Charitable Trust Grant

The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund is a grant program operated by the Office of the Illinois State Treasurer, currently led by Treasurer Michael Frerichs. Established by the Illinois General Assembly, the fund aims to support small, community-based nonprofit organizations across the state. The program reflects the Treasurer’s commitment to economic inclusion and equitable support for underserved populations by focusing on essential services such as food access, housing stability, and workforce development. The grant is available in two annual cycles: Spring (January 1 to March 31) and Fall (July 1 to September 30). The Spring 2026 cycle supports organizations operating in the areas of Food and Economic & Workforce Development, while the Fall 2026 cycle funds Food and Housing initiatives. All applications must be submitted online via ilcharitabletrust.com within the specified window for each cycle. Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded, and the funds must be expended within one calendar year of the effective date of the grant agreement. Applications undergo a thorough review process led by staff from the Treasurer’s office and the Charitable Trust Stabilization Committee, with final decisions made by the State Treasurer. To be eligible, an organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated under the Illinois General Not-for-Profit Corporation Act of 1986. It must be domiciled in Illinois and provide charitable services exclusively within the state. Additional eligibility requirements include having a budget of $1 million or less, at least one full-time paid employee, and a formal non-discrimination policy covering race, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, family status, and religion. Organizations are ineligible if they have close ties to elected officials earning over $60,000 who serve in roles such as board member, consultant, or paid staff. Fiscal sponsors and sub-grantees are not eligible, and former grantees may only reapply if a full calendar year has passed since the end of their previous grant term. Grants may not exceed 30% of the organization’s total budget, and no more than 25% of the grant can be used for overhead unless it is for a one-time expenditure. The required application materials are extensive and include documents such as the IRS determination letter, recent IRS Form 990s or 990-N, the Illinois AG's Form CO-1 and AG990-IL, articles of incorporation, bylaws, audited financial statements, annual operating budgets, and a detailed list of organizational leadership. Organizations must also provide details on all grants received in the past two years and all contracts with professional fundraisers, if applicable. Site visits may also be conducted by staff from the Treasurer’s office or the Charitable Trust Committee prior to the finalization of any grant award. Evaluation criteria are highly structured. Applications are scored on a 100-point scale, with “Previous Experience” carrying the most weight (20 points), followed by categories such as Knowledge of Population Served, Program Design, Fiscal Sustainability, and Demonstration of Need. Applicants located in economically depressed areas—defined by metrics such as poverty rates, unemployment rates, or school lunch program eligibility—can receive up to five additional points. The review process emphasizes the organization's track record, proposed outcomes, fiscal health, and its understanding of the community it serves. The Charitable Trust Stabilization Committee comprises 11 members, including private citizens and appointees from state offices and agencies such as the Illinois Attorney General's office, the Lt. Governor’s office, and the Departments of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Financial and Professional Regulation. The committee evaluates applications and advises the State Treasurer, who makes the final determination. The funding for this grant comes from fees collected from nonprofit organizations when they incorporate with the state, making it a self-sustaining program rooted in Illinois’ nonprofit sector.

Highlight previous experience and need clearly—these carry most scoring weight.