Charitable Trust Grant

The Illinois State Treasurer's Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund, administered by Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs, provides grant funding to nonprofit organizations throughout Illinois to support community-oriented initiatives. The fund operates under the Illinois Charitable Trust Board, which is responsible for the review and recommendation of grant awards. The primary objective of the program is to stabilize and strengthen small nonprofit organizations that serve economically distressed areas and populations. Grants are awarded semiannually, with two distinct funding cycles focusing on critical areas of need within the state. For the Spring 2025 grant cycle, running from January 1 through March 31, funding will be allocated to organizations operating within the categories of Housing and Economic & Workforce Development. In the Fall 2025 cycle, spanning July 1 through September 30, grants will support Food and Housing initiatives. Specific programs eligible under these categories include food pantries, SNAP outreach, housing counseling, foreclosure prevention, renters’ rights education, GED and vocational training, and entrepreneurship support. Only nonprofit organizations that operate exclusively in Illinois and have an annual operating budget of $1 million or less may apply. Additionally, these organizations must be domiciled in Illinois, provide charitable services in the state, and be registered under the Illinois General Not For Profit Corporation Act of 1986. To be considered, organizations must also have at least one full-time paid employee as verified by their AG990-IL filings and must not have any conflicts of interest with state officials. The total grant request may not exceed 30% of the organization's total budget, and overhead costs must be kept below 25% unless for one-time capital expenditures. Fiscal sponsors or organizations applying on behalf of another group are ineligible. Organizations must have a non-discrimination policy and submit a comprehensive application package including their IRS determination letter, recent Form 990 filings, Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, AG990-IL forms, audited financials, a complete list of board members, and any relevant fundraiser contracts or filings. Applications are evaluated based on a 100-point rubric that includes criteria such as previous experience (25 points), knowledge of the population served (15 points), program design (15 points), program administration (10 points), fiscal sustainability (15 points), demonstration of need (20 points), and whether the organization is located in an economically depressed area (5 points). Key application questions include requests for organizational mission, need justification, target population, and success metrics. The application is reviewed first by the Treasurer’s staff, and then by the Charitable Trust Stabilization Committee, which makes final recommendations. Previous grantees may reapply only if at least one calendar year has passed since the end of their last grant term and may not receive grants for more than two consecutive years. The process also allows for site visits and requests for additional information. The Charitable Trust program promotes transparency, ethical oversight, and strategic investment in underserved Illinois communities. No specific grant amounts or award totals are stated in the program materials, and applicants are advised to consult the fund’s website or contact the Treasurer’s Office directly for additional guidance.

Ensure all required documentation is submitted and fully completed. Missing or unexplained omissions will result in disqualification.