Social Justice Grants in Illinois

143 foundations fund social justice programs in Illinois. See who they are, what they give, and how to reach them.

See If You're a Fit — FreeFree account · instant fit score · similar funders

These foundations have a track record of funding social justice work in Illinois, based on IRS 990 grant data. Use the list below to find funders aligned with your mission, then sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits each one.

Open Grant Opportunities

Live programs funding social justice in Illinois that your nonprofit can apply to now.

Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $5K – $50K

Community Grants

From Leonard Litz Foundation

LGBTQ+ health and wellnessCrisis interventionRacial justice+2 more

Who can apply: Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) public charities or fiscally sponsored by one. The organization's primary purpose must be serving the LGBTQ+ community. Grantmaking is limited to U.S.-based organizations, with priority for the Northeast. Applicants may submit one application per calendar year and must choose one of the Foundation's three grant programs. Strong, diverse leadership, replicable or scalable activities, solid financial health, and commitment to communities of color are considered.

View & apply

Open nowCloses in 9 days (Oct 6, 2026)Award: $1K – $7K

Coles County Peace and Justice Fund

From Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation

Social justiceHuman rightsReligious tolerance+3 more

Who can apply: Projects must directly benefit Coles County residents and address significant unmet needs. Preference is given to projects engaging Coles County youth. One application per cycle.

View & apply

Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: Up to $2K

Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants

From Nevada State Education Association Reach for the Stars

educator qualitycommunity engagementpolitical action+2 more

Who can apply: State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters are eligible to apply.

View & apply

Open nowCloses in 18 days (Oct 15, 2026)Award: $0 – $2K

Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants

From National Education Association of the United States

Educator qualityCommunity engagementPolitical action+2 more

Who can apply: State Aspiring Educators organizations and campus chapters are eligible to apply. Projects must primarily focus on an Aspiring Educators core value area.

View & apply

Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: Up to $5K

The Ron Matsko-Ensel Grant

From Biosophical Institute

Peace educationCharacter educationEthics+8 more

Who can apply: Open to educators serving pre-K through 12th grade. Projects may develop curriculum or create programs that strengthen peace and character education, explore ethics, advance cooperation and forgiveness, or foster spiritual development and mindfulness.

View & apply

Open nowCloses Oct 29, 2026Award: $10K – $50K

Impact Fund Recoverable Grants for Impact Litigation

From Impact Fund

economic justiceenvironmental justiceracial justice+5 more

Who can apply: Open to nonprofit organizations, solo practitioners, and small law firms involved in impact litigation. Preference for cases that have been filed or are about to be filed. Pro se litigants are not eligible. Applicants should need funding to keep the case moving forward. Environmental cases are prioritized when affected communities are directly involved or clearly benefited. Funds are for future out-of-pocket litigation expenses only, not attorneys' fees, staff time, or overhead. Recipient must agree to repay the original grant plus 7% simple interest if fees or costs are recovered.

View & apply

Want every open grant matched to your nonprofit — not just these? Kindora scores your fit and tracks the deadlines for you.

Find My Grant Matches

Deadlines and program details come from public sources and can change. Always confirm on the funder's official site before applying.

Largest Social Justice in Illinois Foundations

Foundation	Location	Annual Giving	Total Assets	Median Grant	NTEE	Scope
Our American Future Foundation	Washington, DC	$103.8M	$31.7M	$4.7M	R40	National
LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC	WASHINGTON, DC	$81.4M	$37.1M	$252K	R01	National
RESTORATION OF AMERICA	DOWNERS GROVE, IL	$55.2M	$14.6M	$500K	R11	National
ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS	CHICAGO, IL	$37.1M	$28.8M	$184K	R21Z	Local
AARP	Washington, DC	$35.8M	$13.1B	$15K	R25	National
DEMOCRACY MATTERS FOUNDATION	WASHINGTON, DC	$33.6M	$2.2M	$80K	R60	National
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC	NEW YORK, NY	$28.4M	$961.9M	$260K	R600	National
USAGING	WASHINGTON, DC	$21.6M	$11.4M	$86K	R99	National
WAY TO WIN ACTION FUND INC	WASHINGTON, DC	$17.6M	$1.5M	$100K	R01	National
PRIORITIES USA FOUNDATION	WASHINGTON, DC	$16.3M	$8M	$38K	R20	National
THE HEISING-SIMONS ACTION FUND	LOS ALTOS, CA	$16.2M	$2.7M	$200K	R11	National
ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING	WASHINGTON, DC	$16.1M	$8.7M	$93K	R40	National
MICHIGAN CIVIC ACTION FUND	MADISON HEIGHTS, MI	$14.4M	$1.4M	$100K	R40	Regional
CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK INC	SILVER SPRING, MD	$14.3M	$18.2M	$46K	R20	National
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND	WASHINGTON, DC	$13.3M	$40.1M	$39K	R200	National
MICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION FUND	MADISON HEIGHTS, MI	$12.1M	$2.8M	$49K	R40	Local
GILL FOUNDATION	DENVER, CO	$11.8M	$194.3M	$5K	R30	National
CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE INC	ORLANDO, FL	$11.1M	$64.3M	—	R20	National
Alliance Defending Freedom	Scottsdale, AZ	$10.5M	$112.2M	$25K	R600	National
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC	NEW YORK, NY	$10.4M	$242.8M	$95K	R20	National
ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES	CHICAGO, IL	$10.2M	$1.1M	$99K	R200	Local
NEO Philanthropy Action Fund	New York, NY	$10.2M	$11.1M	$63K	R99	National
THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION	WASHINGTON, DC	$9.1M	$77.9M	$100K	R22	National
BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC	Atlanta, GA	$8.6M	$13.6M	$10K	R02	Regional
WORKING FAMILIES ORGANIZATION INC	BROOKLYN, NY	$8.1M	$22.4M	$100K	R40	National

Our American Future Foundation

Washington, DC

Annual Giving

$103.8M

Total Assets

$31.7M

Median Grant

$4.7M

R40National

LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS INC

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$81.4M

Total Assets

$37.1M

Median Grant

$252K

R01National

RESTORATION OF AMERICA

DOWNERS GROVE, IL

Annual Giving

$55.2M

Total Assets

$14.6M

Median Grant

$500K

R11National

ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE RIGHTS

CHICAGO, IL

Annual Giving

$37.1M

Total Assets

$28.8M

Median Grant

$184K

R21ZLocal

AARP

Washington, DC

Annual Giving

$35.8M

Total Assets

$13.1B

Median Grant

$15K

R25National

DEMOCRACY MATTERS FOUNDATION

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$33.6M

Total Assets

$2.2M

Median Grant

$80K

R60National

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$28.4M

Total Assets

$961.9M

Median Grant

$260K

R600National

USAGING

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$21.6M

Total Assets

$11.4M

Median Grant

$86K

R99National

WAY TO WIN ACTION FUND INC

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$17.6M

Total Assets

$1.5M

Median Grant

$100K

R01National

PRIORITIES USA FOUNDATION

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$16.3M

Total Assets

$8M

Median Grant

$38K

R20National

THE HEISING-SIMONS ACTION FUND

LOS ALTOS, CA

Annual Giving

$16.2M

Total Assets

$2.7M

Median Grant

$200K

R11National

ALLIANCE FOR YOUTH ORGANIZING

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$16.1M

Total Assets

$8.7M

Median Grant

$93K

R40National

MICHIGAN CIVIC ACTION FUND

MADISON HEIGHTS, MI

Annual Giving

$14.4M

Total Assets

$1.4M

Median Grant

$100K

R40Regional

CATHOLIC LEGAL IMMIGRATION NETWORK INC

SILVER SPRING, MD

Annual Giving

$14.3M

Total Assets

$18.2M

Median Grant

$46K

R20National

CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$13.3M

Total Assets

$40.1M

Median Grant

$39K

R200National

MICHIGAN CIVIC EDUCATION FUND

MADISON HEIGHTS, MI

Annual Giving

$12.1M

Total Assets

$2.8M

Median Grant

$49K

R40Local

GILL FOUNDATION

DENVER, CO

Annual Giving

$11.8M

Total Assets

$194.3M

Median Grant

$5K

R30National

CLEAN SLATE INITIATIVE INC

ORLANDO, FL

Annual Giving

$11.1M

Total Assets

$64.3M

Median Grant

—

R20National

Alliance Defending Freedom

Scottsdale, AZ

Annual Giving

$10.5M

Total Assets

$112.2M

Median Grant

$25K

R600National

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION INC

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$10.4M

Total Assets

$242.8M

Median Grant

$95K

R20National

ILLINOIS ASSOCIATION OF COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES

CHICAGO, IL

Annual Giving

$10.2M

Total Assets

$1.1M

Median Grant

$99K

R200Local

NEO Philanthropy Action Fund

New York, NY

Annual Giving

$10.2M

Total Assets

$11.1M

Median Grant

$63K

R99National

THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$9.1M

Total Assets

$77.9M

Median Grant

$100K

R22National

BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE INC

Atlanta, GA

Annual Giving

$8.6M

Total Assets

$13.6M

Median Grant

$10K

R02Regional

WORKING FAMILIES ORGANIZATION INC

BROOKLYN, NY

Annual Giving

$8.1M

Total Assets

$22.4M

Median Grant

$100K

R40National

Social Justice grants by state

Browse social justice funders in other states.

Social Justice in California Social Justice in New York Social Justice in Texas

AI-Powered Grant Intelligence for Social Justice in Illinois

Fit Scores

See how well your nonprofit aligns with each social justice in illinois foundation's giving priorities, grantee profile, and geographic focus.

Application Tips

Get AI-generated guidance on how to approach each funder, including key talking points and proposal strategies.

Similar Funders

Discover foundations with similar giving patterns to expand your prospect list beyond the 143 social justice in illinois foundations.

Unlock AI-Powered Social Justice in Illinois Grant Intelligence

Get Started Free

Get the Full Picture on Social Justice in Illinois Foundations

Create a free Kindora account to unlock AI insights, detailed grant history, similar funders, and personalized matching for 143 social justice in illinois foundations.

Get Started Free View Pricing

Free plan available

No annual contracts

Cancel anytime

Social Justice Grants in Illinois

Open Grant Opportunities

Community Grants

Coles County Peace and Justice Fund

Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants

Aspiring Educators CREATE Grants

The Ron Matsko-Ensel Grant

Impact Fund Recoverable Grants for Impact Litigation

Largest Social Justice in Illinois Foundations

Social Justice grants by state

Unlock AI-Powered Social Justice in Illinois Grant Intelligence

Get the Full Picture on Social Justice in Illinois Foundations

The Grant Brief