Treasurer Michael Frerichs Unveils $200,000 in Grants to 10 Small Nonprofits Throughout Illinois

Help on the Way to Chicago, Champaign, Metro East, Rockford, Kankakee, Mount Vernon, Oak Park, Lombard, Freeport

Key Points:

• Money will help provide housing, job training, and more
• Funding comes from fees larger nonprofits pay to file annual reports
• Applications now open for next round of grants

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today unveiled nearly $200,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 small nonprofits that help people stay in their homes and get job training.

“We are helping people who need a helping hand at a time when so many folks are struggling due to higher costs and as our federal government yanks away lifelines,” Treasurer Frerichs said at a news conference in Rockford. “I’m proud to partner with nonprofit organizations that tirelessly work to improve the lives of Illinoisans in need and make our communities better places to live.”

Where Is the Money Going?

An independent panel chose the 10 grant recipients from 68 applicants.

• Champaign: Greater Community AIDS Project of East Central Illinois – $19,870
• Chicago: GAP Community Center – $20,000
• Chicago: Jewish Free Loan Chicago Inc. – $20,000
• Freeport: Boys & Girls Club of Freeport & Stephenson County – $18,000
• Kankakee: Fortitude Community Outreach – $20,000
• Lombard: Senior Home Sharing – $20,000
• Mount Vernon: United Way of South Central Illinois – $20,000
• Oak Park: YEMBA Inc. – $20,000
• Rockford: Life Decisions – $20,000
• Wood River: Riverbend Family Ministries – $20,000

What Are Nonprofits Saying?

The latest grant recipients say the money will help them carry out their missions.

• “We’re grateful for the Treasurer’s Charitable Trust support of our Youth Internship Program,” said Jake Rogers, chief visionary officer at Life Decisions in Rockford. “Many young people come to us with potential but have never held a job, lack foundational employability skills, or have never had anyone model what healthy employment looks like. Through paid internships paired with mentorship, we see real transformation — participants leave with basic workplace habits, practical skills, and relationships that sustain forward momentum. Over five years, we’ve learned that restoration happens one relationship at a time, and this partnership helps us continue that work.”
  
• “Through this grant, Jewish Free Loan Chicago will offer interest-free loans to neighbors of all religious and cultural backgrounds who are facing housing-related financial emergencies,” said Leah Greenblum, the Chicago organization’s founder and executive director. “These loans help prevent short-term crises from becoming long-term instability. Because our loan fund is continuously recycled, the impact of these dollars will extend well beyond the initial lending period.”
  
• “The Charitable Trust program has been a transformative support for our work with families facing housing instability in Madison County,” said Rachel Craddick, executive director of Riverbend Family Ministries in Wood River. “Through this grant, we are able to provide direct rental and utility assistance that helps families remain housed, maintain stability, and navigate moments of crisis with dignity. By stepping in at critical points, this support strengthens individual outcomes while also stabilizing neighborhoods and the broader community. This partnership empowers our work and creates lasting change for the families we serve.”

What Are Charitable Trust Grants?

The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund assists small nonprofits that have annual budgets of $1 million or less and at least one full-time employee. Money in the fund comes from fees that not-for-profit corporations pay when they file annual reports with the Illinois Secretary of State – not from personal or property tax dollars.

Charitable Trust grants help nonprofits fulfill their missions to serve people in need by providing housing, food, and workforce and economic development assistance. For the spring 2025 grant cycle, funds were awarded to nonprofits in two categories: organizations that provide housing services and organizations with workforce and economic development programs.

An independent 11-member committee, which oversees the management and guidelines of the fund, selects the grant recipients. The maximum award is $20,000 per organization. Grant applicants in areas with pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress will be given special attention. Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply if the term of their grant has expired for at least 1 calendar year.

What Has the Impact Been?

Since its establishment in 2017, the Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund program has awarded 251 grants totaling more than $5 million to 209 nonprofit organizations. The program has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

What’s the Deadline for Small Nonprofits to Apply?

The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund’s current grant application period is open until March 31 and will award grants to nonprofit charitable programs in two categories: food and economic and workforce development. For more information, visit ilcharitabletrust.com or contact the Treasurer’s Office at (217) 836-4590.

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About the Illinois Treasurer

The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is a powerful economic engine that invests in people to drive prosperity, development, and growth throughout the state. As State Treasurer, Michael Frerichs (FRAIR’iks) is the state’s Chief Investment and Banking Officer and actively manages approximately $60 billion. The investments help families pay for college and trade school; workers save for a dignified retirement; and local governments process bill payments more efficiently so they can pass along the savings to taxpayers. The office provides financial institutions with funds to lend to farmers, small business owners, and qualified individuals at below-market rates, because better jobs create stronger communities. The office operates the state’s largest consumer-protection initiative, the missing money ICash program, which has returned a record-breaking $2.4 billion since Frerichs was elected.

For more news about the State Treasurer’s Office, please sign up for our Treasurer’s Note Newsletter here. Follow Treasurer Frerichs on YouTube at @TreasurerMichaelFrerichs, Instagram at IL Treasurer, Threads @iltreasurer, LinkedIn, and on Facebook at Invested in You – Treasurer Michael Frerichs.