Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure - Community Outreach Grant

The Carolyn Adams Ticket for the Cure Community Outreach Grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health through its Office of Women’s Health and Family Services. This program originates from legislation establishing a state lottery ticket whose net proceeds fund breast cancer initiatives across Illinois. The program is designed to support public and private entities in delivering community-based outreach, education, and services that address breast cancer awareness, prevention, and survivorship. The initiative places a strong emphasis on reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes, particularly among populations experiencing higher mortality rates. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to promote equitable breast cancer outcomes through targeted outreach and education efforts. Funded organizations are expected to conduct activities such as breast health education sessions, wellness fairs, and community engagement events aimed at increasing awareness of breast cancer risks, prevention strategies, and screening resources. Special emphasis is placed on reaching underserved populations, including low-income, uninsured, geographically isolated, and minority communities. The program explicitly highlights disparities affecting African American women and encourages applications from organizations operating in high-mortality counties including Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kankakee, Peoria, and St. Clair. Funding under this program supports a range of allowable costs necessary to implement outreach activities. These include staff salaries, training, travel related to outreach, educational materials, translation services, and support services such as transportation and childcare assistance for participants. However, funds may not be used for prohibited expenses such as vehicles, gift cards, entertainment, lobbying, or real estate purchases. All expenditures must be necessary, reasonable, and compliant with federal and state cost principles. Indirect costs are allowed without restriction, and no cost sharing or matching requirement is imposed. Eligible applicants include health departments and community-based organizations with 501(c)(3) status that meet state prequalification requirements. Applicants must register with the Illinois Grant Accountability and Transparency Act system, maintain an ակտիվ SAM.gov registration, and possess a valid Unique Entity Identifier. Only one award may be granted per organization, and while applications are accepted statewide, the program encourages submissions from high-need geographic areas. The program is competitive, and not all applicants will receive funding. Applications must be submitted electronically through the Illinois Department of Public Health’s EGrAMS system. Applicants are required to complete a full application including a project narrative, budget, work plan, and supporting documentation such as resumes and a W-9 form. The submission deadline is May 15, 2026 at 4:00 PM CST. A technical assistance session is offered but not mandatory. The review process evaluates proposals based on organizational need, project scope, capacity, work plan alignment with SMARTIE criteria, and budget justification. Awards are expected to be announced around mid-June 2026, with a program period running from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Funded organizations must comply with reporting requirements including monthly financial submissions and quarterly program reports. The program is not explicitly stated as recurring, though it aligns with an annual fiscal cycle. Contact for this opportunity is Louise Yale at the Illinois Department of Public Health, who provides application support and administrative guidance.

Align work plan with SMARTIE criteria; clearly define target population and community need; provide measurable outcomes and strong evaluation methods