Charitable Trust – Helping Small Nonprofits Across Illinois
The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund (“Fund”) was created in 2007 to help small non-profits across Illinois. Money for the Fund comes from the filing fees not-for-profit organizations pay to incorporate with the State of Illinois. The program is funded by non-profits and exists to support non-profits.
Charitable Trust is intended to help small non-profits with annual budgets of $1 million or less. Grant applicants located in an area where pervasive poverty, unemployment, and economic distress exist will be given special attention.
Treasurer Frerichs and the State Treasurer’s Office work with an 11-member committee that oversees the management and guidelines of the Fund. The committee is made up of appointees from state government agencies and private citizens.
The Spring 2024 Grant Cycle, running from January 1 – March 31 2024, will award grants to non-profit charitable programs in two categories: Food and Housing. The Fall 2024 Grant Cycle, running from July 1 – September 30, will award grants to organizations in two categories: Food and Economic & Workforce Development.
The Charitable Trust Grant program has awarded $4.2 Million in grants to 211 charitable organizations in 65 cities across Illinois.
Applicants will need to complete the online application in full, including all requested documents and forms. Applicants without access to a computer or the Internet should contact the State Treasurer’s office at (217) 836-4590.
The application requests basic information about the non-profit organization and leadership. Applicants will also be asked to certify their eligibility for this grant, write a narrative on how the grant money will be spent, and provide supporting documentation that shows their non-profit has filed appropriate forms with the Illinois Secretary of State's office, the Illinois Attorney General's office, and the Federal Government, and other information that demonstrates the fiscal health of the organization.
Questions about this program or the application can be directed to:
CharitableTrust@illinoistreasurer.gov or at (217) 836-4590.
For more information about eligibility and the criteria that will be used to judge applications, click here.
For some basic information regarding Charitable Trust, please see the Charitable Trust Fact Sheet.
Charitable Trust Board Members
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Co-Chair
Erica Spangler Raz, Designee for Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Co-Chair
Ariana Correa, Designee for Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton
Dan McManus, Designee for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Shelmun Dashan, Designee for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Andreason Brown, Appointee
Ron Budzinski, Appointee
Joan Dixon, Appointee
Patricia Mota, Appointee
Sheila Simon, Appointee
Charitable Trust Meeting Materials
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