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Funding Opportunities

Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

We participate in a Funding Opportunities Working Group. This page is a collection of current funding opportunities across Illinois.

      • DCEO 

       

        • SSBCI Technical Assistance Grant Program – This grant is from OMEE
          • Description: “this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to seek application proposals from qualified technical assistance providers to deliver assistance to businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (SEDI1) or very small businesses (VSBs1) participating in, or seeking assistance from the state’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) -funded programs.”
          • Eligibility includes: “Legal, Accounting, or Financial advisory Non-Profit or For-Profit entities. Applicants must administer the following three (3) TA services– legal, accounting, and financial advisory services – either directly or through a coalition of contractual partners”
          • Award Range: $0 - $700,000
          • Deadline: September 3, 2024 at 5:00PM
          • Webinar on the Grant Opportunity: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 11am. To register click HERE.

       

        • For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit our website. Please note there are several due June 2024 that I didn’t list in case you want to go to our website and review those now.

       

        • Illinois Works Bid Credit Program
          • Eligibility: “Contractors or subcontractors that employ apprentices that have completed the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program on any project (stated or privately funded) are eligible to earn bid credits they can use to make their bids for future state-funded public works projects more competitive.”
          • Bid Credit Range: varies, here is more info on bid credits

       

      • Additional State
        • Illinois Treasurer’s Office – Charitable Trust Grant
          • Description: Open to
            • Small non-profits that have charitable programs in: Food, Economic & Workforce Development
            • Additional criteria listed on the Illinois Treasurer’s website, click HERE.
          • Award Range: grants of up to $20,000
          • Deadline: September 30, 2024

       

      • Federal Government

       

        • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (Community Chamber Grants)
          • Description: “The Community Change Grants will fund community-driven projects that address climate challenges and reduce pollution while strengthening communities through thoughtful implementation. This historic level of support will enable communities and their partners to overcome longstanding environmental challenges and implement meaningful solutions to meet community needs now and for generations to come. There will be two tracks of funding under this opportunity. Track I will fund approximately 150 large, transformational community-driven investment grants of $10 million - $20 million. Track II will fund approximately 20 meaningful engagement grants of $1 million - $3 million.”. Here is a link to more info, click HERE.
          • Award Range: up to $20,000,000
          • Deadline: November 21, 2024 at 10:59 PM

       

      • Local Governments

       

        • ​City of Chicago - Community Development Grants
          • Description: “The Chicago Recovery Plan provides opportunities for the City to invest in catalytic developments that expand upon DPD’s existing investments and support.” “Open to community developers, business owners and entrepreneurs, and property owners.”
          • Award Range: more than $250,000
          • Deadline: August 9, 2024

       

       

        • Village of Gurnee – Impact Grant
          • Description: “This is a 1:1 matching grant open to a business of any size located within the Village of Gurnee corporate limits, generate sales tax, in good standing with the Village and compliant with all obligations, & a building owner of a qualifying business. No minimum project size with a rolling application period.”
          • Award Range: $10,000 - $20,000

       

      • Private/Community Resources

       

        • Small Certified Supplier Innovative Finance Program
          • Description: Open to certified minority-, women-, veteran-, and LGBTQ+ owned businesses (certified by national or state organizations) in the following states California, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, or New Jersey. The annual revenue of the business should be between $250,000 to $10 million.
          • Award Range: $5,000

       

       

        • Cadence Cash Thrive Grant
          • Description: “a quarterly program aimed at supporting small businesses that contribute positively to their communities”(preferably impacting underrepresented communities)
          • Award Range: $5,000
          • Deadline: July 31, 2024

       

       

        • South Side Pitch by IJ Clinic on Entrepreneurship
          • Description: Open to businesses in the South Side of Chicago, who have less than 50 employees, not part of a franchise, and make less than $1 million in annual revenue. For more info on criteria, click HERE.
          • Award Range: varies
          • Deadline: August 5, 2024  

       

        • KFC Foundation - 2024 Kentucky Fried Wishes Grant
          • Description: Open nationwide to nonprofits. This cycle will focus on expanding access to food and shelter such as Food pantry remodel, Community garden creation, Building repairs and renovations, Beautification of community space.
          • Award Range: $10,000
          • Deadline: August 9, 2024

       

        • Future Women at Work Grant
          • Description: This grant targets women-owned businesses (50% or more), have an existing business or MVP with ambition to scale, and be based in the United States. There are 2 areas of focus:
            • Care Economy
              • Childcare, Eldercare, Home based care, Long-term care, caregiver support, household management
            • Future of Work
              • Flexible workplace, Human centered AI solutions, Learning and Development, Talent Recruitment – Retention, Caregiver Benefits, Collaboration Tools
          • Award Range: $10,000 grant and other opportunities
          • Deadline: August 23, 2024

       

        • EmpowHer Grant
          • Description: “Female entrepreneurs 22 years of age and older with businesses registered and operating solely in the United States. An applicant’s business must address a social issue directly or through its business model, and must not be more than 3 years old. To be awarded grant funding, applicants must self-report a credit score and agree to a third-party background check.”.
          • Award Range: up to $25,000 plus access to professionals
          • Deadline: August 31, 2024

       

        • Game On-Community Places to Play Initiative
          • Description: Open nationwide to qualifying nonprofits 501(c)3 or elementary, middle, or high schools who provide athletic spaces to youth ages 6-24 in under-resourced communities.
          • Award Range: $50,000 to $100,000
          • Deadline: September 5, 2024

       

        • Fast Break for Small Business Grant Program
          • Description: Open nationwide “Small businesses that have been in operation for at least three months are eligible for a $10,000 small business grant and/or up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services. Entrepreneurs who have yet to launch their business are eligible for up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services.”
          • Award Range: “$10,000 small business grant and/or up to $500 in LegalZoom products and services”
          • Deadline: September 13, 2024 at 7pm

       

        • Her Village Grants
          • Description: Open nationwide to qualifying nonprofits. “Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that support female entrepreneurs through education, mentorship, financing, and/or other mission-aligned programming.”
          • Award Range: up to $30,000
          • Deadline: September 15, 2024

       

        • Visión Verde by Bacardi U.S.A., Inc & Hispanic Heritage Foundation
          • Description: “designed to empower Latinx/Hispanic entrepreneurs within the beverage alcohol service, sales, and hospitality industries”. Applicants must be a US resident physically residing in the United States and business must be majority Latino/Hispanic owned (at least 51%).
          • Award Range: “grant will be awarded to 10 deserving recipients across the U.S., each receiving $10,000 to fund initiatives that promote sustainability and environmental impact through education and mentorship.”
          • Deadline: August 25, 2024

       

       

       

        • Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program
          • Description: “LISC and Foot Locker, Inc., through the Foot Locker Foundation, are launching a fourth round of grants for the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program, which funds nonprofit community organizations offering a range of services for young people, including health and wellness, education and life skills, mentoring, and career development”. Open to nonprofits, 501c3, in underserved communities in Chicago, IL. For additional cities, click HERE.
          • Award Range: $25,000 - $100,000
          • Deadline: September 30, 2024

       

        • Midland States Bank Foundation Fall Awards
          • Description: “[Midland States Bank Foundation] are proud to offer grants to non-profit organizations and initiatives that align with [their] key focus areas: education, work force development, financial empowerment, housing, small business development and health & wellness.” This grant is open to 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 organizations serving the communities in the geographic areas of Midland.
          • Award Range: $7,500+
          • Deadline: September 30, 2024
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