The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has announced nearly $500,000 in grants to organizations that provide services to veterans and their families across the state, the agency said.

The awards cover the second quarter of fiscal year 2027 and are part of the Veterans' Cash Grants program. According to the release, the program targets issues including homelessness, post-traumatic stress treatment, behavioral health treatment and workforce development.

The grants are funded through proceeds from the Illinois Lottery's $5 7x Bingo Multiplier ticket. The department said the grant is a yearly competitive reimbursement program offered quarterly to nonprofits, tax-exempt entities and governmental organizations that assist veterans in need. Eligible groups may apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 annually, and an IDVA committee reviews applications each quarter.

"The recipients of this quarter's veterans cash grants offer services that directly impact the well-being of veterans and their families," said IDVA Director Terry Prince. "The continued partnership with the Illinois Lottery presents opportunities for veteran service organizations to expand their programs and extend their reach."

"The Illinois Lottery is proud to see the meaningful work IDVA is doing to support our veterans," said Illinois Lottery Director Harold Mays. "We remain committed to doing what the Lottery does best, which is selling tickets responsibly to generate funds for organizations like these who making a real difference in Illinois."

This quarter's recipients

  • Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois, Sycamore — $50,000: Funds a Meals on Wheels effort serving 75 Illinois veterans in Bureau, DeKalb, LaSalle and Putnam counties, providing an estimated 7,500 home-delivered meals during the grant period.
  • This Able Veteran, Carbondale — $99,550: Trains six service dogs to recognize and respond to trauma symptoms, including anxiety alerts and nightmare interruption techniques.
  • Central Illinois Veterans Commission, Lincoln — $100,000: Provides furnishings and equipment for two homes for veterans selected from the homeless community or those with severely insecure housing in the Central Illinois region.
  • Fishing for Freedom, Quincy — $50,000: Runs a no-entry-fee fishing tournament pairing active-duty military and veterans with professional anglers, including a social hour, a tournament for Veterans' Home residents, a Heroes Banquet and fishing on the Mississippi River or Mark Twain Lake.
  • Leave No Veteran Behind, Chicago — $100,000: Operates the Veteran Business and Wellness Corridor on Chicago's southeast side, offering workforce development, career coaching, small business support, benefits navigation, financial education, peer support and mental health connections.
  • Friends of Fisher House, Chicago — $65,000: Supports families during medical crises through the Hines VA Fisher House and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Fisher House, which house families of military and veteran patients.
  • Schuyler County Mental Health Association, Rushville — $25,000: Supports a Rural Veteran Housing Stabilization Initiative, expanding supportive tiny home and transitional housing and connecting veterans to transportation assistance, case management and community resources in West Central Illinois.
  • The Crossroads Veteran Employment and Professional Development Program, Chicago — $45,000: Runs a cohort-based workforce development program for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses and dependents, developed in response to the discontinuation of the U.S. Department of Labor's Off-Base Transition Training program.

Source: the original release