Illinois grants for Nonprofits

Grants are available through the Metro East Park and Recreation District for events that promote the use of public parks, trails, and outdoor recreation facilities in Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois. The Event Sponsorship Grant Program offers funding of up to $2,500 for public organizations and up to $1,000 for 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Eligible events include walking, running, hiking, biking, biathlons, and triathlons that take place within MEPRD's jurisdiction and contribute at least ten percent of event proceeds towards funding improvements or developments to public parks or trails in the designated counties. Eligible applicants must be public organizations or 501(c)3 organizations headquartered within MEPRD's jurisdiction or within 15 miles of it. Only one event sponsorship grant award is allowed per MEPRD fiscal year. For more information, visit MEPRD's website.

Grant program designed to train underrepresented population to successfully enter the construction industry and the trades. The program focuses removing barriers for entry and transitioning graduates to DOL-registered apprenticeship programs. The goal of the Illinois Works Act is to ensure that all Illinois residents have access to State capital projects and careers in the construction industry and building trades, as well as provide contracting and employment opportunities to historically underrepresented populations in the construction industry and the trades. The Illinois Works Pre-apprenticeship NOFO and program is a critical component in the success of the Act, by increasing the number of qualified construction and building trades apprentices who are women, people of color, veterans or from otherwise underrepresented populations (as defined by the Illinois Works Jobs Program Act) and preparing them to enter full apprenticeship programs on their way to careers in construction and the building trades.

This funding program provides financial support for security improvements to nonprofit organizations at high risk of threats or attacks, excluding those primarily focused on medical or mental health services.

This state-funded initiative provides financial support to licensed Emergency Medical Services providers in Illinois for training and essential equipment improvements to enhance emergency medical care.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local governments in Illinois to help homeless youth aged 14 to 23 access essential services, safe housing, and skills training for independent living.

This grant provides financial assistance to nonprofit organizations in Illinois for unexpected expenses or new opportunities that were not included in their budgets.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Illinois to develop and expand apprenticeship programs that connect individuals, especially those from underrepresented groups, with career pathways in various industries.

This funding opportunity provides support for organizations to implement and evaluate a mental health campaign aimed at reducing suicide rates among disproportionately affected populations, such as veterans, rural communities, and LGBTQ individuals.

This program provides funding to local organizations in Iroquois County to enhance their existing food, shelter, and emergency assistance services for individuals and families in need.

This program provides funding to community-based food banks in Illinois to improve access to nutritious food for adults by enhancing food offerings and implementing nutrition-focused policies.

This funding opportunity is designed for Illinois-based nonprofit organizations to provide asthma education and support programs for children, caregivers, and school staff, while also evaluating emergency asthma medication access in schools.

Illinois Humanities is accepting applications for its Action Grants, which are designed to support projects that delve into the digital humanities, introduce innovative audience engagement techniques, and cultivate new and diverse audiences. These grants align with Illinois Humanities' broader mission to foster public humanities work and promote civic engagement throughout the state. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are Illinois-based nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations or those with a fiscal sponsor. Priority is given to smaller organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or less, aiming to empower a wider range of community-based initiatives. The impact goal is to stimulate more risk-taking, experimental, and engaging public humanities work, ultimately enriching the cultural landscape of Illinois. The program prioritizes projects that are deeply rooted in the humanities, including various media projects such as oral history, filmmaking, journalism, and storytelling. This focus ensures that the funded initiatives contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of human culture, history, and values. Expected outcomes include the successful implementation of projects that explore digital humanities, engage new audiences, and apply innovative techniques. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond the project's successful execution, the emphasis on "engaging public humanities work" suggests an outcome of increased public participation and appreciation for humanities-based initiatives. The maximum funding available per project is up to $4,000. Organizations cannot have an open Vision, Action, or General Operating grant to be eligible.

The Operations and Program Grant program by the Quad Cities Community Foundation aims to provide essential general operating or program support to successful ongoing efforts. This initiative aligns with the Community Foundation’s strategic commitment to effective grantmaking practices by offering flexible and reliable funding. A key aspect of this alignment is the preference given to general operating support requests, acknowledging their crucial role in the long-term success of nonprofit organizations. The program allows for both one-year and two-year funding requests, enabling organizations to secure stable support for their critical work. The program targets nonprofit organizations located in Scott County, IA, or Rock Island County, IL. Organizations outside these counties but within a 60-mile radius of Rock Island, IL, are eligible for funding from the Amy Helpenstell Foundation Fund only. The program's impact goals are broad, covering various fields of interest including Animals & Environment, Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, and Youth Development. By supporting these diverse areas, the Community Foundation aims to address a wide range of community needs and foster overall well-being in the Quad Cities region. The Operations and Program Grant program prioritizes several key areas. Preference is given to applications seeking general operating support and those supporting existing successful organizations or programs. The program also focuses on organizations and programs that meet an identified community need in at least one of the six fields of interest, demonstrate effectiveness in achieving their goals, and strongly contribute to overall success. Furthermore, a significant focus is placed on organizations that advance racial and other forms of equity in the Quad Cities region through their actions and leadership, and those with a track record of success and positive community impact. Expected outcomes include enhanced organizational stability and effectiveness for nonprofits, improved community well-being across various sectors, and the advancement of equity in the Quad Cities region. Measurable results are tied to the effectiveness of programs, the achievement of organizational goals relative to dollars used, and the demonstrated positive community impact. The Community Foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are evident in its commitment to flexible and reliable funding, its focus on general operating support, and its emphasis on supporting established, successful initiatives that address identified community needs and promote equity. Each fund within the program maintains its original purposes and donor intent, ensuring that grants are awarded in alignment with specific areas such as risk management, arts and culture, or youth development.

This program provides funding to organizations in Illinois to deliver comprehensive nursing support and services to pregnant and parenting individuals and their infants, focusing on reducing maternal and infant health disparities.

The Lumpkin Family Foundation’s **Land, Health, Community (LHC) Grant Program** serves as its core philanthropic initiative, advancing the family’s long-standing commitment to holistic community well-being in East Central Illinois. At least half of the foundation’s annual grantmaking is directed to this region, with a focus on fostering prosperity, health, leadership, and environmental stewardship. Through the LHC program, the foundation seeks to nurture communities that are economically strong, physically and mentally healthy, socially engaged, and environmentally conscious—each element reinforcing the others to create long-term resilience and vitality. A central vision of the program is to strengthen local food systems and agricultural economies while supporting residents’ physical and mental health. The foundation encourages projects that promote access to healthy, affordable food, strengthen local farm businesses, and integrate sustainable land use practices. Equally important is the cultivation of social cohesion and civic capacity—empowering communities to collaborate on shared goals, retain talent, and attract new opportunities. The emphasis on leadership development and collaborative problem-solving underscores the foundation’s belief in community-driven progress. In response to growing awareness of mental health challenges, the Lumpkin Family Foundation has expanded the LHC program to include **nature-based mental wellness initiatives**. These efforts support programs that demonstrate the connection between engagement with nature and improved mental well-being. Priority is given to projects that help youth and young adults reduce screen time through outdoor experiences, provide self-care opportunities for mental health practitioners, and create healing environments for trauma-impacted individuals such as foster youth. The foundation recognizes the strong research-based link between time spent in nature and improvements in happiness, social connectedness, and emotional balance. Successful proposals often integrate multiple LHC focus areas, combining personal health, environmental stewardship, agricultural innovation, and mental wellness. The foundation particularly values programs that promote sustainable farming, develop green practices that add productivity while protecting the land, and build community capacity through education and collaboration. Preference is given to rural organizations and those located in **Coles County** and surrounding areas, reflecting the foundation’s deep roots in East Central Illinois. Through the Land, Health, Community Grant Program, the Lumpkin Family Foundation continues to invest in the long-term vitality of its home region. By uniting efforts in agriculture, health, the environment, and mental wellness, the program fosters communities that are not only economically stable but also socially vibrant and emotionally healthy—a living model of the foundation’s belief in the interdependence of land, people, and place.

This program provides funding to organizations that help underserved communities in Illinois improve digital skills, access the internet, and obtain necessary devices to enhance their participation in society and the economy.

The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln is inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for its Community Grants Program. This program aims to support charitable initiatives within specific geographic limitations, aligning with the Foundation's mission to strengthen the communities in the Land of Lincoln. The grant program seeks to fund projects that address community needs and enhance the quality of life for residents within the designated counties. The target beneficiaries for this program are the residents of Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, and Sangamon Counties in Illinois. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) charitable organizations, faith-based organizations (provided proposals benefit all regardless of religion and are not religious in nature), public or private schools (for projects exceeding their budget funding), and some government entities or municipalities. The program focuses on supporting a wide array of community-benefiting projects. While specific impact goals and expected outcomes are not explicitly detailed in terms of measurable results, the program's general objective is to foster community improvement and address local challenges. The funding information indicates multiple grant awards of up to $5,000 each, implying a strategy to support various smaller-scale projects that collectively contribute to broader community well-being. The selection criteria suggest a priority for well-structured proposals from eligible organizations that demonstrate a clear benefit to the community. The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this program, appear to center on broad community support and capacity building for local organizations. By offering grants to a diverse range of entities, the Foundation likely aims to create a ripple effect of positive change across the specified counties. The theory of change seems to be that by providing financial resources to local organizations, these organizations can then effectively implement programs and services that directly benefit the community, thereby contributing to the overall strength and vitality of the Land of Lincoln.

The Lake County Community Foundation Fall Grant focuses on two key priority areas: Leadership Development and Animal Welfare. The Foundation's mission is aligned with fostering a stronger nonprofit sector through leadership development opportunities that benefit Lake County's broader nonprofit community, rather than individual organizations. For animal welfare, the Foundation, through the Lake County Humane Society Fund, seeks to cultivate innovative approaches and address unmet needs for animals in Lake County. This grant embodies the Foundation's commitment to strategic investments that strengthen the community. Within Leadership Development, the Foundation prioritizes projects that build a pipeline of competent, emerging leaders for the county's nonprofit sector. A crucial aspect is increasing access to quality programming for leaders of color and other underrepresented groups, ensuring a diverse and inclusive leadership base. The ultimate goal is to equip leaders to better serve their nonprofit organizations, clients, and communities, thereby amplifying their collective impact across Lake County. This approach reflects the Foundation's theory of change, which posits that investing in leadership capacity will lead to more effective and sustainable social impact. For Animal Welfare, the grant targets organizations dedicated to the needs of animals in Lake County. The focus is on innovative approaches to support animal welfare and addressing needs where the applicant is the sole service provider. This area aligns with the Foundation's broader aim of addressing critical community needs and fostering a compassionate environment for all residents, including animals. The expected outcome is improved animal welfare through targeted interventions and support for organizations making a significant difference in this area. The Foundation's strategic pillars of Economic Justice, Community Ownership, and Rapid Community Response guide the evaluation criteria for all applications. Successful proposals will demonstrate alignment with these pillars and respond to high-priority needs identified by current Lake County data. The Foundation also emphasizes diversity and equity within applicant organizations, seeking staff, leadership, and boards that reflect the communities they serve. Furthermore, strong, documented partnerships, the potential to leverage other resources, and a high probability of affecting significant change over the next three years are key considerations, along with cost-effective service delivery and a proven track record of achieving outcomes. These criteria underscore the Foundation's commitment to impactful, sustainable change.

UPDATED NOTICE - PLEASE READ: April 6, 2023 EDA is excited to announce the launch of its new grants management platform: the Economic Development Grants Experience (EDGE). EDGE was developed to streamline the application and grants management process by implementing a single platform with increased transparency, improved user experience, higher data quality, and more efficiency throughout the entire grant lifecycle. As of April 6th, 2023, applications can no longer be submitted on Grants.gov, and will ONLY be accepted through EDGE. To apply in EDGE, please go to: sfgrants.eda.gov. More information on how to apply is provided in the full NOFO. PARTNERSHIP PLANNING program instructions: Please note that applicants will be invited to submit applications through EDGE for the Partnership Planning program. For more information, please reach out to your EDA point of contact. Program Description: EDA makes planning and local technical assistance investments to support economic development, foster job creation, and attract private investment in economically distressed areas of the United States. Under the Planning program, EDA makes Partnership Planning, Short-Term Planning, and State Planning awards to eligible recipients to create and implement regional economic development plans designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of an area or region. More specifically, EDA makes Partnership Planning investments to designated planning organizations (i.e., District Organizations) serving EDA-designated Economic Development Districts and to Indian Tribes to facilitate the development, implementation, revision, or replacement of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS), which articulate and prioritize the strategic economic goals of recipients respective regions. EDA also makes Short-Term and State Planning awards for economic development planning activities that guide the eventual creation and retention of high-quality jobs, particularly for the unemployed and underemployed in the Nations most economically distressed regions. Under the Local Technical Assistance program, EDA makes awards to strengthen the capacity of local or State organizations, institutions of higher education, and other eligible entities to undertake and promote effective economic development programs through projects such as feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resiliency plans, and project planning. **Please note: While the published Notice of Funding Opportunity (available under "Related Documents") states that the ED900A form and the SF424B form are both required for a complete application, these forms are no longer required and have therefore been removed from the package template.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Chicago to offer navigation services that help pregnant and postpartum individuals connect with health and wellness resources, aiming to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and reduce disparities.