Illinois Housing Grants

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is offering the Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Urban Shelter Program, focusing on constructing, reconstructing, rehabilitating, or acquiring properties for homeless shelters. With $15 million in federal funding, the program aims to return shelter capacities to pre-COVID levels. Eight awards, ranging from $500,000 to $2,000,000, are anticipated. The program prioritizes projects that address the impacts of COVID-19, with an emphasis on assisting the homeless population and enhancing public health and safety. Eligible applicants include local government units with direct HUD funding and entities with a strong homelessness support network.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

This funding opportunity provides $2 million to the City of Chicago for capital improvements aimed at enhancing the quality of life for residents in the specified area along South Calumet Avenue.

This program provides financial and technical support to community investment vehicles and worker cooperatives in Chicago, enabling them to develop commercial real estate projects that empower local residents and promote equitable economic growth.

This grant provides funding to Illinois nonprofit organizations to create legal information centers and projects that help residents understand and navigate the legal system, particularly in areas like family law, housing, and immigration.

The Promise Grant program, supported by the DeKalb County Community Foundation, provides funding to charitable community organizations that serve underserved populations in DeKalb County. The program aims to inspire, educate, and empower individuals facing challenges related to ethnicity, immigration status, and abilities. The grant is funded by two funds: The Promise Fund-El Fondo de la Promesa and the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Fund. Eligible applicants include 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in DeKalb County, school districts, schools, education facilities, churches (non-religious programs), and municipal or governmental entities. Grant applications open on August 15 with an October 1 deadline. Funding decisions are typically made within one month of the deadline. The maximum grant amount is $5,000, with the typical grant amount being under $800. Projects that increase participation of underserved populations, develop leadership skills in marginalized populations, increase understanding and tolerance, raise educational levels, enhance quality of life, and address healthcare and affordable housing needs within DeKalb Township are prioritized. Religious purposes, advertising purchases, capital or operation debt reduction, political campaigns or attempts to influence legislative issues are generally not funded. Grantees must submit a final grant report upon completion of the project or purpose for which the grant was requested. Any modifications to the originally proposed project require advance written approval from the Community Foundation. The grant application can be accessed online at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=dekalbcountyfoundation

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers with employment services, training, and housing solutions.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) is offering a Business Resiliency program, funded by federal Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funds. This grant aims to support the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of property for homeless shelters, with the goal of increasing their capacity to pre-COVID levels. The program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and requires all awarded projects to demonstrate a connection to the prevention, preparation, and response to the coronavirus. The primary objective is to provide stable, safe, and adequate housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, aligning with the broader mission of community development and support for vulnerable populations. The target beneficiaries are homeless individuals, with the impact goal of increasing the capacity of shelters to serve more people and improve living conditions. This program directly addresses the critical need for enhanced housing infrastructure in the wake of the pandemic, ensuring that communities are better equipped to handle homelessness. A key priority of this grant is to fund projects that meet the National Objective of Low to Moderate Income for the benefiting businesses, ensuring that the assistance reaches those most in need. The program also emphasizes robust collaboration among local entities, requiring letters of support from a minimum of five community homelessness support services. This fosters a coordinated approach to addressing homelessness and ensures comprehensive service delivery. Expected outcomes include an increase in the number of available shelter beds and improved facilities for homeless individuals. While the total funding amount is yet to be precisely determined, it will be at least $15 million, with individual awards ranging from $500,000 to $2 million. The number of grants will be based on the amounts requested. The project period is anticipated to run from January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2026, allowing for a substantial duration to achieve the program's objectives. Measurable results will be tied to the increased capacity of shelters and their ability to provide stable and safe housing. Eligibility criteria require entities to be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, possess valid FEIN and UEI numbers, have current and public SAM.gov registrations, and be in good standing with state and federal lists. Eligible applicants must also be units of local government receiving "Entitlement" CDBG funding, have a current Shelter Funding Strategy, and remain compliant with all applicable nondiscrimination laws.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments in Illinois for rehabilitating homes occupied by low-to-moderate income households, promoting neighborhood revitalization and improving housing conditions.

The City of Naperville in Illinois is offering a Social Service Grant ranging from $500,000 to $1 million for a duration of one year, aimed at financially assisting non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services such as emergency assistance, senior care, self-sufficiency programs, support for special populations, and youth programs to benefit the Naperville community.

The Rural Shelter program provides funding for the creation, improvement, or purchase of homeless shelters in non-urban areas, aiming to restore their capacity to pre-COVID levels.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local governments in Illinois for water and sanitary system projects that improve public health and safety in communities with significant low-to-moderate income populations.

This funding opportunity provides community colleges in Illinois with up to $25,000 each to create programs that assist students facing homelessness or housing insecurity.

The Movember Indigenous Men’s Wellbeing Innovation Initiative is a grant funding and capacity building program aimed at empowering Indigenous-led organizations. This initiative supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative programs and interventions to enhance Indigenous men's social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). As one of four initiatives under Movember’s new Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portfolio, it aligns with Movember's broader mission to build voice, capability, and power among Indigenous boys and men to design, lead, implement, and sustain SEWB in their communities, and to strengthen knowledge of effective SEWB strategies. The grant specifically targets Indigenous boys and men across all life stages in the United States. The program's core focus is on delivering innovative new programming or strengthening existing promising approaches that demonstrate improvements in SEWB. Movember aims to foster cultural connection and pride, embrace cultural knowledge, elevate overall social, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing, strengthen resilience, enhance health literacy, and improve access to culturally appropriate spaces and services that support SEWB. These priorities are central to achieving the desired impact of improved holistic wellbeing within Indigenous communities. Eligible applicants must be Indigenous owned/managed/led organizations based in the United States, legally able to accept grant funds, and either implementing an existing SEWB program with promising evidence or proposing a new program aligned with the funding goals. This ensures that the initiatives are culturally relevant and community-driven. Movember’s strategic priorities reflect a commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination and strengthening community-based solutions. The initiative provides annual funding of up to USD $250,000 per applicant for three years. The expected outcomes include a significant improvement in SEWB among Indigenous boys and men in the USA, measurable through indicators such as increased connection to culture and community, enhanced resilience, improved health literacy, and better access to culturally appropriate support services. This investment reflects Movember’s theory of change, which posits that by empowering Indigenous-led organizations and fostering innovative, culturally relevant programs, lasting positive impacts on Indigenous men's wellbeing can be achieved.

The Hubbell-Waterman Foundation is actively seeking grant applications from nonprofit organizations operating within Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois. The foundation's mission is deeply rooted in enhancing community well-being through strategic investments in three key areas: culture and the arts, education, and social welfare. This aligns with their overarching goal of fostering a vibrant, educated, and supportive community by addressing critical needs and enriching local life. Within the realm of culture and the arts, the foundation prioritizes cultivating and supporting both visual and performing arts, investing in landmark cultural institutions, and backing new, innovative programs that contribute to community enrichment. For education, their focus extends to pre-K–12 education, encompassing after-school and summer programs, creative learning initiatives, life skills and career training, environmental education with a sustainability emphasis, and crucial mental health programs for students and their families. Social welfare initiatives are designed to support accessible programs for individuals and families, specifically targeting at-risk and low-income family services, food and nutrition support, housing security, immigrant and refugee community support, and physical and mental health services. The foundation's funding strategies support a variety of grant types to achieve its impact goals. These include capital campaigns and acquisitions for construction and renovations, operational and/or program grants for up to three years following a capital campaign, and multi-year program grants, also not exceeding three years. These program grants may also cover general operating expense reimbursement. The target beneficiaries are primarily nonprofit organizations serving the specified counties, and through these organizations, individuals and families who will benefit from improved access to cultural experiences, educational opportunities, and social support. Expected outcomes include a more culturally vibrant community, improved educational outcomes and access, enhanced life skills, increased environmental awareness, better mental health support for students and families, and stronger social safety nets for vulnerable populations. The foundation's strategic priorities are clearly laid out in its long-term funding priorities and its defined areas of focus. Their theory of change appears to be that by strategically investing in these three core areas through various grant mechanisms, they can catalyze positive, sustainable change within the communities of Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, ultimately leading to a more inclusive and thriving society.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to eligible contractors for developing renewable energy and energy efficiency projects that benefit low-income communities and promote workforce training in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Will County for exterior improvements and accessibility enhancements that promote community development and economic vitality.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist migrant and seasonal farmworkers, focusing on enhancing job training, education, employment services, housing stability, and youth development initiatives.

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (IEJF) awards grants to support legal assistance for low-income Illinois residents who cannot afford an attorney, aligning with its core mission of promoting equal access to justice. These grants enable not-for-profit organizations to provide critical civil legal aid, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent vulnerable populations from addressing legal challenges. The foundation's strategic priority is to support direct service staff positions, including attorneys, paralegals, pro bono coordinators, and social/caseworkers, to enhance the capacity of legal service providers to deliver efficient and effective assistance. The grant program targets two primary beneficiary groups: families in crisis and older Illinoisans. For families, the focus is on civil legal assistance in areas such as family law (e.g., orders of protection, child custody, guardianship, divorce), consumer law, and veterans and disability benefits. For older Illinoisans (aged 65 and above), the program aims to protect them from physical and financial abuse and hardship through civil legal assistance in cases involving orders of protection, guardianships, healthcare, consumer and credit issues, housing, and public benefits like Social Security and Medicare. Housing assistance is specifically excluded for families in crisis this year due to existing IEJF programs funded by IDHS and IHDA. The IEJF's grants are designed to achieve significant impact by strengthening the delivery of civil legal services. By funding staff positions, the foundation seeks to increase the availability of legal aid to those most in need. Expected outcomes include improved legal protection for families facing domestic issues, financial difficulties, and challenges related to veteran and disability benefits, as well as enhanced safeguarding of older adults from abuse and financial hardship. The theory of change posits that by investing in direct service staff, legal aid organizations can better address complex legal needs, leading to more equitable justice outcomes for low-income individuals. Measurable results will stem from the effective deployment of grant funds to support direct service staff. Applicants must demonstrate how proposed staff positions will enhance the organization's ability to provide efficient and effective legal assistance in the priority areas. While specific quantitative metrics are not detailed in the provided information, the emphasis on direct service staff suggests a focus on the volume and quality of legal aid cases handled and the number of individuals served within the designated priority areas. The foundation's commitment to organizations with a proven track record (e.g., continuous operation for at least two years, expenditures of at least $200,000 for civil legal assistance, and employment of four or more full-time attorneys or provision of legal representation to at least 200 low-income persons via pro bono attorneys) indicates a desire for sustainable and impactful interventions.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Scott County, Iowa, and Rock Island County, Illinois, to implement projects that enhance youth education, promote financial stability, and improve community health.