Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced nearly $180,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations that provide food and job training to people in need. The grants total $178,210.
Frerichs made the announcement Monday at a news conference at Synapse House, a grant recipient in Downers Grove. The money will support programs in Champaign, Charleston, Chicago, Downers Grove, Murphysboro, West Frankfort and Westmont.
"These grants are important because they help nonprofits achieve their missions of serving others and strengthening communities," Frerichs said. "We recognize that people are struggling with increased inflation and higher living expenses, and that the federal government is failing to make things better. We are proud to partner with these organizations that offer a helping hand to Illinoisans in need."
Where the money is going
The Charitable Trust Committee, an independent panel, chose the 10 recipients from 75 applicants:
- Champaign: Feeding Our Kids — $20,000
- Charleston: Standing Stone Community Center NFP — $10,660
- Chicago: Center for Companies That Care — $20,000
- Chicago: Chicago Filmmakers — $20,000
- Chicago: LEAP Learning Systems — $20,000
- Chicago: Plant Chicago — $17,550
- Downers Grove: Synapse House — $10,000
- Murphysboro: 724 Ministries NFP — $20,000
- West Frankfort: Franklin County Senior Services Inc. — $20,000
- Westmont: The ACE Project Inc. — $20,000
What the nonprofits are saying
"At Synapse House, we help individuals return to meaningful, paid employment following a brain injury or stroke. For many, this rehabilitation journey can take two to three years," said Deborah Giesler, executive director of Synapse House. She said the grant will be used to develop industry-specific training modules for careers in customer service, janitorial services and food service.
"This award will help support our mission of providing weekend food to children throughout Champaign County," said Alison Dupre, executive director of Feeding Our Kids. She said the nonprofit currently provides food to children in 50 schools.
"724 Ministries provides a free, home-cooked dinner every Sunday to more than 100 guests from a melting pot of racial, social, and economic groups in a county with the second-highest poverty rate in Illinois," said Ed O'Donnell, executive director of the Murphysboro nonprofit. He said the award will help cover the cost of preparing and serving more than 5,000 meals to underserved neighbors during 2027.
About Charitable Trust grants
The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund assists small nonprofits that have annual budgets of $1 million or less and at least one full-time employee. The money comes from fees that not-for-profit corporations pay when filing annual reports with the Illinois Secretary of State — not from personal or property tax dollars.
An independent 11-member committee selects the recipients. The maximum award is $20,000 per organization. Applicants in areas with pervasive poverty, unemployment and economic distress are given special attention. Previous recipients may apply if their grant term has been complete for at least one calendar year.
Since being established in 2017, the program has awarded $5.4 million through 271 grants to 215 charitable organizations in 77 cities across Illinois, according to the Treasurer's Office.
How to apply
The next grant application period will run from Jan. 1 to March 31, 2027, awarding grants in two categories: food and economic/workforce development. For more information, visit ilcharitabletrust.com or contact the Treasurer's Office at (217) 836-4590.
Source: the original release