WELCOME to the Impact Central Illinois grant portal. Thank you for serving our community every day through the mission of your organization.  As fellow Central Illinoisans or those with a love for Central Illinois, we thank you. We look forward to reviewing your organization's financial documentation and organization questionnaire. This phase of our grant cycle will remain open from October 10, 2024 - January 1, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST. 

This review is to ensure that your organization is ready to receive and implement an Impact Central Illinois grant within the grant terms. We aim to be good stewards of our members' contributions and, in so doing, perform a financial and organization review (FRC review) prior to the submission of any grant proposal for consideration for our 2025 grant cycle. The 2025 Grant Awards will be awarded on June 3, 2025.

Once your organization is reviewed and approved, you will receive a link to submit a grant proposal and budget for consideration for our 2025 grant cycle and will be considered fully eligible to participate and receive a grant in 2025.

In 2025, Impact Central Illinois will award three (3) $118,000 IMPACT grants, one in each of our three (3) focus areas: Education & Community Development, Health & Community Wellbeing, and Social Services & Basic Needs. The IMPACT grants are reserved for organizations with gross receipts greater than or equal to $250,000 in the last fiscal year.

In 2025, Impact Central Illinois hopes to also award one (1) $30,000 INSPIRE grant. The INSPIRE grant is reserved solely for organizations with gross receipts less than $250,000 in the last fiscal year.  

This phase of the ICI grant cycle will run from October 10, 2024 - January 1, 2025. The deadline for this financial documentation & organizational questionnaire submission is January 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST.

To apply for an Impact Central Illinois grant, an organization must

1. meet ALL Eligibility Requirements listed below and receive approval from the ICI financial review team as to the organization's readiness to receive and implement an Impact Central Illinois grant
2. have proof of three (3) full years of operating as 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt charitable status organization in good standing
3. provide full disclosure regarding any restrictions or requirements for participation in the proposal
4. submit a grant proposal and budget within the scope of our funding guidelines to support social outreach and/or charitable services that benefit the community at large
5. use grant funds within the allowed guidelines of 24 months as we have outlined
6. own the facility or have minimum of 5 year lease for any proposed capital improvement projects
7. disclose any pending litigation involving the organization
8. upload a copy of your IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable status determination letter

After receiving approval from the ICI financial review team, your organization will be considered fully eligible to apply for and receive a 2025 ICI Impact or Inspire grant. You will receive an email notifying you of your invitation forward with a link to submit your grant proposal and budget by February 17, 2025. A preview of the grant questions will be available online by January 1, 2025. Grant proposals and budgets are due by March 17, 2025 and must include: 

1. Proposal budget using the Impact Central Illinois Budget Template
2. Proposal Narrative Overview
3. Proposal Questions Responses aligned to ICI's three (3) key criteria

If you have questions regarding the portal, required documentation, or the grant process, please email our Nonprofit Liaison Chair, Jami Truelove, at Grants@ImpactCentralIllinois.org

We ask that ALL questions and communication be routed through our Nonprofit Liaison Chair only. Please DO NOT contact active members of Impact Central Illinois. We care tremendously about ensuring a fair and transparent process for our grant review cycle.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THE IMPACT CENTRAL ILLINOIS GRANTS! WE LOOK FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY!