Private Capacity Building Grants

The Envisioning Justice Grants program, supported by Illinois Humanities, focuses on leveraging the arts and humanities to foster a truly just society. This initiative aligns with the foundation's broader mission to create understanding about mass incarceration and its profound impact on communities throughout Illinois. By funding impactful initiatives that use creative and intellectual approaches, Illinois Humanities seeks to build more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and just society. The program targets a diverse range of beneficiaries, specifically prioritizing currently or formerly incarcerated individuals, people serving long-term sentences, justice-involved young people, women (particularly women of color and/or those impacted by gendered violence), the LGBTQAI+ community, migrants, asylum seekers, refugees, immigrants, elderly populations, people with disabilities, and Indigenous populations. Furthermore, the grants prioritize projects that focus on communities that are sites of prisons or jails, experiencing significant incarceration, and/or undergoing significant demographic change due to the criminal legal system. The overarching impact goal is to facilitate understanding of mass incarceration and support those working to mitigate its effects. Envisioning Justice Grants prioritize projects that are regional or statewide in scope and partnership-oriented, emphasizing collaborative efforts to address complex issues. The funded initiatives include prison education programs, independent media, community dialogues, and conferences. These efforts are designed to create spaces for critical reflection, artistic expression, and humanistic inquiry, which are central to the foundation's strategic priorities. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond "create understanding" and "build more affirming, engaged, and empowered communities," the program implicitly aims for increased community engagement, enhanced public discourse on carceral issues, and improved conditions for affected populations. Organizations can apply for grants of up to $10,000, with no matching funds required, making the program accessible to a wide range of groups. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor, based anywhere in Illinois. While all Illinois applicants are eligible, individuals from East St. Louis, Decatur, Carbondale, Galesburg, Urbana-Champaign, and the Bloomington-Normal Metro Area are particularly encouraged to apply. This geographic focus, coupled with the thematic priorities, underscores Illinois Humanities' theory of change: that by supporting arts and humanities initiatives, particularly in highly impacted areas and among vulnerable populations, they can drive meaningful social change and foster a more just and informed citizenry.

The Robert & Patricia Endries Family Foundation seeks applications to benefit people in need in the Brillion area of Wisconsin. The foundation's mission aligns with supporting the vitality of the Brillion area and assisting disadvantaged individuals within the community. This grant program is designed to create a positive impact by addressing various critical needs, ensuring that residents have access to essential services and opportunities for well-being. The foundation prioritizes supporting the disadvantaged, specifically targeting the disabled, homeless, low-income individuals, single parents, troubled youth, and those suffering from chronic or mental illnesses. Additionally, it focuses on health and human services, including support for diabetes, cancer, cerebral palsy, Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, and mental health. Religious causes with a spiritual purpose and sports or arts programming and sponsorships are also key areas of focus. The foundation's strategic priorities include supporting capital campaigns, particularly for "bricks and mortar" projects, and encouraging matching or challenge gifts to motivate additional giving. While not explicitly stated as "theory of change," the foundation's preference to support national organizations through local chapters serving Brillion residents indicates a strategy to leverage broader resources for local impact. Gifts are directed to specific programs or opportunities, rather than general operations, ensuring targeted impact. Expected outcomes include improved health outcomes for those with specific illnesses, enhanced quality of life for disadvantaged groups, and strengthened community vitality in Brillion through various programs. While specific measurable results are not detailed, the focus on direct program support suggests that successful applications will demonstrate clear objectives and the potential for positive, tangible changes within the community. The foundation's emphasis on local impact and specific areas of need demonstrates a clear, albeit implicit, theory of change centered on direct community investment and collaboration.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Miami-Dade County that enhance existing programs and community outreach initiatives aimed at improving services for children and families.

This program provides solar panels and canopies to mission-driven nonprofits and houses of worship in Wisconsin, helping them reduce energy costs and promote renewable energy adoption in their communities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Arkansas, North Texas, and West Texas to support initiatives that assist vulnerable or underserved populations in areas such as education, arts, and community development.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Charlotte County, Florida, allowing them to use the funds flexibly for operational needs such as staffing and programming.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Lawrence area of Massachusetts that focus on essential needs like food security, clothing, shelter, and adult education, particularly benefiting the city of Lawrence.

This funding opportunity supports organizations in Cochise and eastern Santa Cruz Counties that are developing innovative health and wellness projects to improve community well-being through collaboration and new approaches.

This grant provides funding for impactful projects that improve the lives of residents in eastern Christian County, specifically targeting 501(c)(3) organizations and other approved entities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, public service entities, and government agencies serving the residents of Orcas Island, Washington, to enhance community-driven projects during the holiday season.

This grant provides funding to humanities scholars and projects that focus on the histories and interests of marginalized communities, promoting innovative digital methods and community engagement.

This grant provides financial support to trans-led organizations worldwide, focusing on empowering grassroots efforts that advance the rights and wellbeing of trans communities.

This funding opportunity supports Illinois-based nonprofit organizations with planning and capacity-building initiatives that prioritize equity, diversity, and inclusion in their public humanities programming.

This grant provides funding to small nonprofit organizations in Collier County, Florida, to strengthen their operational capacity and sustainability through various capacity-building initiatives.

This funding opportunity supports innovative projects that address systemic issues and foster community development in Greenwood County through collaborative and sustainable initiatives.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and public entities for innovative projects that improve the quality of life for residents in Onondaga and Madison counties, focusing on areas such as arts, education, health, and the environment.

This grant provides funding for Rhode Island public middle and junior high schools to implement innovative, hands-on learning projects that enhance student engagement and address specific classroom needs.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that focus on addressing community priorities and promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Northern Virginia focused on improving health and health equity, particularly for low-income and underserved communities, by strengthening their internal capacity and organizational development.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, local governments, and public schools in selected states to implement sustainability initiatives, workforce development, and community resilience programs that enhance the quality of life and economic vitality in their communities.