Illinois Local Grants

The City of Champaign's Community Matters youth program, founded in 2007, offers funding for the 2024-2025 program year. This initiative aligns with the city's mission to address critical areas such as safety, academic support, technology, recreation, career exploration, and employment among its youth. The program seeks to support public or private non-profit agencies that provide services meeting the needs of Pre-K through 18-year-old students residing within Champaign. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are youth from low-income families within the City of Champaign. The program's impact goal is to have a lasting positive effect on the community by fostering well-rounded development in its youth. While open to low-income youth from any Champaign neighborhood as space and funding allow, a key prioritization is given to programs serving youth from specific target areas: Beardsley Park, Bristol Park, Garden Hills, and Douglass Park, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed for community transformation. Proposals should focus on activities that can be carried out with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. These activities are broad and include the rehabilitation of residential and non-residential structures, building demolition, construction and rehabilitation of public facilities, and public services. However, activities related to the general conduct of government, political activities, and new housing construction are generally ineligible. This focus ensures that the funded programs directly contribute to community improvement and youth development. The expected outcomes include enhanced safety, improved academic performance, increased technological literacy, greater recreational opportunities, and better career exploration and employment prospects for the youth participants. While specific measurable results for the 2024-2025 allocation are dependent on the yet-to-be-announced CDBG annual allocation, the previous year's public service allocation of approximately $133,000 provides an indication of the funding scale. This funding, limited to 15% of the City of Champaign’s total CDBG award, underscores the strategic priority of public services within the broader community development framework, aiming for a significant impact despite funding constraints. The funding period runs from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

The City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development (DPD) offers grant funding to support local commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing projects. This initiative aligns with the city's broader mission to strengthen local business corridors and enhance neighborhood vitality, particularly through the Chicago Recovery Plan. The program aims to invest in catalytic developments that build upon DPD's existing investments, supporting a resilient and thriving urban environment. The target beneficiaries for this grant program include community developers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and property owners within Chicago. While applicants from all areas of Chicago are eligible, priority is given to projects located in historically disinvested areas or those with limited private investment. The impact goals are to foster economic growth, enhance community safety initiatives, and leverage local talents, capacities, and institutions to contribute to neighborhood strength. The program prioritizes capital improvement projects, including pre-development, construction, or renovation costs. Mixed-use projects are eligible, though residential-only developments are not. A key focus is on catalytic projects that demonstrate a strong local impact and have clear momentum, with an expectation to break ground within six months of grant acceptance. Site control is preferred but not strictly required. Expected outcomes include the successful completion of vital community projects, increased economic activity in targeted areas, and the creation of more vibrant and resilient neighborhoods. Measurable results would involve the number of projects funded, the scale of investment leveraged, and the tangible improvements in business corridors and community infrastructure. The city's strategic priority is to address historical disinvestment and ensure equitable development across Chicago, utilizing funding sources such as the Chicago Recovery Plan Community Development (Large Grants), Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (Large Grants), and Tax Increment Financing to achieve these goals.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations in DeKalb that serve vulnerable populations, including the homeless, individuals facing mental health challenges, victims of violence, and low-income families.

The Generosity Collective, a giving circle dedicated to Springfield, operates by bringing like-minded individuals together to pool donations, learn about high-priority community issues, and collectively determine grant recipients. This process aligns with the Community Foundation of the Ozarks' mission by fostering community engagement and addressing critical local needs through a collaborative grantmaking approach. By focusing on issues identified in the Community Focus Report for Springfield & Greene County, the Collective ensures its efforts are strategically aligned with the most pressing challenges faced by the community. The grant program targets specific beneficiaries within the Springfield, Missouri area, including low-income students in need of preschool and pre-K programs, children at risk of abuse and neglect, individuals struggling with mental health and substance-use problems, and residents affected by the shortage of safe, affordable housing. The impact goals are to address economic disparities affecting early childhood development, reduce child abuse and neglect, improve mental health and substance abuse outcomes, and increase access to safe, affordable housing. The program's priorities are directly drawn from the identified categories in the Community Focus Report, ensuring that funding is directed towards areas of greatest need. The Generosity Collective has chosen four grantmaking categories for 2024: Economic Disparities Impacting Early Childhood Development, Child Abuse and Neglect, Mental Health and Substance-Use Problems, and Shortage of Safe, Affordable Housing. For each category, one agency will be selected to receive a $30,000 grant for a preferred 12-month grant period. The expected outcomes include improved kindergarten readiness for low-income students, a reduction in child abuse and neglect referrals, a decrease in suicide and overdose mortality rates, and an increase in the availability of affordable housing options. Measurable results will be tied to progress within each grantmaking category. For economic disparities in early childhood development, success could be measured by improved kindergarten readiness survey results for low-income students. For child abuse and neglect, a reduction in the number of referrals and the proportion of young children affected would be key indicators. In mental health and substance-use problems, a decrease in suicide and overdose mortality rates would demonstrate impact. For affordable housing, metrics could include the number of new affordable housing units developed, the proportion of residents with access to affordable housing, or the implementation of effective rental inspection programs. The Generosity Collective’s theory of change posits that by pooling resources and strategically funding initiatives in these high-priority areas, they can collectively confront pressing local issues and drive positive, measurable change within the Springfield community.

The City of Evanston's "Sustain Evanston" Incentive Program is a funding tool designed to empower small business owners to implement sustainability measures. This initiative directly aligns with the City’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan, serving the foundational mission of fostering a more sustainable community. By offering financial assistance, the program aims to reduce operating costs for businesses while simultaneously enhancing their service to customers through environmentally friendly practices. This strategic alignment underscores the city's commitment to both economic vitality and ecological responsibility. The primary beneficiaries of this program include commercial property owners, tenants of commercial buildings, business districts, and coalitions of businesses within the City of Evanston. The impact goals are centered on improving the environmental footprint of local businesses, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and encouraging eco-conscious operations. Through these efforts, the program seeks to create a more resilient and environmentally sound local economy, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes a broad range of sustainability measures, categorized into capital projects, equipment, services, and education materials. Key focuses include the adoption of heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV, waste collection enclosures, green infrastructure like green roofs, and energy-efficient upgrades such as insulation and windows. Equipment priorities involve reusable containers, energy-efficient lighting, and appliances. Services like composting, recycling, energy/water benchmarking, and consulting are also emphasized, alongside educational signage and labels. These priorities reflect a holistic approach to sustainability, addressing various facets of business operations. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in the operational costs for participating businesses due to increased energy efficiency and waste reduction. Measurable results will likely involve the number of businesses implementing sustainable upgrades, the amount of energy saved, the volume of waste diverted from landfills, and the expansion of green infrastructure within the city. The program's strategic approach is to incentivize tangible changes that collectively contribute to the City’s broader Climate Action & Resilience Plan, acting as a catalyst for widespread sustainable practices within the business community. This aligns with a theory of change where financial incentives drive behavioral and infrastructure changes, leading to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.

The Small Business and Not-For-Profit Support Grant Program, initiated by the City of Chicago and funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, aims to provide financial assistance to small businesses and nonprofits. This program is designed to help these entities recover from economic losses sustained due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Chicago, through its Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP), is seeking a qualified organization to administer this $21.5 million grant program. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are eligible small businesses and nonprofits located within Chicago. The impact goals are centered around stabilizing their operations, supporting their workforce, and mitigating the long-term economic effects of the pandemic. By providing these funds, the program intends to foster economic resilience within the local business and nonprofit ecosystem. The program's priorities and focus are clearly on economic recovery and stability for the most vulnerable sectors affected by the pandemic. The selection of an administering organization will be based on their understanding of the city contractor's needs, the local small business and nonprofit landscape, and the City of Chicago's processes, ensuring efficient and effective distribution of funds. Expected outcomes include a stabilized small business sector and a stronger nonprofit presence in Chicago, both equipped to navigate future economic challenges. Measurable results would likely involve tracking the number of businesses and nonprofits served, jobs retained or created, and the overall economic recovery indicators within the city. While the specific foundation's strategic priorities and theory of change are not explicitly detailed here, the underlying theory is that direct financial support to these entities will lead to broader economic stability and community well-being.

This program provides reimbursement funding to nonprofit organizations for marketing and municipal expenses related to free events that attract visitors to Edwardsville, fostering community engagement and economic growth.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that host tourism-related events in Woodstock, helping to attract overnight visitors and boost the local economy.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to private and non-profit developers, property owners, and businesses for commercial, mixed-use, and light manufacturing projects that enhance community vitality in Chicago.

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 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 grant provides funding for programs and projects that address environmental and nature-related issues in McLean, DeWitt, Livingston, and Logan Counties in Illinois.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations serving low- and moderate-income communities in Cook County for projects related to capital improvements, economic development, public services, and homelessness assistance.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for commercial, cultural, industrial, and mixed-use development projects in Chicago, aimed at enhancing community development and economic growth.

This grant provides financial support to small nonprofit arts organizations in the Quad Cities area to strengthen their operations and enhance their impact through various capacity-building projects.

This program provides financial support for small businesses, cultural institutions, and select non-profits in underserved neighborhoods of Chicago to make significant capital improvements to their properties.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Suburban Cook County to promote digital equity by improving access to technology, enhancing digital skills, and fostering community collaboration.

This funding program provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that deliver essential social services to residents of Naperville, Illinois, with a focus on areas such as emergency assistance, mental health, and support for seniors, youth, and individuals with disabilities.

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.

This grant provides financial support to Illinois-based arts organizations to develop and implement community-focused arts programs in Elgin.