Grants for Churches in Illinois

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world. Solutions to the problems of today's world still lie in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

The Foundation considers applications for grants in the following areas:

• Education
• Social Service
• Health care
• Civic and cultural
• Environmental

The categories above are not intended to limit the interest of the Foundation from considering other worthwhile projects. In general, the Foundation guidelines are broad to give us flexibility in providing grants.

The majority of our grants are made in the U.S. However, like Dr. Scholl, we recognize the need for a global outlook. Non-U.S. grants are given to organizations where directors have knowledge of the grantee.

About Us

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

Action Grants

Action Grants are project grants of up to $4,000 to nonprofit organizations located in Illinois or doing work impacting Illinois audiences. Action Grants are meant to provide support to groups that want to try out innovative approaches to public humanities programming. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations and can include churches, libraries, colleges or universities, and others.

Action Grants cover projects or initiatives that explore the digital humanities, apply new techniques in audience engagement, and build new and diverse audiences. Our hope is that these grants will help spark more risk-taking and experimental and engaging public humanities work on the part of Illinois nonprofits. Project budgets can cover project expenses as well as engagement activities. Projects must utilize the humanities. Media projects such as oral history, filmmaking, journalism, story telling, and other disciplines are all a part of this field.

Through this grants area, we hope to learn more about the following questions along with grantees:

• What are models for building creative interactivity and growing audiences?
• Can creative programming help to grow audiences?
• How can this experimentation bolster organizations’ longterm viability?

Illinois Humanities

Our Mission

Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.

Our Vision

An Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.

Multiplier Grants

Nonprofit organizations carrying out partnerships and collaborations with other nonprofits, humanities groups, or directly with their audience or community are candidates for this project-based grant. From projects that impact under-funded, under-served communities, to telling stories of forgotten history, these initiatives champion collaboration in the public humanities. Partnering with organizations in this work helps us all to make valuable connections for the humanities throughout Illinois.

Definition of the Humanities

The humanities are the examination of what it means to be human through the interpretation and discussion of all forms of thought, interest, and expression.

We value traditional humanities disciplines, such as art history, literature, history, and philosophy. However, our emphasis on the public humanities means that we look at the humanities as more than an academic discipline. For us, the public humanities are a mode of inquiry and conversation that aims to engage, support, or challenge the ideals, beliefs, tensions, and prejudices of the communities in which we live. We believe that important thought can happen outside of the academy–in neighborhood institutions, schools, churches, and at kitchen tables across the country.

We are especially interested in instances of the public humanities that promote civic engagement in raising critical issues facing everyday people and conducted with the hope of increasing their thirst for staying engaged. Rather than being defined by rigid disciplinary boundaries, it is the humanistic lens, which emphasizes curiosity, questioning, and dialogue, that matters.

Amount

Up to $10,000.

Additional Funding

• Optional Accessibility Fund:
  • An additional stipend of up to $150 for services such as American Sign Language interpretation or captioning to help make events more accessible to everyone.
• Optional Media Fund:
  • An additional stipend of up to $100 for services such as documentation, photography, videography, etc.

Community Foundation of Central Illinois 

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois invests in our community by supporting projects that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is:

• Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.
• Strategic by supporting projects with well-defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in our community.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Emerging Philanthropists Fund 

Available to organizations offering programs that align with the Emerging Philanthropists Fund Grantmaking Principles. The Emerging Philanthropists Fund is an initiative designed by CFCI to invigorate emerging community leaders to join together as philanthropists.

The Emerging Philanthropists Fund will consider grants up to $5,000. 

Emerging Philanthropists Fund Grantmaking Principles:

• Evidence based programs addressing a significant community need.
• Programs that are unique and identify unmet needs in the community.
• Innovative in nature.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Corporate Contributions

Community involvement and corporate citizenship are an example of Insperity’s mission in action. We are committed to helping the communities where we live and work because together, we know we can make great things happen.

Grants

Philanthropic grants are a strong part of our community outreach and aid institutions needing financial support to meet important service goals.

Event Sponsorship

Fundraising events are an important part of nonprofit support. Insperity provides event sponsorships to approved charities to assist them in meeting their financial and community goals.

Grantmaking Principles

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) invests in the community by supporting programs that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is:

• Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.
• Strategic by supporting programs with well defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in the community.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Elements CFCI Supports through Community Needs Grants:

• Community Development
• Capacity Building
• Education

The Community Needs grant program no longer funds food related projects. Food related projects are funded through the Ending Hunger Together Grants program.

PNC Foundation

Strengthening and enriching the lives of our neighbors in communities where we live and work.

Vision & Mission

For decades, we have provided resources to seed ideas, foster development initiatives and encourage leadership in nonprofit organizations where imagination and determination are at work enhancing people's lives everyday.

The PNC Foundation's priority is to form partnerships with community-based nonprofit organizations in order to enhance educational opportunities, with an emphasis on early childhood education, and to promote the growth of communities through economic development initiatives.

Foundation Grant

The PNC Foundation supports a variety of nonprofit organizations with a special emphasis on those that work to achieve sustainability and touch a diverse population, in particular, those that support early childhood education and/or economic development.

Education

The PNC Foundation supports educational programs for children and youth, particularly early childhood education initiatives that meet the criteria established through PNC Grow Up Great. Specifically, PNC Grow Up Great grants must:

• Support early education initiatives that benefit children from birth to age five; and
• Serve a majority of children (>50%) from low- to moderate-income families; and
• Adhere to all other standard PNC Foundation guidelines, as outlined on the PNC Foundation website, applicant eligibility quiz, as well as the Foundation policies and procedures; and
• Include one or a combination of the following:
  • direct services/programs for children in their classroom or community;
  • professional development/workforce development for early childhood educators;
  • family and/or community engagement in children’s early learning
• Additional considerations:
  • The grant focus should include math, science, reading, vocabulary development, the arts, financial education, or social/emotional development.
  • The grant recipient, or collaborative partner, should have early childhood education as an area of focus. If the organization’s focus is beyond birth to age five, the specific grant must be earmarked for birth to age five.
  • Incorporate opportunities for PNC volunteers in classroom or non-classroom-based activities.

Economic Development

Economic development organizations, including those which enhance the quality of life through neighborhood revitalization, cultural enrichment and human services are given support. Priority is given to community development initiatives that strategically promote the growth of low-and moderate-income communities and/or provide services to these communities.

• Affordable Housing
  • The PNC Foundation understands the critical need for affordable housing for low-and moderate-income individuals.
  • We are committed to providing support to nonprofit organizations that:
    • give counseling and services to help these individuals maintain their housing stock;
    • offer transitional housing units and programs; and/or
    • offer credit counseling assistance to individuals, helping them to prepare for homeownership.
• Community Development
  • Because small businesses are often critical components of community growth and help foster business development, the PNC Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that
    • offer technical assistance to, or loan programs for, small businesses located in low-and moderate-income areas or
    • support small businesses that employ low-and moderate-income individuals.
• Community Services
  • Support is given to social services organizations that benefit the health, education, quality of life or provide essential services for low-and moderate-income individuals and families.
  • The PNC Foundation supports job training programs and organizations that provide essential services for their families.
• Arts & Culture
  • Support is given for cultural enrichment programs benefitting the community.
• Revitalization & Stabilization of Low-and Moderate-Income Areas
  • The PNC Foundation supports nonprofit organizations that serve low-and moderate-income neighborhoods by improving living and working conditions.
  • Support is given to organizations that help stabilize communities, eliminate blight and attract and retain businesses and residents to the community.

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois has several funding opportunities available to qualifying organizations.  Be sure to review CFCI’s Grantmaking Guidelines prior to applying for any of the grants.

Grantmaking Principles

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) invests in the community by supporting programs that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is:

• Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.
• Strategic by supporting programs with well-defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in the community.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Women's Fund Success Grants

Since 1993, the Women’s Fund of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois has been working to change the lives of women and children in central Illinois. The Women's Fund endowment strengthens families and communities by providing grants to organizations whose programs help empower women and girls.

Gadomski Foundation Grant

As family members live in the Lehigh Valley (located in Eastern Pennsylvania), San Francisco Bay area, Atlantic City (New Jersey) and Chicago area grants are typically limited to organizations serving these communities. The Gadomski Foundation intends to continue its financial contributions to organizations supporting education, under-served children, physical/mental health, the arts, and the local community.

The Foundation was formed in 2007 and is a private foundation. Due to aggressive grant making in recent years, the Foundation is well ahead of distributing its target of 5.5% in annual grants. In 2023 almost all assets of the foundation were transferred to the LVCF. The Foundation, through its donor-advised fund at the LVCF, will remain committed to ongoing support of charitable organizations through several multi-year grants; this currently limits new gifts to organizations not previously a grantee. Therefore, at this time, we are only providing grants to new organizations where The Gadomski Foundation, through its donor-advised fund at the LVCF, can make a notable impact.

The family's philanthropic interests are broad. We are especially open to grants where our grant is matched by others. Many grants are made confidentially and anonymously.

Our Interests

Over the years these organizations have received grants from The Foundation or our family:

• Religious organizations:
• Catholic Charities, Bishop's Appeal, Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service, IJCU of Muhlenberg College, churches and temples 
• United Way Agencies:
• United Way of Lehigh Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley, Family Connection of Easton, Boys and Girls Club, Leukemia and Lymphoma of Eastern PA, Red Cross Of The Greater Lehigh Valley 
• Arts and Culture:
• Repertory Dance Theatre Foundation, Allentown Art Museum, Allentown Symphony, WDIY-public radio Lehigh Valley, WLTV-39 public TV, San Francisco Ballet, San Francisco Orchestra, Black Rock Arts Foundation, Historic Bethlehem Partnership
• Education:
• Purdue University, Lehigh University, Penn State-Lehigh Valley 
• Community wide agencies:
• Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, United Way
• Child Well Being:
• Make-A-Wish of Greater PA and West Virginia and Illinois, Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, Community Services for Children, Embrace Your Dreams, Fund to Benefit Children & Youth, Minsi Trails Council, BSA

About the Foundation

The Bill and Susan Sherrard Foundation was established by William S. Sherrard in 2001. Bill and Susan Sherrard were quiet people with a humble attitude, who never sought praise or recognition for their charitable activities. However, Bill and Susan’s benevolence is not something to ignore when describing their character. Bill loved farming and harness racing, and Susan was a teacher. Bill was also very passionate about history and preservation of artifacts. He showed this through countless hours of volunteering at the Geneseo Historical Museum. During their lives, Bill and Susan donated an elevator to the Geneseo Historical Museum and a grandstand cover at the Henry County Fair Grounds. Today, the Sherrard Foundation continues to provide resources to a multitude of organizations in Geneseo, Illinois that would not be the same without their generosity.

Mission

The Bill and Susan Sherrard Foundation awards grants to a variety of charitable causes, primarily for the benefit of the residents of Henry County, Illinois, with a focus on educational assistance to students from Henry County, historic preservation/education purposes, religious purposes specifically for the benefit of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod and nursing home care for the needy.

Program areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Health
• Human services
• Religion

Program limitations 

At the request of the grantor, the foundation has a practice of primarily supporting organizations that provide educational assistance to students from Henry County, Illinois, historic preservation/education purposes, religious purposes (specifically for the benefit of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod), and nursing home care for the needy. 

About Us

The Thing 1∙2∙3 Foundation is a Private Foundation focused on meeting the needs of children. Founded in 1999 by Jim and Nancy Ruprecht, the name was inspired by Dr. Suess’ book, The Cat In the Hat. Their children quickly identified with the Cat’s two helpers, Thing 1 and Thing 2. When the Ruprechts’ started the Foundation focused on helping children, the name was a natural way to reflect their love for their children and a desire to help other children.

Mission

The Mission of the Thing 123 Foundation is to provide support and resources to people and organizations on the front line providing services and programs to improve and enhance children’s lives.   

Grant Program

The Thing 123 Foundation has partnered with the Elmhurst-Community Challenge Grant. The goal of this grant program is to encourage business and community leaders within Elmhurst and the other seven communities served by the pantry to actively join in the fight against hunger affecting our neighbors. This Grant will match donations made by Business, and Community organizations toward helping the EYFP build a new Community Food Pantry facility. The Foundation will match one dollar for every two dollars donated, with a maximum of $100,000 donated by the Foundation through this grant.

Why?

Hunger is a silent epidemic that affects too many people in our community - children, working parents and seniors. Hunger and the availability of nutritious food is a serious problem in our communities, whether we want to recognize it or not. You know someone who is hungry! Too many times our neighbors have to choose between food and gas, rent and medicine, with the result being they go hungry each day. For over 30 years, the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry has been committed to helping people facing these choices, and continues to grow each year to meet the challenges of those in need.

• Hunger is not just a Chicago problem, or an inner city problem, or a rural problem. Talking with community leaders, school administrators, and church leaders, they are all keenly aware of that hunger is a problem in Elmhurst and the broader community.   
• Since 1999, the number of people living in poverty in the communities served by the Northern Illinois Food Banks has increased more than 50% to over 300,000 people, or 1 in 10 people in our communities.   
• The demand for EYFP’s services continues to grow. In just a little more than four years the number of clients served per month grew from 80 to 389.  
• Hunger affects all parts of our community, the elderly, children, and families.  
• The Pantry provides over 200,000 meals annually to our neighbors in Elmhurst and seven surrounding communities: Addison, Bensenville, Berkeley, Hillside, Lombard, and Oak Brook.

As one of the largest hunger relief organizations in Eastern DuPage County, the Elmhurst-Yorkfield Food Pantry has grown from a faith-based mission of the Yorkfield Presbyterian Church to an independent, community-based food pantry with a broad reach in the communities it serves. Even with the EYFP’s hard work, the present demands already exceed the help that can be provided through its current facility.  

Supporting Golf's Fine Traditions

John T. Holmstrom Jr. died on July 20, 2010. He was born on December 19, 1920 in Rockford, Illinois. He attended Jackson and Lincoln Schools, and graduated in the last class of Central High School. He received his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Illinois. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Signal Corp in the Pacific Theater during World War II. John was a law partner at Holmstrom & Kennedy. He was a member of Second Congregational United Church of Christ.

He faithfully served his community by participating in numerous civic and political activities, including: Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce, United Way, SwedishAmerican Hospital, SwedishAmerican Medical Foundation, Community Hospital Council, P.A. Peterson Center for Health, the Rockford Pro-Am, and many more.

John was devoted to the growth and development of the Rockford Community Trust, now the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. His service to this institution will always be remembered.

John was an avid golfer, winning five City Junior Championships, the State Amateur Championship, the Western Junior Championship, three Men’s City tournaments and serving as the captain of the University of Illinois golf team that won two Big Ten Championships in the 1940s. John was a member of the Rockford Golf Hall of Fame. His memory and spirit live on through his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, friends and colleagues.

Purpose

John’s love for golf defines the mission of the John T. Holmstrom, Jr. Memorial Fund - to support golf’s fine traditions by promoting junior golf in Rockford and by providing resources that enable young people to play golf.

Grant awards from this fund may be used for green fees, golf lessons, golf equipment, and similar golf-related expenses. It is the wish of the Holmstrom Family that young people throughout the Greater Rockford area have an opportunity to play golf due to John T. Holmstrom, Jr.’s legacy. 

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

Established in 1958, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation sets aside resources to improve life in the communities where we operate. We’ve worked with thousands of outstanding community-based programs, service projects and disaster relief efforts, focusing our investment in four areas we believe make the most impact:

• education,
• environment,
• enrichment and
• entrepreneurship.

Investment Priorities

• Aligns with GP’s mission and values
• Aligns with GP’s Four Focus Areas of giving: Education, Environment, Enrichment of Community and Entrepreneurship
• Serves communities where GP has manufacturing facilities
• Creates value by contributing to and positively impacting long term well-being and sustainability of GP communities

Background

Every community faces unique barriers that require collaborative solutions to thrive. The Dow Promise Program supports educational and economic challenges Black youth and adults face in the United States by addressing community-identified needs and advancing equitable opportunities. Through grants of up to $10,000 towards social, economic or environmental initiatives, Dow Promise not only fosters a thriving community, but a shared future.

Since 2000, this annual competitive program has committed to uplifting communities in which Dow operates by supporting their needs and investing in positive social change for long-term success.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Our Mission

The DRA, through its gaming and entertainment facilities provides for social, economic and community betterment and lessens the burden of Dubuque city and area government, while contributing to the growth and viability of Dubuque area tourism.

Core Grant

• Focus on People Attraction: Population growth, retention, and tourism
• Coaching opportunities provided by the DRA and community partners throughout the grant cycle

Focus for Grant Applications

Applications should tie to the mission of People Attraction: Population Growth, Retention and Tourism. This aligns with the DRA’s mission of providing social, economic and community betterment and lessening the burden of Dubuque city and area government, as well as our vision of being a dynamic community resource, acting as a catalyst to enhance the quality of life and financial well-being of the tri-state community. 

Capacity Building vs Material Purchases

Historically, the DRA has funded mostly material items, in 2022 we shifted this model and funding preference will be given to applications with capacity building alongside of material purchases.

What is Capacity Building?

Capacity building is the process of developing and strengthening the skills, instincts, processes and resources that organizations and communities need to survive, adapt and thrive in a fast-changing world.

Examples of capacity building activities and potential projects:

• Planning Activities: Organizational assessments, strategic planning, creating a development plan/strategy.
• Donor Development: Marketing/communications, online donor portals, improvements to the donor experience.
• Strategic Relationships: Strengthening relationships with professional advisors and/or nonprofit partners.
• Internal Operations: Improvements to donor database/financial management system, volunteer management, organization website.
• Professional Development: Staff, contractor, or affiliate volunteer(s) attendance at regional/national conferences, local or online trainings.
• Financial Audits: First time audits which can open additional funding opportunities for the organization.
• Organization Marketing: Website creation/design, marketing materials, materials to help promote the organization externally.

Become a Member Agency of Eastern Illinois Foodbank

Eastern Illinois Foodbank is intentional about expanding our network. In order to best serve the agencies that we work with, we need to make sure that we have adequate food, resources and staff capacity to provide a high level of service to our partners and the community. 

Before investing your organization’s resources in starting up a program, please investigate local food resources. Click the “Find Help” button on the top left of the screen, find your county on the map or scroll down to the list of counties and click yours. This will provide you a listing of all emergency food programs affiliated with EIF in your area. Learning about your neighborhood and what services are available will help you decide when and how you want to become part of the hunger solution.

Mission

Have a mission to serve people in need. Identify the population you expect to serve and learn the level of need in your area.

Background

Promise Grants support charitable community organizations that provide services to underserved and often dismissed populations in DeKalb County. The purpose of the Promise Grant program is to inspire, educate, and empower individuals who may experience extraordinary challenges due to their ethnicity, immigration status, and abilities.

Support for this grant program comes from two Funds at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The Promise Fund-El Fondo de la Promesa and the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Fund.

Eloise and Jack Kaeck created The Promise Fund-El Fondo de la Promesa in 2001 to help people succeed and feel that they belong. Their vision was to inspire the community to provide hope and opportunity, to understand and experience the true needs of the underserved neighborhoods, and work to address them.

In 2021, the Promise Grant program received an extra boost in available dollars thanks to the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Fund, established years ago as a charitable remainder trust for the Foundation. The Eychaners grew up in the great depression and worked alongside many other poor people struggling to make ends meet. Over the years, they saw groups of dismissed people working extra hard to survive. Their vision was to help people who are making an effort to help themselves.

Grantmaking Priorities

Proposed projects will be reviewed on the basis of the following priorities:

• Increase participation (empowerment) of underserved populations in the center of community life.
• Develop leadership skills in marginalized populations.
• Increase understanding and tolerance.
• Raise educational levels and enhance the quality of life.
• Strengthen organizations with the capacity to transform community perspectives.
• Projects related to healthcare and affordable housing within DeKalb Township.

About Us

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration.

Activate History Micro-Grants Program

Activate History micro-grants provide $750 project-based grants to enable those who maintain local collections of various kinds (archives, texts, photos, stories, and more) to explore creative ways for community members to become more engaged with them. We see this work as encouraging individual curiosity and connections to local history; as celebrating the efforts of amateur and other local historians; and as an avenue for growing the outreach efforts of local collections– all of which helps bolster community identity. Illinois Humanities has designed this micro-grants program to be accessible with a quick turnaround, in response to the dearth of available funds for individuals and smaller entities to host discussions on history and related matters.

Funding

• The Activate History micro-grants are for $750 each.
• Applicants can request up to $150 in additional support to help make their events more accessible to audience participants, particularly those with physical disabilities, as well as an additional $100 for documentation of the project (say hiring a photographer to cover a key event, for example). This might include such features as American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART), but can also include other resources such as providing transportation to and from events for those who need it.

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois has several funding opportunities available to qualifying organizations.  Be sure to review CFCI’s Grantmaking Guidelines prior to applying for any of the grants

Grantmaking Principles

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) invests in the community by supporting programs that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is:

• Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.
• Strategic by supporting programs with well defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in the community.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Local Jobs Fund 

The Local Jobs Fund was established to support projects that have a direct linkage to breaking the cycle of poverty by equipping people with the skills to earn significantly more than minimum wage.

 MissionThe DRA, through its gaming and entertainment facilities provides for social, economic and community betterment and lessens the burden of Dubuque city and area government, while contributing to the growth and viability of Dubuque area tourism.

Focus for Grant Applications

All requests for funding in 2022 should tie to the mission of People Attraction: Population Growth, Retention and Tourism. This aligns with the DRA’s mission of providing social, economic and community betterment and lessening the burden of Dubuque city and area government, as well as our vision of being a dynamic community resource, acting as a catalyst to enhance the quality of life and financial well-being of the tri-state community.

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation’s mission is to "cultivate philanthropy to build better communities." We carry out this mission by helping individuals, families and organizations make permanent charitable investments for the long-term benefit of their hometowns. We believe that everyone has the opportunity to become a philanthropist and we work one-on-one with donors to ensure that their charitable goals are met. We invite you to learn more about how we are serving the people of southeastern Illinois and hope you are inspired by the work of our governing board, donors, and professional advisors who are making a difference in our communities.

Fall Grant Cycle: Siemer Milling Company Fund for Youth Leadership Development

Siemer Milling Company is a family and employee-owned company with mills located in Hopkinsville, KY, W. Harrison, IN, and Teutopolis, IL. The organization has realized success to date because of the commitment of many fine people and their sincere desire to do a good job and deliver a worthwhile product. As the company grows, it will always emphasize attentiveness to the legitimate needs of its employees, customers, and the communities of which they are a part.

The Siemer Milling Company Fund established in 2006 provides a permanent source of funding to programs in Effingham County, Illinois and Christian County, Kentucky, and Dearborn County, Indiana that support the development of young leaders.

Why is Youth Leadership Development important?

For youth to be prepared to work in partnership with adults, they need to develop and enhance their leadership skills. Leadership training prepares youth to manage time, work as a team, set goals, start conversations, facilitate meetings, and make a difference. Promoting youth leadership development is a great way to promote positive life skills learning and prepare the next generation of leaders in our businesses, churches, and community.

The Siemer Milling Company Endowment awards grants to programs aimed at developing youth (ages 19 and under) to become extraordinary leaders by investing in the leadership skills required for improving our shared life, such as:

ENTERPRISE SAVVY — The ability to leverage opportunities with integrity and innovation; to make the right decisions and achieve results.

CONSCIENCE — Strong moral/religious character, working to have an ethical impact on the community.

COLLABORATIVE COMMUNICATION — The ability to engage others inclusively across teams, functions, and cultures, effectively marketing ideas.

Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis Grants

Strategic Priorities

• Vision
  • Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis sees the Church brought into the lives of hurting people and people included in the healing life of the Church.
• Mission
  • To the honor of Christ Jesus, Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis seeks the improved care of people in the greater St. Louis metropolitan region.
• Strategic Goal
  • In order to engage the Church in and measurably improve the lives of hurting people, Lutheran Foundation provides financial and non-financial support to strengthen the capacities of organizations and to support quality, impactful programs.

Focus Areas

Building on our rich heritage of partnering with Christian churches and organizations, the Board of Directors has implemented a strategic funding plan to guide our efforts over five years (2020 – 2024). The plan focuses our philanthropy in six areas that address clearly demonstrated, measurable community needs and allow us to better understand and determine our community impact.

Lutheran Foundation funds within the following Strategic Funding Priorities:

• Christian Faith in Action
• Congregation Community Engagement
• Lutheran Schools and Organizations
• Foreign-Born Populations
• Justice-Involved Individuals and Their Families
• Older Adults Maintaining Independence

Successful grant applicants will need to demonstrate how their request addresses one or more of these funding focus areas, as well as shows measurable impact on the lives of hurting people.

Untold Stories Grant

The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation proudly introduces the Untold Stories grant. This new initiative is designed to uplift the narratives of historically underrepresented individuals in Coles County. The opportunity is extended to organizations within the region, aiming to shed light on the rich tapestry of our community through these often-overlooked stories.

The Untold Stories grant is not just about uncovering the past but also contributing significantly to the ongoing dialogue surrounding racial equity and social justice. By embracing and acknowledging these narratives, we seek to enrich our understanding of history while fostering a more equitable future.

The fund is open to various institutions, including churches, colleges, schools, and nonprofit organizations. Grants, with an average award of $5,000, can be utilized for initiatives that focus on the preservation, education, and dissemination of stories related to underrepresented individuals within the community. A genuine understanding begins with reciprocal education and learning from one another. Collaborative efforts are crucial, capturing dialogue, sharing resources, and creating platforms for underrepresented voices. Through these funds, we aim to document and ensure the visibility of these narratives within the region.

The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation continues to take a leadership role in fostering and encouraging this crucial work. By concentrating efforts specifically on Coles County, we aspire to spearhead a movement that actively supports the documentation, understanding, and empowerment of marginalized individuals. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where every individual’s story is heard, valued, and respected.

Funding

The average grant award is $5,000, and a total of $20,000 is available. If the volume of grant requests exceeds the available funding, not all eligible organizations will receive funding, and the level of funding may vary.

Illinois Humanities

Our Mission

Illinois Humanities is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that spark conversation, foster reflection, build community, and strengthen civic engagement for everyone in Illinois.

Our Vision

An Illinois where the humanities are central to making the state more just, creative, and connected.

General Operating Grants

General Operating Grants support organizations that are firmly rooted in the humanities. From cultural and ethnic organizations to museums, libraries, and consortiums, these organizations broaden possibilities and increase access to the public humanities. These unrestricted funds empower growth and sustainability by providing recipients with more flexibility and freedom to allocate resources wherever they need them most.

Definition of the Humanities

The humanities are the examination of what it means to be human through the interpretation and discussion of all forms of thought, interest, and expression.

We value traditional humanities disciplines, such as art history, literature, history, and philosophy. However, our emphasis on the public humanities means that we look at the humanities as more than an academic discipline. For us, the public humanities are a mode of inquiry and conversation that aims to engage, support, or challenge the ideals, beliefs, tensions, and prejudices of the communities in which we live. We believe that important thought can happen outside of the academy–in neighborhood institutions, schools, churches, and at kitchen tables across the country.

We are especially interested in instances of the public humanities that promote civic engagement in raising critical issues facing everyday people and conducted with the hope of increasing their thirst for staying engaged. Rather than being defined by rigid disciplinary boundaries, it is the humanistic lens, which emphasizes curiosity, questioning, and dialogue, that matters.

Guidelines

Grants decisions will be made based on whether organizations have a mission involving the humanities, organizational size, geographical balance, and whether an organization represents a historically disinvested or economically under-resourced community, such as rural or BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities.

We are committed to serving all geographic areas within the state of Illinois; hence, approximately half of General Operating Grants will be distributed to Cook County-based organizations, and half to organizations located outside of Cook County.

Amount

Up to $10,000.

ADP Adoption Respite Program - Repost (IL)

Respite and mentoring services will be provided to youth who were former youth in care of DCFS and who were adopted or are in a subsidized guardianship placement, as well as private and international adoptions. The respite and mentoring services will be described throughout this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).

The Provider agrees to support achievement of the outcomes of safety, permanency, and well-being for children and their parents and other family members served under this Agreement. The Provider also agrees to ensure the safety and well-being of all clients while receiving services under this Agreement. The physical plant must be safe, adequately maintained, and free from damage. Staffing levels must assure the adequate supervision necessary to provide therapeutic treatment to clients. A safe and caring environment is critical for supporting therapeutic treatment, and the Provider must facilitate and maintain this environment so that all treatment services provided to clients are supported.

The Provider will ensure services are provided in the primary language or method of communication of each youth and, as applicable, to the youth’s parent(s), guardian(s) and/or other significant persons involved with the youth.

Services are family-driven; they will be individualized to each family with sensitivity to cultural and adoption issues. The family plays a crucial role in establishing how the service will look. Services can be provided to one youth, a sibling group or the entire family, dependent on need. Therapeutic respite/mentor workers are matched with families receiving individual respite or mentoring based on the family requests and the best clinical fit. A single worker is assigned, when possible, to the same family throughout the duration of services, allowing for consistency, building of trusting relationships, and improved quality of care. The program operates from the belief that parents are experts on what their family needs, so development of a positive relationship between parent and provider is crucial. The program tries to ensure development of such a relationship in several ways. Parents are key participants in the planning and delivery of services. Parents assist in the development of the service plan, which defines how, when and where the service is delivered. Individual therapeutic mentoring is available 7 days per week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. This can be flexible if agreed upon by the Provider and the family. Sessions typically occur in settings throughout the community or can be in the home if identified as a need by the family. Therapeutic mentors provide activities that promote the youth’s adaptive skill set and serve to better link the entire family with the community. They also work in conjunction with the Adoption and Guardianship Support and Preservation therapist or case manager, or other identified service providers, if applicable, to assist with working towards therapeutic goals. Therapeutic mentors engage the youth(s) in the natural resources available throughout the community (such as park districts, libraries, recreation centers, churches, synagogues etc.) that will be available to the family once the services end. Sessions are typically 3 hours in duration, most typically scheduled once per week. Average length of service in the program is 6 months, with services being reviewed every 3 months for continued need and progress toward goals. Services will not exceed 1 year without prior permission of the Statewide Post Adoption Program Manager.

Respite services are available 7 days per week, either throughout the day or overnight. Respite services are provided to assist families with youth who have special needs and require ongoing additional or specialized care needs. The respite is meant to provide a break to ensure that the family has some relief to best care for the youth in their home. Typically respite providers are chosen by the families and are vetted by the Provider to ensure the respite provider has cleared a background check or that the parent has properly executed a release of liability. Respite services typically occur once per month but can be assessed based off of the family’s needs and the program’s allotted funding.

Respite services can also include specialized camps, funding for specialized camps, and services that provide relief and therapeutic guidance throughout the school day for youth who have been suspended from school. Respite cases are also assigned a therapist, case manager, or supervisor who will check in with the family on a monthly basis to ensure goals are being met and services are being properly provided.

The frequency and duration of respite and mentoring services will be determined by the Provider based on the individual needs of the referred client within the timelines established in the Agreement.

Funding

• Award Ceiling - $283,514.00
• Award Floor - $283,514.00
• Expected Number of Awards - 1

Community Foundation of Central Illinois

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois invests in our community by supporting projects that address community needs and have lasting value. Therefore, CFCI’s grantmaking is:

• Focused by addressing established CFCI and donor designated priorities.
• Strategic by supporting projects with well-defined objectives and measurable outcomes that improve the quality or scope of charitable work in our community.
• Collaborative by leveraging resources and cultivating partnerships.

Ackerman Family Learn to Swim Fund Grants

Available to organizations in Peoria and Tazewell counties with the purpose to create and/or support programs and activities that help youth learn to swim and expand awareness about the importance of water safety. Financial need of participants is a consideration.

Examples of such programs and activities may include, but are not limited to:

• underwriting fees for youth participants
• hiring swimming instructors
• the purchase of appropriate equipment
• the rental of facilities for the purpose of swimming instruction, etc.