The Reiman Foundation’s primary interests lie in supporting four types of endeavors — education, health care, the arts and children’s initiatives. Yet, these focus areas are continuously refined as conditions and opportunities change.

The AASL Innovative Reading Grant supports the planning and implementation of a unique and innovative program for K-9th learners which motivates and encourages reading, especially with struggling readers. Applicant must be a personal member of AASL.

Artstour & Live Music provides support to eligible Illinois not-for-profit organizations seeking to present Illinois performing artists, companies, or groups for performances, collaborations, or short residencies held in conjunction with performances. Grant requests for fiscal year 2023 are for activities occurring by August 31, 2023.

The Carnegie-Whitney Grant provides an award that is based on a special fund first established by Andrew Carnegie in 1902, “the income of which is to be applied to the preparation and publication of such reading lists, indexes and other bibliographical and library aids as will be especially useful in the circulating libraries of this country.” The Carnegie Fund was subsequently enhanced by a merger with a fund established by James Lyman Whitney in 1910.

In early 2020, Illinois Humanities launched a new micro-grants program, Activate History, in order to inspire and help enable those who have local collections of various kinds (archives, texts, photos, stories, etc) to explore creative ways for community members to become more engaged with them. I

These unrestricted funds empower growth and sustainability by providing recipients with more flexibility and freedom to allocate resources wherever they need them most.

First Book believes that education is the best way out of poverty for children in need. First Book aims to remove barriers to quality education for all kids by making everything from brand new books to school supplies, basic needs items, digital learning resources, and more – affordable to its member network of more than 550,000 educators who exclusively serve kids in need. First Book also works with dozens of corporate and nonprofit partners to help subsidize costs even further through special funding opportunities made available exclusively to members.

The Frances R. Dewing Foundation supports innovation in early childhood education. Emphasis is placed on new, untried, or unusual projects and programs that, if successful, could have a snowball or ripple effect benefiting the larger educational or local community. Generally, such projects and programs need seed money to develop and try new educational methods and tools. The foundation provides seed money through small grants, generally ranging from $1,000 to $25,000.

Eligibility Requirements

The T-Mobile Hometown Grants program funds projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. Projects should be shovel-ready, physical builds or improvements that can be completed within 12 months of receiving Hometown Grants funding.