Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund Grant

The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund Grant aims to support small nonprofits in Illinois by providing funding for programs in food, housing, and workforce development. The Spring 2024 Grant Cycle will focus on food and housing, while the Fall 2024 cycle will address food and economic development. Eligible organizations must meet specific criteria to ensure effective use of funds.

2026 Grant Cycles and Focus Areas
Spring: January 1 – March 31, 2026. Categories: Food and Economic & Workforce Development.Fall: July 1 – September 30, 2026. Categories: Food and Housing.
Charitable Trust – Helping Small Nonprofits Across Illinois
The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund (“Fund”) was created in 2007 to help small non-profits across Illinois. Money for the Fund comes from the filing fees not-for-profit organizations pay to incorporate with the State of Illinois. The program is funded by non-profits and exists to support non-profits.
In each focus area, the Charitable Trust Board will consider a range of programs such as but not limited to the following:

• Food Programs:
• Food Pantries

Meal Deliveries
Housing:

• Short Term Housing and Supportive Services

Renters Rights
Workforce & Economic Development:

• Small Business Development Councils Entrepreneurship Training or Services

Eligibility

Only applicants that meet all the following requirements will be considered: A not-for-profit corporation that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code:

• A not-for-profit organized under the Illinois General Not for Profit Corporation Act of 1986 for the purpose of providing charitable services to the community:
• The organization is domiciled in the State of Illinois, and provides charitable services exclusively in the State of Illinois.
• The organization has the equivalent of at least one full-time paid employee.
• The organization has an operating budget of $1 Million or less.

The organization has adopted a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, family status, or religion.
Additionally, non-for-profits with a person, or immediate family member (including but not limited to a spouse/domestic partner, sibling or child) holding an elective office making in excess of $60,000, where any such person holds a position of paid staff, consultant, director, officer, or board member of an organization will not be eligible.
The total grant request should not be more than 30% of the organization’s budget, and should not exceed 25% overhead costs, unless the grant will be used for a one-time expenditure.
Previous grant recipients are eligible to apply if the term of their grant has been complete for at least one calendar year. A grantee may not receive a grant award in more than 2 consecutive calendar years.
Fiscal sponsors, sub-grantees, and other applications on behalf of another organization will not be considered.
Organizations that do not file AG990-IL forms on a regular basis due to an exemption must provide a recent audited financial statement in order to be considered.

Ineligibility

Non-for-profits with a person, or immediate family member (including but not limited to a spouse/domestic partner, sibling or child) holding an elective office making in excess of $60,000, where any such person holds a position of paid staff, consultant, director, officer, or board member of an organization will not be eligible to apply.A grantee may not receive a grant award in more than 2 consecutive calendar years.Fiscal sponsors, sub-grantees, and other applications on behalf of another organization will not be considered.