Illinois Private Grants

This program provides financial support and business development resources to creative entrepreneurs in Illinois and Indiana, helping them grow and sustain their businesses through education and coaching.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations and local government units in McLean County, Illinois, to enhance health and well-being initiatives that address health equity and social determinants of health for underserved populations.

This grant provides financial support and educational resources to diverse-led businesses in Illinois, helping them grow and create new jobs.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide career development programs for Black youth aged 14-24 in designated NBA markets.

This program provides financial assistance to disadvantaged communities in Illinois for planting trees in public spaces, promoting biodiversity and sustainable urban forestry.

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 financial support to nonprofit organizations in Lee County for human service initiatives focused on health, education, financial stability, and youth development.

This program provides funding to Chicago-based nonprofits that empower youth aged 16 to 24 through workforce readiness and food security initiatives.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and qualified government agencies that serve the Village of Milan, Illinois, focusing on youth development, community improvement, cultural activities, and support for underprivileged individuals.

This grant provides funding to arts organizations in Chicago and Cook County to help them adapt and innovate their operations and practices, with a focus on supporting BIPOC-led initiatives and fostering long-term sustainability.

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 grant provides financial support and mentorship to early-stage cleantech entrepreneurs in the Midwest who are developing innovative solutions to promote economic growth and environmental sustainability.

This funding supports Illinois nonprofit organizations that provide free legal assistance to low-income residents navigating civil legal issues, ensuring they have access to necessary resources and guidance.

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 grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that assist low-income youth aged 16-24 in Chicago’s South and West Sides, focusing on essential needs like food security, affordable housing, education, and healthcare.

This grant provides funding to organizations in Sangamon County that offer programs and services aimed at improving the lives of seniors.

This grant provides financial support to Illinois-based non-profit organizations that operate legal hotlines, offering free legal advice and referrals to low-income individuals facing civil legal issues.

This program provides financial support to individual craft, folk, and traditional artists across the U.S. to purchase essential tools and equipment that enhance their artistic practices.

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 funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations, universities, and government entities in Illinois and Iowa that focus on educating the public about climate change and natural resource depletion or conducting research for sustainable solutions.