Community Grants Program

The Community Grants Program is the local grantmaking program at the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln. The Program accepts funding requests for any charitable focus area in Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, and Sangamon counties.

This program was initiated to expose donor-advised funds to funding opportunities of which they may not otherwise be aware. Donors review the grant requests submitted by nonprofit organizations through this program, potentially partner with each other, and make decisions on funding.

2025 Grant Awards

The Community Grants Program awarded more than $300,000, as 35 donor-advised funds helped support 65 charitable programs across central Illinois.

Organization Purpose
100 Club of Illinois Springfield First Responder ICISF Critical Incident Response Training
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation Inc Prairie restoration and education
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Garden Foundation Inc Sensory backpacks
Animal Protective League of Springfield and Sangamon County APL Pet Food Bank
Bella Ease Family Focus Program
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois mentor2.0 program expansion
Blessed Sacrament School Upgraded outdoor school courtyard
Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University Community first aid initiatives by the Division of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in the Department of Emergency Medicine at SIU School of Medicine.
CASA of Sangamon County (DBA Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center) CASA of Sangamon County
Central Illinois Veterans Commission Tiny Homes for Veterans
Compass for Kids Club Compass
Compass for Kids Professional trimming and maintenance of historic trees
Contact Ministries Women Empowering Women
Easterseals Central Illinois Timber Pointe Outdoor Center Sensory Trail in Hudson, IL
Educational Center for the Visually Impaired Friendship Fridays and Marvelous Mondays
Envision Unlimited Hope Springs Apartments Supportive Housing Services
Faith Coalition for the Common Good Raising Voices: A Training for Parent Engagement and Building Leaders to utilize their voices for effective changes in their community
Fishing Has No Boundaries Capital City Chapter Annual all-day fishing event on Lake Springfield on September 20, 2025
Girls on the Run of Central Illinois Afterschool program for girls in grades 3-5
Grace Lutheran Food Pantry General operations
Hillsboro Area Public Library District Summer Reading Programs and yearly programs
Hoogland Center for the Arts Repair and modernization of two passenger elevators
Illinois State Historical Society Perspectives in History series; Historic Preservation workshop
Illinois State Museum Society "250: Land of Stories" Exhibition
Illinois Symphony Orchestra Community Engagement Series and Starter and Junior Strings
Intricate Minds Intricate Minds Storage Initiative
Loving Arms Pregnancy Center General operations
Menard County Family Collaborative Farmers, Bakers & Artists - PopTots Music Class; Sippy Cup Social Club; youth education initiatives
Morgan County Historical Society 2025 Jacksonville Bicentennial-Underground Railroad markers
Peace Lutheran Church Peace Lutheran Church Food Ministry
PHASE 217 PROJECT HEALTH
Pregnancy Care Center of Springfield, Inc. "Food for Two," laundry program, and baby supply needs
Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Prevent Child Abuse Illinois Virtual and In-Person Education Program
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois Ronald McDonald House Family Room Remodel and Reopening - HSHS St. John's Children's Hospital
Safe Families for Children Hosting Program that connects Safe Families for Children trained volunteers with isolated parents
San Damiano College for the Trades House of Formation program
Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center
Scholastic Art Awards Mid-Central Illinois Region Mid-Central Illinois Region of the Scholastic Art Awards Honors Day
SIU School of Medicine Smith Alzheimer's Center - Beyond the Medical Center programs
Sparc Baseball game outing for individuals with disabilities and their Direct Support Professionals
Special Olympics Illinois - Region H Special Olympics Illinois Region H
Springfield Area Arts Council General operating support
Springfield Area Reading Is Fundamental Association Pleasure reading books for local schoolchildren
Springfield Art Association Opening Minds through Art
Springfield Art Association SAA Make Truck programming for BGC afterschool program
Springfield Coalition on Dismantling Racism NFP Project Coordinator for SCoDR
Springfield Immigrant Advocacy Network (SIAN) Healthy Food Program
Springfield Memorial Foundation DOGtor on Call - canine assisted therapy program at Springfield Memorial Hospital
St. Martin DePorres Food Assistance Program
St. Patrick Catholic School Operating Costs
Taylorville Park District Jaynes Park Court Fund
The Helping Paw Project General and Emergency Vet Care
The Hope Learning Academy Springfield iPads, sensory equipment, and musical instruments for students
The James Project Utilities for housing foster children
The Joy of Movement Operating and promotional expenses for exercise and dance classes for older adults with Parkinson disease and their care partners
The Macoupin Art Collective After-School Art Program
The Outlet Mentorship Program
The Parent Place Diaper pantry
The Parent Place Supervised parenting time
The Salvation Army Clear Lake Corps & Community Center Pathway of Hope (POH) & Emergency Assistance Programs
True North Running Eight week fall 2025 and eight week spring 2026 season
University of Illinois Foundation UIS Theatre Program - Equipment for rehearsal studio
Untold Histories Peoples National Bank of Springfield Museum Exhibit
Village of New Holland New Holland Pet Care Project
Wooden It Be Lovely "Women Back to Work" program
YMCA of Springfield Ryse & Shine program
YMCA of Springfield Wellness with Spinal Cord Injury program
Zion Lutheran Church and School Hot Lunch Program
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