Illinois Law Justice and Legal Services Grants

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 provides $1 million to county and city governments in Illinois to join a task force aimed at reducing gun violence and illegal firearm possession through enhanced law enforcement efforts.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Illinois police agencies for the purchase or lease of in-car and body-worn cameras, along with related data storage and training, to improve law enforcement technology and public safety.

This program provides financial support to local governments, public colleges, and qualified nonprofits to help hire and retain law enforcement officers, improving recruitment and retention efforts across the state.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local law enforcement agencies in Illinois for acquiring and improving equipment related to ballistic testing and analysis to enhance their crime-solving capabilities.

This initiative provides financial support and mentorship to minority-owned small businesses in specific West Side neighborhoods of Chicago, helping them grow and contribute to their communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and trauma centers in Illinois to implement comprehensive violence prevention programs aimed at reducing firearm violence in high-risk communities.

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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations focused on developing a skilled workforce in Illinois' clean energy sector, particularly for underserved communities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Henry County, Illinois, focusing on educational assistance for local students, historic preservation, religious initiatives, and nursing home care for those in need.

This grant provides funding to Illinois courts and related offices to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities, ensuring they can fully participate in court activities and receive necessary accommodations.

This grant provides $100,000 to Chicago-based nonprofit organizations for impactful projects that address critical social issues, including culture, education, family support, health, and sustainability.

The City of Naperville in Illinois is inviting applications for its Community Development Block Grant Program, aimed at providing affordable housing, services to vulnerable communities, job creation, and business expansion, with funds allocated for property acquisition, infrastructure improvements, public services, energy conservation, and economic development activities.

The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) is a funding initiative that provides financial support to state and local law enforcement agencies for a range of criminal justice activities, including law enforcement, court programs, education, corrections, drug treatment, victim support, and technology improvements.

Applications are now being accepted for the Lake County Community Foundation Fall Grant. Donor Name: The Lake County Community Foundation State: Illinois County: Lake County (IL) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/06/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Priority Areas Leadership Development Through this priority area, the Foundation funds projects that provide quality leadership development opportunities for cohorts of nonprofit leaders throughout the sector. LCCF values coalition building and collaboration and will fund projects and opportunities that benefit Lake County’s greater nonprofit sector, rather than individual nonprofit organizations solely. Grant funds for Leadership Development are prioritized for work that:  Provides leadership development opportunities that help build a pipeline of competent, emerging leaders for the county’s nonprofit sector  Increases access for leaders of color and other underrepresented groups to quality programming  Helps leaders better serve their non-profit organization, clients and communities Animal Welfare Organizations that attend to the needs of animals in Lake County are invited to apply for grants made through the Lake County Humane Society Fund. 16% of this restricted fund’s spending allocation is designated for this purpose annually. Grant funds are prioritized for work that:  Cultivates new and innovative approaches to support animal welfare in Lake County  Addresses otherwise unmet needs as the only service provider in the area Funding Information Available funds: $20,000 Grant requests of $1,000 – $5,000 will be considered. Eligibility Criteria The Foundation considers applications from organizations that demonstrate success and sustainability with program goals and outcomes. Eligible organizations are:  Nonprofit agencies with evidence of tax exempt status under Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or those using a 501 (c)(3) fiscal agent  Eligible applicants MUST be in good standing with the IRS  Located within and/or primarily serving residents of Lake County, except for regional, statewide or national projects or research that may benefit a substantial portion of Lake County residents Non-discriminatory in the hiring of staff or in providing services on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin or ability Evaluation Criteria Applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:  Request aligns with the Foundation’s mission and values and with its strategic pillars of Economic Justice, Community Ownership and Rapid Community Response.  Request responds to a high priority need based on current Lake County specific data  The applicant’s staff, leadership and board are reflective of the community it serves. If not, the organization is taking meaningful steps to prioritize and support diversity and equity.  Applicants either have their own diversity statement or will adopt the Foundation’s Diversity Statement if there is not one in place.  Strong, documented partnerships currently in place  Request has potential to leverage other resources or donor support  High probability of affecting significant change over the next 3 years  Cost-effective delivery of direct services or advocacy  Likelihood of success and a track record of provider(s)/partners in achieving outcomes  Strong methods for tracking outcomes For more information, visit LCCF.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (the “Department” or “DCEO”) is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to solicit applications for Business Resiliency program funded by the federal Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus (CDBG-CV) Funds through the State of Illinois’ Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Office of Community Development. Donor Name: Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity State: Illinois County: Cook County (IL), DuPage County (IL), Kane County (IL), Lake County (IL), Madison County (IL), McHenry County (IL), Saint Clair County (IL), Will County (IL) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline:  07/31/2024 Size of the Grant: More than $1 million Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The objective of this program is to fund construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or acquisition of property for Homeless (as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shelters dedicated to the provision of stable, safe and adequate housing; with a goal of increasing capacity to pre-COVID levels. Performance Goals and Measures  The Community Development Block Grant-Coronavirus program is federally funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and requires that all projects awarded must tie back to the to the prevention, preparation, and response to coronavirus. All grants must meet the National Objective of Low to Moderate Income for the benefiting business The number of grants will be determined based on the amounts requested. Funding Information Total amount of funding expected to be awarded through this NOFO is has yet to be determined but will be at least $15 million. Awards will range from $500,000 to $2 million. Project Period The period of performance is expected to be January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026. Eligibility Criteria An entity must be registered in the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, at the time of grant application. The portal will verify that the entity: Has a valid FEIN number Has a current SAM.gov registration, SAM.gov registrations must be marked as “public” to allow the GATA Grantee Portal to expedite the review of the federal information; Has a valid UEI number Is not on the Federal Excluded Parties List Is in Good Standing with the Illinois Secretary of State Is not on the Illinois Stop Payment list Is not on the Department of Healthcare and Family Services Provider Sanctions list Eligible Applicants include Be a unit of local government receiving, or in an area receiving direct “Entitlement” Community Development Block Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Have a current Shelter Funding Strategy identifying needs, and plans to meet the needs. Have a strong collaborative relationship with all relevant local entities (service providers, community organizations, etc.) and have letters of support from a minimum of 5 community homelessness support services; Remain compliant with all applicable provisions of State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to nondiscrimination, sexual harassment and equal employment opportunity including, but not limited to: The Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq.), For more information, visit DCEO.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is accepting applications for its Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grants. Donor Name: Illinois Department of Natural Resources State: Illinois County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/13/2024 Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space. Funding Information Grant awards up to $1,725,000.00 are available for acquisition projects, while development/renovation projects are limited to a $600,000 grant maximum. Eligible Projects Example of Eligible Projects include: Acquisition of land for new park sites or park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural resource preservation. Development/Renovation of: Picnic and playground facilities; Outdoor nature interpretive facilities; Sports courts and play fields; Swimming pools, beaches and bathhouses; Campgrounds and fishing piers; winter sports facilities; Park roads and paths, parking, utilities and restrooms; and Architectural/engineering (A/E) services necessary for proper design and construction of approved project components. Eligibility Criteria OSLAD grants are available to units of local government that are authorized by Illinois law to expend public funds for the acquisition and development of land for public outdoor park, recreation, or conservation purposes are eligible to apply for funding assistance. School districts are not eligible. For more information, visit IDNR.

This funding will be used to provide Immigrant Legal Support Program (ILSP). Specifically, professional, affordable immigration legal services, and it aims to bolster immigration legal services, and meet the growing needs of the immigrant population in Illinois. The program is designed to provide comprehensive immigration legal services at scale. The program consists of four integral components, which are as follows: 1) Scalable Intake and Screening, 2) Pro-se and Limited-Scope Legal Services 3) Workshops 4) Referral Networks By incorporating these components into a centralized program, IDHS is committed to streamlining the processes to enhance access to legal services and foster collaboration among stakeholders to address the changing needs of immigrant communities effectively

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation makes grants to provide legal assistance to low-income Illinois residents who cannot afford to hire an attorney. Donor Name: Illinois Equal Justice Foundation State: Illinois County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 07/26/2024 Size of the Grant: Not Available Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Priority Areas The IEJF grants will focus on two priority areas: Legal Assistance to Families in Crisis This includes civil legal assistance in cases involving family law (eg., orders of protection, child custody, guardianships, school disciplinary hearings,  is solution of marriage and post-decree matters), consumer law, and veterans and disability benefits.  Housing will not be a priority for funding this year due to IEJF’s eviction and foreclosure grant programs funded via IDHS and IHDA. Legal Assistance to Older Illinoisans This includes efforts to provide civil legal assistance to protect people 65 and older from physical and financial abuse and financial hardship. It includes civil legal assistance in cases involving orders of protection; guardianships; health care; consumer and credit issues; housing; and public benefits programs such as Social Security and Medicare. Uses of Grant Funds Grants will be made to support direct service staff positions at eligible legal services providers, including attorneys, paralegals and/or pro bono coordinators, and social/caseworkers that are performing duties directly supporting to the civil legal services being delivered by direct service staff. Grant funds can be used to pay for salaries, benefits, and limited overhead costs (10%) directly related to supporting the position.  The applicant must demonstrate how the proposed staff position will help the organization provide efficient and effective legal assistance to persons in one or both of the priority areas. Eligibility Criteria In the Civil Legal Assistance category, the IEJF will only consider applications from Illinois-based not-for-profit organizations that: Serve persons in one or both of the two priority areas listed above (Legal Assistance to Families in Crisis and Legal Assistance to Older Illinoisans). Have been in continuous operation for at least two years prior to the date the application is submitted to the IEJF. Have received and expended at least $200,000 for the provision of civil legal assistance to low-income persons in its most recently completed fiscal year. Employ four or more full-time, licensed attorneys who provide civil legal assistance to low-income persons at the time the application is submitted to the IEJF; or have provided legal representation to at least 200 low-income persons through the services of pro bono attorneys in their most recently completed fiscal year. For more information, visit IEJF.

This funding opportunity is designed to assist state and local organizations in Illinois in improving their juvenile justice systems through training, technical support, and programs that address prevention, intervention, and compliance with federal juvenile justice requirements.