To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of our community to advance the common good.
United Way of Kankakee County Inc centers its grantmaking on local nonprofit programs that improve education, health, and economic mobility in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties. One visible thread in its recent awards is flexible general aid to community organizations working across human services and basic needs. Catholic Charities received $30,972 in 2023 and $26,040 in 2025, while the YMCA in Kankakee received $29,450 in 2023. The foundation also backed groups such as Helen Wheeler Center for Comm, Child Network, Harbor House, and Clove Alliance, showing a recurring emphasis on organizations serving families, children, and community support needs. Its funding menu includes the Community Investment Fund / Impact Grants program, a housing stability fund, and locally administered EFSP support for food and shelter assistance in Iroquois County. The combination of competitive grants and designated local funds points to a funder that mixes broad community investment with targeted support for specific stability needs.
Education, health, and economic mobility are the clearest anchors in the foundation’s current grantmaking. Under the United Way Impact Grants / Community Investment Fund, it funds nonprofit programs serving Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, with volunteer review and board approval shaping awards. Housing stability is also a specific priority: the Housing Stability Impact Fund supports housing and shelter efforts in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties through the annual Impact Grants process. Food and shelter assistance appear through EFSP Grants - Iroquois County, which supplement rent, mortgage, utility, and related services. The recent grants list also shows support for behavioral health and family services through awards to Iroqouis Mental Health, Fortitude Community Outreach, and Child Network.
Typical awards cluster in the mid-five-figure range, with a p25 of $7,815, a median of $10,434, and a p75 of $16,450. Recent grants show repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Catholic Charities, Helen Wheeler Center for Comm, Child Network, Harbor House, and Clove Alliance, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation funds through a local community investment structure, and its active programs include competitive Impact Grants plus designated local funds such as the Housing Stability Impact Fund. Unsolicited applications are accepted in the active grant programs listed.
$194K
$872K
$416K
$471K
Most grants fall between $8K and $16K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$16K
MIKE O'BRIEN
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Grantmaking is fully local and lands entirely in Illinois, with 100% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. The strongest concentration is in Kankakee, including awards to Kankakee YMCA, Helen Wheeler Center for Comm, Child Network, Harbor House, Clove Alliance, and Iroqouis Mental Health. Other Illinois recipients appear in Joliet, Bourbonnais, Pembroke Townsh, and Bloomington. Program geography extends beyond Kankakee County to Iroquois County, especially through the Impact Grants and EFSP Iroquois County programs.
The foundation’s active grant programs focus on education, health, economic mobility, and stable housing. The recent grants list also shows general aid to local organizations working in family services, behavioral health, food security, shelter, and community support.
The Impact Grants program uses volunteer evaluations and board approval. It is described as a competitive grant program for nonprofit programs serving Kankakee and Iroquois Counties.
Yes. The active grant programs listed for Impact Grants, the Housing Stability Impact Fund, and EFSP Grants - Iroquois County all note that unsolicited applications are accepted.
Recent grants cluster around a median of $10,434, with a p25 of $7,815 and a p75 of $16,450. The recent awards list includes both smaller grants and larger general-aid awards above $20,000.
Its giving is local and entirely in Illinois. The grant geography includes Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, with recent recipients also in cities such as Joliet, Bourbonnais, Pembroke Townsh, and Bloomington.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from United Way of Kankakee County that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Funds distributed to local 501(c)(3) nonprofits via United Way's Impact Grants process (see Impact Grants eligibility requirements).
Deadline: Follows the Impact Grants annual timeline (LOI and full application deadlines set each cycle).
Who can apply: Must operate and provide services in Kankakee and/or Iroquois Counties; be a 501(c)(3) human service or tax-exempt organization; provide a financial audit or letter of financial review; submit Federal 990 and Illinois 990AG; have an active local volunteer board that meets at least quarterly; maintain an annual operating budget.
Deadline: Letters of Intent due January 30; Full applications due February 20 (annual cycle).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | JOLIET, IL | $32,500 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM | KANKAKEE, IL | $28,400 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| CLOVE ALLIANCE | KANKAKEE, IL | $28,300 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| CHILD NETWORK | KANKAKEE, IL | $20,400 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| CENTER OF HOPE | KANKAKEE, IL | $13,700 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| IROQOUIS MENTAL HEALTH | KANKAKEE, IL | $13,700 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| VARIOUS ENTITIES | KANKAKEE, IL | $13,137 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| OPTIONS CIL-IROQUOIS | PEMBROKE TOWNSH, IL | $12,800 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| PATH INC | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $10,610 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| UCP | Bourbonnais, IL | $9,800 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| KANKAKEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE | KANKAKEE, IL | $5,200 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| FORTITUDE | KANKAKEE, IL | $5,100 | 2026 | GENERAL AID |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | JOLIET, IL | $26,040 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| VARIOUS ENTITIES | KANKAKEE, IL | $24,568 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM | KANKAKEE, IL | $17,320 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| CLOVE ALLIANCE | KANKAKEE, IL | $15,090 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| CHILD NETWORK | KANKAKEE, IL | $11,520 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| OPTIONS CIL-IROQUOIS | PEMBROKE TOWNSH, IL | $10,260 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| PATH INC | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $9,227 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| IROQOUIS MENTAL HEALTH | KANKAKEE, IL | $8,660 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI | KANKAKEE, IL | $7,790 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| RUNWAY BUCKERS | KANKAKEE, IL | $7,790 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| EASTER SEALS OF JOLIET | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $6,760 | 2025 | GENERAL AID |
| VARIOUS ENTITIES | KANKAKEE, IL | $24,118 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | JOLIET, IL | $23,195 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM | KANKAKEE, IL | $16,000 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| KANKAKEE YMCA | KANKAKEE, IL | $15,500 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| CHILD NETWORK | KANKAKEE, IL | $14,990 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| HARBOR HOUSE | KANKAKEE, IL | $12,200 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| CLOVE ALLIANCE | KANKAKEE, IL | $11,295 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| EASTER SEALS OF JOLIET | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $9,695 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| FORTITUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $8,595 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| GARDEN OF PRAYER YOUTH CENTER | KANKAKEE, IL | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| LIVING ALTERNATIVES PREGNANCY | KANKAKEE, IL | $7,490 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI | PEMBROKE TOWNSH, IL | $6,625 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL SERVICES | KANKAKEE, IL | $6,595 | 2024 | GENERAL AID |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | JOLIET, IL | $30,972 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| YMCA | KANKAKEE, IL | $29,450 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM | KANKAKEE, IL | $20,400 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| CHILD NETWORK | KANKAKEE, IL | $18,750 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| HARBOR HOUSE | KANKAKEE, IL | $16,600 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| EASTER SEALS | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $10,700 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| PATH INC | BLOOMINGTON, IL | $10,609 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| KC - CASA | KANKAKEE, IL | $9,500 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| VARIOUS ENTITIES | KANKAKEE, IL | $8,800 | 2023 | — |
| FORTITUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH | BOURBONNAIS, IL | $8,200 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI | PEMBROKE TOWNSH, IL | $7,890 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL AID | KANKAKEE, IL | $6,863 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| LIVING ALTERNATIVES | KANKAKEE, IL | $6,500 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
| GARDEN OF PRAYER | KANKAKEE, IL | $6,500 | 2023 | GENERAL AID |
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$32,500GENERAL AID
HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM
$28,400GENERAL AID
CLOVE ALLIANCE
$28,300GENERAL AID
CHILD NETWORK
$20,400GENERAL AID
CENTER OF HOPE
$13,700GENERAL AID
IROQOUIS MENTAL HEALTH
$13,700GENERAL AID
VARIOUS ENTITIES
$13,137GENERAL AID
OPTIONS CIL-IROQUOIS
$12,800GENERAL AID
PATH INC
$10,610GENERAL AID
UCP
$9,800GENERAL AID
KANKAKEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
$5,200GENERAL AID
FORTITUDE
$5,100GENERAL AID
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$26,040GENERAL AID
VARIOUS ENTITIES
$24,568GENERAL AID
HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM
$17,320GENERAL AID
CLOVE ALLIANCE
$15,090GENERAL AID
CHILD NETWORK
$11,520GENERAL AID
OPTIONS CIL-IROQUOIS
$10,260GENERAL AID
PATH INC
$9,227GENERAL AID
IROQOUIS MENTAL HEALTH
$8,660GENERAL AID
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI
$7,790GENERAL AID
RUNWAY BUCKERS
$7,790GENERAL AID
VARIOUS ENTITIES
$24,118GENERAL AID
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$23,195GENERAL AID
HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM
$16,000GENERAL AID
KANKAKEE YMCA
$15,500GENERAL AID
CHILD NETWORK
$14,990GENERAL AID
HARBOR HOUSE
$12,200GENERAL AID
CLOVE ALLIANCE
$11,295GENERAL AID
FORTITUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
$8,595GENERAL AID
GARDEN OF PRAYER YOUTH CENTER
$7,500GENERAL AID
LIVING ALTERNATIVES PREGNANCY
$7,490GENERAL AID
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI
$6,625GENERAL AID
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$30,972GENERAL AID
HELEN WHEELER CENTER FOR COMM
$20,400GENERAL AID
CHILD NETWORK
$18,750GENERAL AID
HARBOR HOUSE
$16,600GENERAL AID
PATH INC
$10,609GENERAL AID
KC - CASA
$9,500GENERAL AID
VARIOUS ENTITIES
$8,800FORTITUDE COMMUNITY OUTREACH
$8,200GENERAL AID
A MORE EXCELLENT WAY MINISTRI
$7,890GENERAL AID
PRAIRIE STATE LEGAL AID
$6,863GENERAL AID
LIVING ALTERNATIVES
$6,500GENERAL AID
GARDEN OF PRAYER
$6,500GENERAL AID
