Illinois Education Grants

The Illinois Department of Public Health is seeking to award a grant for the development and implementation, or further expansion, of a toll free abortion navigation hotline that will not only help navigate any patient who is looking for an abortion to the appropriate provider in Illinois, but that can provide education and logistical support, as needed. The grantee must have experience in abortion navigation services and will develop and maintain relationships with the abortion providers in the State and the Illinois Department of Public Health. The grantee shall promote use of the hotline by distributing information about it via low cost means to professional networks and utilize public and social media. The grantee will provide counseling and information to callers, including connecting them with the appropriate provider for their unique needs and circumstances, education on potential clinical issues prior to their appointment, and connection with support services, as needed. The grantee will be responsible for maintaining up-to-date, accurate resources on IL abortion providers, abortion support service providers, and will ensure a warm handoff (closed loop) referral takes place.

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 for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

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

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 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 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 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.

This grant provides financial support to charitable organizations in Chicago and surrounding areas that focus on delivering high-quality educational and cultural programs for the community.

This program provides funding to individuals and small organizations in Illinois to engage communities with local history through projects that utilize archives, stories, and photography.

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 organizations and individuals in Rockford to develop programs that address economic development, violence prevention, and community reinvestment in areas disproportionately affected by past cannabis laws.

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 is designed for Illinois-based organizations to improve asthma care and education statewide, focusing on reducing health disparities and enhancing community partnerships.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and collaborative groups that provide essential community services in Vermilion County, Illinois, and Fountain and Warren Counties in Indiana.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and schools in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods for improving local football fields, ensuring safe and accessible play spaces for community youth.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Illinois-based organizations to develop solar energy workforce training programs aimed at underserved communities and individuals facing employment barriers, ensuring equitable access to clean energy job opportunities.

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 funding opportunity provides financial support to established non-profit organizations in Illinois that offer essential shelter and services for survivors of domestic violence, particularly in response to challenges heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic.