Chicago Bar Foundation

Nonprofit Legal Support Project

Who can apply: Organizations must be Illinois-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with annual operating budgets below $10 million. Organizations facing imminent or significant federal funding threats, certification requirements, or other federal scrutiny may be prioritized.

Deadline: No deadline stated; legal intake requests can be submitted through the online form.

Small Discretionary Grants

Who can apply: Valued legal-adjacent nonprofit organizations and organizations undertaking specific one-time endeavors such as a merger or launch of a new project.

Deadline: Rolling basis

Nonprofit Resilience Hub

Administered by Forefront

Who can apply: Illinois-based 501(c)(3) organizations with operating budgets of $10 million or less that are affected or at risk of being affected by federal actions.

Nonprofit Legal Support Project

Administered by Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Who can apply: Illinois nonprofits with operating budgets under $10 million that are facing legal, financial, organizational, compliance, federal funding, or tax-exempt-status challenges created by federal action. The project is particularly intended for nonprofits whose federal funding or tax-exempt status is at risk due to executive orders or other federal administration actions.

Deadline: No deadline stated; applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Initial‑Support Grants

Who can apply: Organizations that otherwise would qualify to be an organizational support grantee but are not currently organizational support grantees may be eligible. Grants are limited and may be available annually.

Deadline: Inquiries are accepted in January; selected organizations are notified in March and awards are distributed in May.