medically underserved populations. Individuals without health insurance often face significant barriers to obtaining prescription medications and receiving the counseling necessary to manage chronic conditions effectively. Through this initiative, NAFC will provide $30,000 grants to member free and charitable clinics and pharmacies to establish or expand Medication Therapy Management programs aligned with recommendations from the American Pharmacists Association. Funding will support activities such as staff certification in MTM, development of standardized protocols, and patient education to help individuals better understand their medications, manage side effects, and support overall treatment plans. By strengthening pharmacist-led care and improving communication between providers and patients, this initiative seeks to enhance medication adherence, improve chronic disease management, and advance better health outcomes for vulnerable patient populations.

Hemophilia Alliance Foundation

Our Mission

The Hemophilia Alliance Foundation is dedicated to receiving and administering funds to enable eligible organizations in the inherited bleeding and thrombotic disorders community to build capacity in order to achieve their mission and to support direct consumer financial assistance programs.

Project Grant Guidance and Application

The goal of this grant is to enable eligible organizations to build capacity in order to achieve their mission, and to support direct consumer financial assistance programs in eligible organizations. The ceiling for local patient organizations and hemophilia treatment and sickle cell centers is $8,000; the ceiling for national organizations and the eight HHS-designated federally designated and funded regional core coordinating centers is $10,000.

Examples include:

1) projects that strengthen the organization’s ability to better serve its constituents;

2) patient/consumer financial assistance grants; and

3) regional hemophilia treatment centers’ annual meetings.