The Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs has announced nearly $500,000 in grants for the second quarter of fiscal year 2027 to support organizations that provide services to veterans and their families across Illinois.

The awards are part of the Veterans' Cash Grants program, which the department says addresses critical issues facing veterans, 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 scratch-off ticket.

The program is a yearly competitive reimbursement grant offered quarterly to nonprofits, tax-exempt entities and governmental organizations that assist veterans in need. Eligible organizations may apply for grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 annually. Each quarter, a department committee reviews applications and awards grants to groups that have demonstrated proven need.

"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."

Grant recipients

  • Voluntary Action Center of Northern Illinois (Sycamore) — $50,000: The grant supports Meals on Wheels service for 75 Illinois veterans in Bureau, DeKalb, LaSalle and Putnam counties, providing an estimated 7,500 home-delivered meals during the grant period to combat food insecurity and malnutrition among homebound veterans.
  • This Able Veteran (Carbondale) — $99,550: The grant allows the group to train six service dogs to recognize and respond to trauma symptoms, providing support through anxiety alerts and nightmare interruption techniques.
  • Central Illinois Veterans Commission (Lincoln) — $100,000: The grant funds furnishings and equipment for two homes for veterans selected from the homeless community or others with severely insecure housing in the Central Illinois region.
  • Fishing for Freedom (Quincy) — $50,000: A no-entry-fee bass, catfish and crappie tournament that pairs active-duty military and veterans with professional anglers and local outdoorsmen. The event includes a social hour, a tournament for Veterans' Home residents, a Heroes Banquet and tournament fishing on the Mississippi River or Mark Twain Lake.
  • Leave No Veteran Behind (Chicago) — $100,000: Supports 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 groups, wellness programming and connections to mental health services.
  • Friends of Fisher House (Chicago) — $65,000: Supports operation and maintenance of the Hines VA Fisher House and the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center Fisher House, which provide a home for families of military and veteran patients receiving medical care.
  • Schuyler County Mental Health Association (Rushville) — $25,000: Supports a Rural Veteran Housing Stabilization Initiative providing supportive tiny home and transitional housing opportunities, along with transportation assistance, case management and other services in rural West Central Illinois.
  • The Crossroads Veteran Employment and Professional Development Program (Chicago) — $45,000: A cohort-based workforce development initiative preparing transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses and dependents for long-term career success through instruction, mentoring, networking, employer engagement and hybrid learning.

Source: the original release