Illinois Employment Labor and Training Grants

The Illinois Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program is aimed at developing a skilled workforce to support clean jobs in Illinois. The program, funded by the state, is anticipated to offer 13 awards with a total funding amount of $37,900,000. No specific award range is specified. The program is open for applications starting July 7, 2023, and will close on June 30, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Technical assistance for applicants is available, with a session scheduled for July 14, 2023 at 3:00 PM; registration link for the session is provided in the original document.

The Community Foundation of the Quincy Area awards Community Grants to strengthen nonprofit services and enhance quality of life across a 12 county region in Illinois and Missouri. The program honors donor intent while supporting projects that meet needs and advance opportunities throughout the service area. Priority is given to proposals that enable unique, innovative, or proven solutions to community needs; make a significant impact on the overall request; expand or enhance mission delivery, especially for underserved or at risk populations; leverage community collaborations; and reach a significant number of residents across the region. Grants in 2024 will generally range from 1,000 to 7,500 dollars and may support programs, projects, or general operations as specified. Eligible applicants include registered 501(c)(3) organizations, units of government or municipalities for public or charitable purposes, and faith based organizations for community programs that do not promote or require religious doctrine. Projects must serve at least one of the following counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock, or Pike in Illinois and Clark, Knox, Lewis, Marion, Monroe, Pike, Ralls, or Shelby in Missouri. Applications are due May 1, 2024 through the foundation’s process. Official details and instructions are available from the Community Foundation of the Quincy Area.

This grant offers financial support to Illinois police agencies from municipalities, counties, park districts, public universities, and all units of local government. The funding is intended for the reimbursement of expenses related to the purchase of in-car video cameras for law enforcement vehicles and officer-worn body cameras. It also covers data storage costs associated with the use of these cameras and training for law enforcement officers on how to operate the cameras. The grant emphasizes the importance of complying with all statutory obligations and training mandates to ensure eligibility for the reimbursement, which includes a specific cost limit per item and requires documentation like paid invoices or receipts for each reimbursable item.

Grants are available for local law enforcement agencies to cover initial capital expenditures and other costs related to the expansion and support of the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) and other ballistic technology equipment. This funding opportunity aims to assist agencies that have not yet purchased NIBIN equipment, or those needing expansion or support items. Grantees can request advance working capital to initiate or enhance their NIBIN program and may also seek reimbursement for additional funds to be used over the next two years.

This initiative provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Chicago to create or improve youth and community centers, addressing the urgent need for safe spaces for young people in areas with high youth populations.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments affected by the closure or reduced operation of the Zion Nuclear Plant, aimed at fostering economic development and addressing community impacts through various initiatives.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is offering a grant of over $1 million, with a total funding of $10,000,000, to educational and non-profit organizations in Urbana, Illinois, to promote bioprocessing through infrastructure and capital equipment expansion, increased training opportunities, and short course offerings, with the project having been partially funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs program.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to educational institutions and organizations to develop programs that prepare students for careers in the clean energy sector, focusing on skills development and workforce readiness.

The City of Naperville in Illinois is offering grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, funded by the National Multistate Opioid Settlement, for approved opioid remediation programs and services that benefit Naperville residents, with applications open to a wide range of organizations including school districts, medical providers, and non-profits.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to encourage infrastructure investments and site readiness planning activities in Winnebago County. The goal is to support large industrial economic development projects, creating new job opportunities. Eligible applicants are government entities in Winnebago County with a documented agreement with a private entity. The total program funding is $3,000,000, with the application period from July 22, 2024, to August 21, 2024.

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 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.

The Kenneth A. Scott Charitable Trust's grant program aims to enhance the quality of life for companion animals and native wildlife. This mission aligns with the foundation's core belief in supporting innovative projects that go beyond basic care, providing long-term benefits for animals today and in the future. The trust focuses on helping organizations deliver an enhanced quality of life for homeless and abused companion animals. The target beneficiaries of this grant program include homeless and abused companion animals, native wildlife, and owned companion animals in under-resourced urban/rural areas or those owned by socially vulnerable populations. Impact goals include increasing successful adoptions, improving staff and volunteer care delivery, promoting humane education, enhancing access to medical care, and controlling pet and feral animal populations through spay/neuter initiatives. The program prioritizes several key areas: animal adoption, behavior training, and fostering; continuing education and training for staff and volunteers; humane and wildlife education; medical care, rehabilitation, and wellness care for animals; pet and feral animal population control through spay/neuter; equipment directly benefiting animals; and other animal care initiatives that celebrate the human-animal bond. Preferred projects include non-capital means of expanding shelter capacity, opportunities for staff and volunteer development, school and community programs addressing humane care, and assistance for owned pets from under-resourced households. Expected outcomes and measurable results include increased successful adoptions, improved delivery of care by staff and volunteers, enhanced community understanding of animal welfare, better access to medical care for vulnerable animal populations, and a reduction in unwanted pet populations. The foundation's strategic priorities are centered on supporting initiatives that lead to a high quality of life for individual animals and significant improvements for large numbers of animals. Their theory of change is that by funding innovative projects and supporting eligible organizations, they can foster better humane care, improve animal well-being, and address critical issues such as overpopulation and lack of access to care, ultimately creating a more compassionate environment for animals.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for small and mid-sized manufacturers in Illinois to develop internship and workforce training programs that enhance skills and address labor shortages.

Illinois Humanities' Multiplier Grants program supports project-based partnerships that foster broader community engagement, place-based community building, and coalition or network development within Illinois. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission to strengthen the humanities throughout the state by championing collaboration and making valuable connections. The program emphasizes that buy-in from all partners is crucial before proposal submission, underscoring a strategic priority for collaborative efforts that amplify the impact of humanities work. The grants target nonprofit organizations, including those with a fiscal sponsor, that are based in Illinois and have projects rooted in the humanities. Priority is given to organizations with an annual budget of $1 million or less, ensuring support for smaller entities that may have limited access to funding. The primary beneficiaries are under-funded and under-served communities, as well as those whose histories and stories are often overlooked or forgotten. The program aims to empower these communities through humanities initiatives, fostering a more inclusive and representative understanding of Illinois's diverse heritage. The program's priorities and focuses include projects that impact under-funded, under-served communities and initiatives that tell stories of forgotten or uncovered history and themes. These preferences reflect Illinois Humanities' strategic priorities to address historical inequities and promote public access to humanities scholarship and programming. The foundation's theory of change likely centers on the belief that by supporting collaborative, community-driven humanities projects, they can foster stronger community bonds, enhance cultural understanding, and create a more equitable and engaged citizenry across Illinois. Expected outcomes include increased collaboration among nonprofits and humanities groups, greater community engagement with humanities topics, and the successful telling of diverse historical narratives. Measurable results could include the number of partnerships formed, the reach of the projects within targeted communities, and the creation of new humanities content or programs. The grants, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 (up to $10,000), provide vital financial support for these endeavors, enabling organizations to implement impactful projects that align with the foundation's vision for a vibrant and accessible humanities landscape in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations in Illinois working to improve broadband access, digital literacy, and inclusion for underserved communities, helping bridge the digital divide and promote economic development.

This funding opportunity provides $2.6 million to support innovative workforce training projects that enhance employment outcomes and strengthen the training infrastructure in Illinois.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Dallas, Detroit, and Chicago that assist working students with job training, career development, and other resources to help them succeed while balancing education and employment.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments, nonprofits, and educational institutions for projects that protect coastal habitats, improve public access, and enhance community resilience along the Illinois Lake Michigan shoreline.