Illinois Diversity Equity and Inclusion 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.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in DeKalb County, Illinois, to support projects that empower underserved populations and address systemic challenges related to ethnicity, immigration, and access to healthcare and housing.

This program provides funding for artists, arts organizations, and festival presenters to create innovative and inclusive public art projects that engage the Urbana community and enhance cultural vibrancy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that offer transportation, safety, and health navigation services for seniors aged 55 and older in the Greater St. Louis area and nearby counties in Illinois and Missouri.

This funding initiative provides financial support to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in northern Illinois to enhance access to artistic programming for underserved communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Cook and DuPage Counties that focus on improving economic security, combating gender-based violence, and ensuring access to health services for women and girls.

This grant provides financial support to independently owned legacy businesses along the historic Route 66 corridor, focusing on preservation projects that enhance visibility and sustainability, particularly for underrepresented communities.

This grant provides financial support to grassroots community organizing groups in the Midwest that focus on empowering low- and moderate-income populations, particularly those historically excluded from civic participation, to drive systemic change and promote social justice.

This grant provides flexible funding to grassroots organizations and emerging nonprofits in Evanston, Illinois, that are dedicated to promoting racial equity and addressing systemic inequities in the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Rock Island County, Illinois, and Scott County, Iowa, to address community needs in areas such as education, food security, housing, and immigration support, while empowering high school students to engage in philanthropy.

The Youth Fund by Crossroads Fund offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 to youth activists (up to 26 years old) in selected counties of Illinois and Indiana, specifically Chicago and Gary, who are working on social justice projects in areas such as community, education, health, environment, violence, and media, with a focus on challenging policies and structures that hinder equality in their communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to approved mental health organizations in Illinois to enhance mobile crisis response services for individuals experiencing behavioral health emergencies, ensuring accessible and timely intervention regardless of insurance status.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and public agencies in Illinois to create transitional housing for victims of violent crime, helping them regain stability and access essential services.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Will County, Illinois, that provide innovative programs addressing youth opportunities, community health, and financial security to promote equity and long-term stability.

This funding opportunity provides unrestricted financial support to nonprofit organizations in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois that focus on grassroots advocacy, community organizing, and policy initiatives aimed at achieving racial equity and community well-being.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for organizations to create a campaign that promotes the community health worker profession in Illinois, aiming to increase awareness, integration, and workforce expansion in healthcare and social services.

This funding initiative supports community organizations in Chicago that promote equitable access to health resources, focusing on projects that enhance physical activity, healthy eating, and mental wellness, particularly for historically marginalized communities.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Suburban Cook County to promote digital equity by improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, and fostering community collaboration.

The City of Naperville in Illinois is inviting applications for its Community Development Block Grant Program, aimed at providing affordable housing, services to vulnerable communities, job creation, and business expansion, with funds allocated for property acquisition, infrastructure improvements, public services, energy conservation, and economic development activities.

This funding opportunity provides $5 million to a single organization to promote racial healing and community engagement across Illinois by supporting initiatives that address systemic inequities and foster inclusive dialogue among diverse populations.