Applications are now being accepted for the 2026 Impact Central Illinois Grant.
Donor Name: Impact Central Illinois
State: Illinois
County: Peoria County (IL), Peoria County (IL), Tazewell County (IL), Tazewell County (IL), Woodford County (IL), Woodford County (IL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/02/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Impact Central Illinois is a collective women’s giving organization which combines annual $1,100 donations from members to give high-impact grants to local, worthy causes selected and voted on by members. In June 2026, Impact Central Illinois will again award two Impact grants at $115,000 each, one Ignite grant at $75,000 and one Inspire grant for $25,000. All amounts are subject to change as membership finalizes.
The goal is to fund proposals submitted by Highly Capable Organizations addressing Measurable Needs in community with Innovative Solutions.
IMPACT Grant Focus Areas
Impact Central Illinois will accept IMPACT grant proposals in the following two focus areas. All IMPACT grant applicants must select one appropriate focus area when submitting their proposal. IGNITE and INSPIRE grant proposals are not split into focus areas for review.
Community Wellness & Stability: Empowering the health, stability, and basic needs of community. This category supports projects that foster individual and community well-being by addressing:
- Mental & physical health
- Addiction recovery & therapeutic support
- Healthcare access & advocacy
- Environmental, public health, & animal welfare
- Recreational opportunities & public safety
- Affordable housing
- Homelessness & eviction prevention
- Domestic violence, foster care, and crisis intervention
- Hunger relief & food security
- Recidivism prevention and support
Education & Opportunity: Investing in the potential of individuals through education, development, and community connection.
This category supports projects that help people learn, grow, and lead by addressing:
- Early childhood development & childcare
- K–12 and postsecondary educational outcomes
- Youth development
- Career readiness & job training
- Civic engagement & community leadership
- Cultural & arts advancement
Funding Information
Impact Central Illinois offers three grant categories.
- Impact Grant: Reserved for nonprofits with total revenue greater than $1,500,000 in
the previous fiscal year. These grants are evaluated in one of two focus areas:
Community Wellness & Stability and Education & Opportunity. The goal is to award two
$115,000 IMPACT Grants annually, one in each of the two focus areas. - Ignite Grant: Reserved for nonprofits with total revenue between $300,000 and
$1,500,000 in the previous fiscal year. The goal is to award one $75,000 IGNITE Grant
annually. - Inspire Grant: Reserved for nonprofits with total revenue less than $300,000 in the
previous fiscal year. The goal is to award one $25,000 INSPIRE Grant annually.
Project Period
The Impact Central Illinois funding cycle runs from July 1st of one calendar year through June 30th of the following calendar year.
Eligibility Criteria
As part of grant application process, all nonprofits need to provide:
- An IRS 501(c)(3) status approval letter and have held 501(c)(3) classification for a minimum of three years
- A CO-1 registration form (required to register a charity with the Illinois Attorney General’s office) or Proof of Good Standing (from IL Secretary of State)
- The last three fiscal years of 990 tax filings. Note: If your organization is not required to file a 990 with the IRS, and they have not done so voluntarily, then require them to complete the ICI Financial Review template, which captures information from their Statements of Activity and Balance Sheets from the prior 3 years. The treasurer or president must sign the template affirming that the data is true and accurate. 990 EZ, 990-N or 990-PF are not accepted.
- Most recent audit by an independent CPA, if an audit is required.
All applicants must:
- Outline a proposed project/program that supports social outreach and/or charitable service, which benefits the community at large
- Provide services in Peoria, Tazewell, and/or Woodford counties, Illinois.
- Expend the awarded grant funds within a 24-month time period. Any unused grant funds will be forfeited after 24 months.
Other stipulations
- An organization that has received any Impact Central Illinois grant may not reapply in the following two years, ie, two full grant cycles.
- Collaborations among two or more nonprofits must identify one lead organization to submit the grant application. The leading nonprofit must demonstrate a significant role in the execution of the program and is responsible for the submission of all required documentation, including all financial documentation.
For more information, visit Impact Central Illinois.
