Foundations that fund legal aid and crime prevention in Illinois
These 25 foundations made grants to legal aid and crime prevention in Illinois in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Polk Bros Foundation Inc
- $180,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: Strong Communities
- $100,000 to Impact for Equity, Chicago: Strong Communities
- $85,000 to Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago: Strong Communities
How to apply: Application form available from foundation office and website
Deadlines: Continuous
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt under sec 501(c)(3)
Helen V Brach Foundation
- $25,000 to Immigration Project, Normal: To support immigrant survivors of trauma in obtaining stability, safety and advocating...
- $15,000 to Juvenile Justice Initiative, Evanston: To support advocacy for a racially equitable, restorative and humane system of justice...
- $15,000 to Reading Between the Lines Nfp, Chicago: To expand a reading and discussion program for formerly incarcerated and...
How to apply: Application form, available upon request
Deadlines: December 31 for consideration in year ending March 31
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt under Sect 501c3
The Joyce Foundation
- $250,000 to Impact for Equity Inc, Chicago: Gun violence prevention & justice reform
- $205,000 to Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Inc, Chicago: Democracy
- $125,000 to Legal Action Chicago LLC, Chicago: Mission fund
How to apply: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
Retirement Research Foundation Dba Rrf Foundation for Aging
- $100,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: A three-year general operating support grant for efforts that support older people.
- $65,000 to The Village Chicago, Chicago: A one-year grant to increase age-inclusive efforts into corporations diversity strategies...
- $20,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: A one-year grant to continue work supporting housing justice for older people.
How to apply: Our website www.rrf.org contains the form in which applications should be submitted along with eligibility criteria, exclusions and letters of inquiry with required inclusions. Web inquiries should be addressed to info@rrf.org. Application forms can be downloaded in word for...
Deadlines: February 1, may 1, and august 1
Restrictions: Our website www.rrf.org contains the eligibility requirements, restrictions or limitations for all major grant programs. The major grant programs are as follows: advocacy; direct service; professional education; research; organizational...
Woods Fund of Chicago
- $60,000 to Goodkids Madcity Englewood, Chicago: General operating support
- $60,000 to Chicago Torture Justice Center, Chicago: General operating support
- $50,000 to Juvenile Justice Initiative, Evanston: General operating support
How to apply: See our website https://www.woodsfund.org/our-grants for forms and materials
Deadlines: Applications open for one month annually in february with grants announced in july.
Restrictions: Woods fund works primarily as a partner with nonprofit organizations to fight the brutality of poverty and structural racism in the chicago region. Grants are generally limited to nonprofit organizations that operate in the chicago...
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
- $75,000 to Life Span, Chicago: General operating
- $60,000 to Lawndale Christian Legal Center, Chicago: Program
- $50,000 to Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic, Chicago: General operating
How to apply: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org to apply online
Deadlines: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Restrictions: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Field Foundation of Illinois
- $50,000 to Chicago Community Bond Fund, Chicago: Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization
- $40,000 to Cook County Southland Juvenile Justice Council, Park Forest: Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization
- $35,000 to Chicago Torture Justice Center, Chicago: Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization
How to apply: Https://www.grantinterface.com/home/logon?urlkey=fieldfoundation
Deadlines: Https://fieldfoundation.org/how-to-apply/submission-process/
Restrictions: Https://fieldfoundation.org/generalguidelines/
Lloyd A Fry Foundation
- $125,000 to Institute for Nonviolence Chicago, Chicago: For general operating support
- $110,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: For support of the health care justice program
- $40,000 to Safer Foundation, Chicago: For the safer demand skills collaborative
How to apply: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/overview/
Deadlines: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/deadlines/
Restrictions: Please visit: https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/overview/
Francis Beidler Foundation
- $18,000 to Public Interest Law Initiative, Chicago: General, religious, educational or scientific
- $9,000 to All Our Childrens Advocacy Center, Justice: General, religious, educational or scientific
- $3,500 to Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago: General, religious, educational or scientific
How to apply: All applications need to be in writing and include information necessary to evaluate organization and request.
Restrictions: None. All donees must be qualifying organizations pursuant to irc section 170(c).
Community Memorial Foundation
- $33,500 to Prairie State Legal Services Inc, Rockford: Responsive
- $31,755 to Life Span, Chicago: Responsive
- $31,005 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: Responsive
How to apply: Grants awarded though the regional health and human services agenda and responsive grants program advance the foundation's vision of transforming the western suburbs into the healthiest region of the country. Eligible organizations must submit an online letter of intent (loi)...
Deadlines: March 15 and september 15
Restrictions: Cmf awards grants to organizations described in irc section 501(c)(3) and further as public charities (except for certain organizations described in irc section 509(a)(3) delivering services within the 27 cmf communities. Responsive grants...
The Kellcie Fund
- $20,000 to James B Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Evanston: All contributions were made for the general, charitable, educational or scientific...
- $5,000 to Center for Conflict Resolution, Chicago: All contributions were made for the general, charitable, educational or scientific...
- $1,000 to Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago: All contributions were made for the general, charitable, educational or scientific...
How to apply: No particular form is required. A letter is sufficient.
Deadlines: No deadline exists.
Restrictions: The organization must be qualified under irc sec 170(c).
Grand Victoria Foundation
- $150,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: General Operating Support
- $10,000 to Legal Action Chicago LLC, Chicago: Project Support
How to apply: Please see attachment.
Deadlines: Please see attachment.
Restrictions: Please see attachment.
Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
- $75,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: Support the illinois
- $25,000 to Legal Action Chicago, Chicago: Support general operating
How to apply: See attached guidelines
Restrictions: See attached guidelines
Domanada Foundation
- $30,000 to Administer Justice, Elgin: Charitable purpose
- $30,000 to Lawndale Christian Legal Center, Chicago: Charitable purpose
How to apply: In writing
Chilanta Community Foundation C/O Hill Hammock
- $5,000 to Chicago Bible Society, Chicago: Bible distribution at cook county jail
- $2,500 to James B Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Evanston: Support for children requiring individual therapeutic and specialized care in schools
How to apply: Written applications only with full description of organization and purpose for request with copy of 501(c)3 designation letter.
Deadlines: November 1 of each calendar year.
Restrictions: Organizations within the cities of chicago, charlotte, and atlanta or which have a religious or social purpose are preferred.
George M Eisenberg Foundation for Charities
- $5,000 to Chicago Childrens Advocacy Center, Chicago: Social assistance
- $2,000 to Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center, Chicago: Social assistance
How to apply: No formal application form is required. Submit letter summarizing request and contaning legal name of organization along with following: irs determination letter summary of specified project or need history of organization intended use of funds list of members of the board of...
Deadlines: April 30th of each calendar year in order to be considered for funding for the next calendar year
Restrictions: Grants are only approved for 501c3 organizations
Elizabeth Beidler Tisdahl Foundation
- $4,000 to James B Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, Evanston: General
- $2,000 to Evanston First Responders Foundation, Evanston: General
How to apply: The application should be in writing and include information necessary to evaluate the organization and the grant request.
The Charles and Mary Crossed Foundation
- $350,000 to The Thomas More Society, Chicago: pro-life public education
How to apply: written description of activities and how they support a consistent life ethic, along with a verification of the grantees 501(c)3 public charity status.
Restrictions: US-based public charities
The Skadden Foundation
- $110,001 to Legal Aid Chicago, Chicago: Payment for fellows
How to apply: See attached application
Deadlines: SEE FAQ ENTRIES UNDER "THE APPLICATION PROCESS" AT https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/applicant
Restrictions: SEE FAQ ENTRIES UNDER "ELIGIBILITY" AT https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/applicant and "Information for Prospective Host Organizations" at https://www.skaddenfellowships.org/host
Frankel Julius N Foundation
- $110,000 to Lawndale Christian Legal Center, Chicago: Program support
How to apply: The frankel foundation gives grants to qualified charitable organizations. Co-trustees review written grant proposals on a regular basis, and meet to discuss grant requests at least five times per year
Deadlines: Proposals may be submitted at any time in writing to the frankel foundation administrator.
Restrictions: Charitable organizations which benefit medical research, underprivileged persons, and cultural appreciation
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $100,000 to American Bar Association Fund for Justice and Education, Chicago: Protecting human rights in africa
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Visiting Nurse Association of Chicago (Aka) Vna Foundation
- $61,000 to Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago: To support technical assistance, education, and outreach efforts to facilitate healthcare...
How to apply: Grants must be submitted via the online grants management system. All grant requests must have measurable goals and objectives and serve the medically underserved.
Deadlines: Grants are disbursed four times a year. See website for submission deadlines.
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt from income tax under 501(c)(3) and designated as public charity under 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2).
Carylon Julius and Marcie Hemmelstein Foundation
- $55,000 to John Howard Association, Chicago: Education
How to apply: In writing, include purpose of contribution
The Patricia Kind Family Foundation
- $50,000 to Edovo Foundation, Chicago: General operating support
Van Ameringen Foundation Inc
- $50,000 to Edovo Foundation, Chicago: General operating support
How to apply: See detailed instructions on foundation's website www.vanamfound.org/apply-for-a-grant
Deadlines: See detailed instructions on foundation's website
Restrictions: The foundation funds innovative and practical programs for early intervention, advocacy and increased accessibility of mental health services for people and communities with limited financial means and opportunities.
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