Our Charity Directory is a list of charities that includes charitable organizations that have either received funding from Investing In Communities or are active in some way on our platform. Our list is organized alphabetically, for funded members, and then alphabetically for members who haven’t received funding yet. Numeric listings following alphabetical listings in the funded and unfunded listings. Choose a charity from the list to donate to or invite a charity to join IIC. Virtually any nonprofit charity with 501c3 status can join Investing In Communities.
Received to Date $3972
Alliance for the Great Lakes
The mission of the Alliance for the Great Lakes is to: "conserve and restore the world's largest freshwater resource using policy, education and local efforts, ensuring a healthy Great Lakes and clean water for generations of people and wildlife."
Received to Date $9905
Ascend Justice
Ascend Justice will provide holistic legal advocacy and systemic reform, with a focus on gender-based violence and the child welfare system. Through our advocacy, we will empower individuals and families and help them feel hopeful, confident, and joyful about their futures. We are excited about what Ascend Justice will accomplish. We will continue working every day to meet the needs of individuals and families impacted by gender-based violence or the child welfare system, and we will use our clients’ experiences to drive much-needed systems change. We hope that with Ascend Justice, we will be able to empower individuals and families to access justice and transform their lives for years to come.
Received to Date $1320.00
Barnabas Ministries
Barnabas Ministries reaches high-risk youth and families with the freedom, hope, and healing of Jesus Christ through mentoring, sports, life skills, academic advocacy, and homeless youth services.
Received to Date $1000.00
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation
To eliminate pediatric cancer and to provide hope and support to those who are touched by it.
Received to Date $1315.00
Beautiful Response
Beautiful Response partners with nationals in developing countries to provide financial and organizational support. Currently, we are empowering a grassroots organization in Uganda to provide for 200 orphaned and vulnerable children.
Received to Date $270.00
Benjamin’s Hope
Benjamin's Hope is a "live, work, play, worship" organization designed to address the multifaceted needs of adult individuals and families affected by autism and other intellectual and developmental differences. Founded in 2007, Benjamin's Hope has grown to serve 26 men and women through our residential and weekday engagement programs, plus hundreds of individuals from the community through our outreach and worship activities. Benjamin's Hope is a debt-free registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and operates as a thriving example of public and private partnership.
Received to Date $1175.00
Boy Scouts of America Northeast Council
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Received to Date $1951.00
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holland
Our vision is to provide a world-class Club experience within the reach of every young person in Greater Holland, with each member on-track to graduate from high-school with a plan for their future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.
Received to Date $1115.00
Bright Promises Foundation
Bright Promises Foundation (BPF) creates opportunities for at-risk Illinois children to reach their full promise and potential. Through research and discussion with leading children's experts, BPF determines the most critical needs of youth that are currently under-recognized and underfunded. We work with organizations to develop and deliver programs that provide the basis for positive lives and brighter futures.
Received to Date $500.00
buildOn
buildon's mission is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. With your support, we are breaking the cycle every day through after school service programs in some of the nation's toughest high schools and by building schools in some of the world's poorest countries. We have service programs in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Detroit and the Bay Area in California.
Received to Date $2736.00
Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Now a part of Cabrini Green Legal Aid, Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers provides legal and educational services to maintain the bonds between imprisoned mothers and their children. CLAIM advocates for policies and programs that benefit families of imprisoned mothers and reduce incarceration of women and girls. CGLA was established in 1973 to serve legal needs arising from the lack of opportunity, criminalization of poverty, and racial inequity experienced within the Cabrini Green community. Since then, CGLA has grown beyond a single neighborhood to become a citywide, countywide, and now recognized statewide leader in supporting low-income individuals negatively impacted by the criminal justice system. Any engagement with the criminal justice system can greatly disrupt an individual, family, and community’s quality of life. For this reason, our mission is to seek justice and mercy for those living in poverty by providing legal services that strengthen individual lives, families, and communities. We aim to proactively fill the void of legal representation, wraparound services, and advocacy for individuals affected by the criminal justice system.
Received to Date $1166.00
Camp Beechpoint Inc
Camp Beechpoint seeks to reach urban and under-resourced youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through a quality camp experience.
Received to Date $5753.00
CARPLS
CARPLS provides legal assistance to Cook County residents who have no other access to an attorney for brief legal services. CARPLS provides these services over our legal aid hotline and at four court-based advice desks.
Received to Date $2725.00
CASA – Children’s After School Achievement
CASA is an after-school program that builds academic and social competence in at-risk elementary school children in Holland Michigan. The organization provides free one-on-one tutoring and enrichment and individualized summer school sessions.
Received to Date $2500.00
Center of Excellence in Maternal and Child Health
Since 1988, the Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition has been fighting to improve the health of all women, babies, young people and families in Illinois. As an organization, we bridge the gap between policy makers and those affected by their decisions. Through education, we empower people to make healthy choices that strengthen families and communities.
Received to Date $3496.00
Centro San Bonifacio
Centro San Bonifacio's (CSB) mission is to promote personal and collective self-development within the immigrant Hispanic community through concrete projects based on needs related to health, education, solidarity and human rights.
Received to Date $1000.00
Changing Worlds
Changing Worlds' mission is to foster inclusive communities through oral history, writing and art programs that improve student learning, affirm identity and enhance cross-cultural understanding. Our unique programming approach integrates cultural, family and community histories with writing and the arts to help participants explore their own backgrounds, promote peace and learn about others while strengthening their academic and arts learning skills. We work toward our mission through separate yet interconnected program areas that include: *In-School and After-School Partnerships *Teacher Professional Development workshops, seminars and institutes *Community Outreach Initiatives such as traveling exhibits, short-term programs, collaborative partnerships and special events
Received to Date $2500.00
Chicago Bilingual Nurse Consortium
Our mission is to increase the number of internationally educated nurses available for practice as bilingual, bicultural nurses in metropolitan Chicago and surrounding communities through advocacy, education, and supportive services. Our current focus is to prepare internationally educated Hispanic/Latino nurses to achieve licensure in Illinois. Our goals are to:
- Provide educational programs for immigrant nurses to assist them in becoming registered nurses in the U.S.
- Help to develop a cadre of bilingual, bicultural nurses to address the healthcare needs of our large multi-cultural populations.
- Provide job opportunities for women. The majority of our nurses (98%) are women. Once they achieve RN licensure, they serve as role models for their families and communities. They also earn a salary of $60,000 a year or more.
Received to Date $7041
Chicago Community Loan Fund
Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) supports community development organizations throughout metropolitan Chicago, especially emerging, small and midsize community developers. We provide low-cost, flexible financing and hands-on technical assistance for affordable housing, social service and economic development initiatives that benefit low to moderate income neighborhoods and families.
Received to Date $745
Chicago Jobs Council
Chicago Jobs Council moves people out of poverty through employment using on-the-ground expertise, advocacy, and capacity building. Our vision is that all people, regardless of where they start or where they've been, can access employment as a pathway out of poverty.
Received to Date $14320.00
Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights
The Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Inc. is the public interest law consortium of Chicago's leading law firms. Our mission is to protect and promote civil rights by bringing the strength and prestige of the private bar to bear on the problems of poverty and discrimination. The Chicago Lawyers' Committee champions equal justice and community development for underrepresented people by partnering with volunteer lawyers to provide pro bono litigation and transactional representation.
Received to Date $500.00
Chicago Volunteer Legal Services
To coordinate, promote and support the involvement of the legal community in the voluntary pro bono representation of individual clients from the ranks of the Chicago area's poor and working poor. Serving the working poor, one client at a time.
Received to Date $2158.00
Children’s Advocacy Center of Ottawa County
We provide investigation and supportive services to child victims of sexual abuse at NO COST to the families. Services provided include Forensic Interview, Forensic Medical Exams, Counseling, Support Groups, and Court Preparation and Advocacy.
Received to Date $4464.00
ChildServ
ChildServ's mission is to help Chicagoland's at-risk children and families build, achieve and sustain better lives. All of ChildServ's programs are driven by our four mission tenets to: prevent conditions in which children, youth, and families are placed at risk; intervene early so children and youth are removed from crisis situations and placed in a nurturing environment; educate children and youth so they become self-reliant; and advocate to influence legislation and social and educational policies directed at meeting the needs of children and families.
Received to Date $495.00
Christian Reformed Conference Grounds
We believe that families need year-round facilities which promote spiritual welfare as well as their physical health and happiness. Our goal is to maintain and operate a family ministry center for spiritual renewal, with camping, lodging, recreation, and food service al in an atmosphere of Christian fellowship.
Received to Date $2313.00
Circle of Parents
Circle of Parents is a nationwide, nonprofit movement of mutual support self-help groups designed to give parents the opportunity to learn from and support one another in the important job of raising their children. Led by parents with the help of a trained facilitator, the weekly groups reduce the isolation and lack of support many parents feel, while strengthening families, improving child development, and preventing child abuse and neglect. Circle of Parents groups are open and free to everyone through 26 statewide and regional organizations in 25 states.
Received to Date $21346
Citizens Utility Board of Illinois
Consumer advocacy on telecom and energy issues.
Received to Date $4192.75
Community Action House
For over 40 years Community Action House has been helping end poverty and promoting community through individual empowerment. Community Action House is an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Our Mission is to provide area families and individuals with food, clothing, shelter and the opportunity to build the necessary skills to achieve a stable and prosperous life.
Received to Date $1804.00
Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area
The mission of the Community Foundation of the Holland/Zeeland Area is to create lasting positive change. We work to build a permanent community endowment to support high impact charitable projects, to help donors achieve their charitable goals and to lead and partner in community level initiatives.
Received to Date $17154
Community Organizing and Family Issues COFI
Our mission is to strengthen the power and voice of low-income and working families at all levels of civic life from local institutions and communities to the city and state policy arenas. COFI helps to build family-supportive communities by developing parents' capacities to lead and to improve their lives, strengthen their families and better their communities.
Received to Date $17108.00
Community Shares of Illinois
Community Shares of Illinois represents a diverse group of charities with a common mission, to make our world a better place. Whatever your passion - women's issues, protecting children, helping animals, preserving the environment, promoting health care or curbing poverty and disease - Community Shares members provide options for you to help make positive change in your own community.
Received to Date $885.00
CultureWorks
CultureWorks is a faith-inspired art and design academy, offering free and subsidized classes to middle school and high school students of all backgrounds.
Received to Date $17443.00
Delta Institute
The Delta Institute is forging the way toward a green economy by focusing on market-based approaches that yield environmental, social, and community benefits. By funding, developing, and implementing on-the-ground programs that address a variety of green impact areas, Delta Institute is providing demonstrations of solutions that can be scaled up and throughout the economy. Impact areas include green buildings, carbon credits, brownfields, sustainable manufacturing, urban food and agricultural systems, green purchasing, green-collar jobs, and solid waste systems. They bring together public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders to work toward the three primary objectives of: The organization’s capabilities include: The Delta Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that harnesses the energy and innovation of business and markets in ways that will have positive impacts for people, their communities, and the environment. Their work is funded by public and private grants, individual donors, and consulting revenue.
disrupting the energy status quo, catalyzing ecosystem stewardship, and transforming waste from liability to asset.
Designing programs for business and residential sectors as well as workforce development.
Land management strategies which include green infrastructure, brownfield redevelopment, phytoremediation of industrial sites, and coal community transitioning.
Researching market dynamics, including sustainable markets, waste benchmarking, energy benchmarking, and agricultural conservation, to lay the foundation for future initiatives.
Facilitating regional and community stakeholders to establish communication, relationships and focus needed to more fully surface the issues and opportunities to address the challenge that unifies them.
Received to Date $543.30
Doulos Ministries
Educating and equipping servant leaders through Christian discipleship and expeditionary learning to impact the Dominican Republic
Received to Date $8111.00
Dreams for Kids
To empower at-risk youth and those with disabilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities that inspires them to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world.
Received to Date $3614.00
Eighth Day Farm
Eighth Day Farm uses its urban fields as classrooms for teaching agricultural knowledge and growing good produce for the community.
Received to Date $791.00
Environmental Law & Policy Center
The Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) is the Midwest's leading public interest environmental legal advocacy and eco-business innovation organization. We develop and lead successful strategic environmental advocacy campaigns to protect our natural resources and improve environmental quality. We are public interest environmental entrepreneurs who engage in creative business deal-making with diverse interests to put into practice our belief that environmental progress and economic development can be achieved together.
Received to Date $1141.00
Feed the Hungry San Miguel
Feed the Hungry is committed to the health and well-being of disadvantaged children in the San Miguel de Allende Community. We alleviate hunger through school meals, nutritional family education, and affiliated programs. We provide nutrition education to primary school children, teachers, and the mothers of the children that we serve. Children must be in school to receive the meals that we serve every school day. We provide a hot well-balanced meal to 4,000 disadvantaged kinder and primary school children every school day, and we partner with another non-profit to bring regular dental care to the children we serve in remote communities surrounding San Miguel. Furthermore, we provide one on one family nutritional counseling and nutrition and hygiene workshops for mothers of the children we serve and provide jobs with benefits for 60 women (cooks) in 27 school kitchens in rural and marginal communities in San Miguel de Allende.
Received to Date $360.00
First Hand Aid
TO GATHER AND DISTRIBUTE HUMANITARIAN AND MEDICAL AID TO THE MOST MARGINALIZED CUBANS GIVING THEM HOPE, DIGNITY AND THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE AND HEALTH.
Received to Date $1000.00
Forefront
Forefront is the premier resource for networking and education, information and knowledge, and leadership and advocacy on behalf of philanthropy in Illinois. As a membership association of grantmakers, nonprofits, and advisors, Donors Forum serves its constituents by promoting an effective and informed philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Forefront provides capacity-building, e.g. support and help with fundraising, governance, operations, policy advocacy.
Received to Date $4869.00
Good Samaritan Ministries
Lasting change happens when we empower people to work their way out of poverty. At Good Samaritan Ministries, we operate a variety of programs that further our mission to end poverty and homelessness in our community.
Received to Date $750.00
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community.
Received to Date $1353
Greater Ottawa County United Way
Greater Ottawa County United Way supports, develops, and implements a range of impact solutions that improve lives and create stronger communities.
Received to Date $1687.00
Harbor Humane Society
Harbor Humane Society was founded in 1956 as Ottawa Shores Humane Society. Harbor Humane Society’s mission is to provide a safe harbor for animals entrusted to our care as we strive to secure their future through our outreach and educational programs. We proudly maintain the highest standards of care for each individual animal that comes through our door. Harbor Humane Society is primarily funded through generous donors and a government contract with Ottawa County. As Ottawa County’s only animal shelter Harbor Humane Society plays an essential in our community.
Received to Date $1723.00
Headin’ Home Pet Rescue
Non-Profit all breed animal rescue. We focus a lot on puppy mill rescue.
Received to Date $8594.00
Health and Medicine Policy Research Group
HMPRG is a nonprofit center whose mission is to challenge health and healthcare inequities through policy formulation, advocacy, collaboration and health systems development in order to promote social justice in health and improve the health status of Illinois residents.
Received to Date $10300
HealthConnect One
HealthConnect One (HC One), formerly Chicago Health Connection, is a nationally recognized nonprofit training and technical assistance agency that uses innovative, community-based approaches to support direct-service providers in promoting the health of mothers, infants, and families.The organization trains community health workers, develops community-based initiatives, and mobilizes diverse stakeholders to build for policies and programs that improve maternal and child health.Since 1986, HC One has trained thousands of parents, community health workers and direct service providers to promote breastfeeding, provide pregnancy and birthing support, and prevent infant mortality, with significant documented results.In addition, HC One assists organizations in developing and implementing innovative, research-based initiatives that directly impact health disparities, including breastfeeding peer counselor and community-based doula programs.
Received to Date $4000.00
Hesed House
Hesed House's mission is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless and give people the chance to hope again. Hesed House is a national model for ending homelessness - one person, one family at a time. It is the culmination of nearly three decades of strategic evolution from a formerly acceptable model of "eats and sheets" to a Comprehensive Homeless Resource Center - a campus of centralized highly skilled professionals collaborating to provide the tools necessary to help individuals and families break free of the shackles binding them to homelessness.
Received to Date $831.00
Holland Area Arts Council
The Holland Area Arts Council provides arts advocacy in the greater Holland community, inspiring people of all ages and backgrounds to explore and experience the arts. We focus on three main areas to achieve our mission: to engage, educate and challenge the community through the arts: art and cultural education, community involvement and high quality arts programming.
Received to Date $2707.00
Holland Free Health Clinic
The Mission of the Holland Free Health Clinic is to express the healing ministry of Jesus Christ by facilitating access to health care for those in need in the Holland-Zeeland community with professional excellence and Christian integrity.
Received to Date $6393
Holland Rescue Mission
Holland Rescue Mission is a non-profit organization that seeks to meet the immediate and long-term needs of the homeless.
Received to Date $5322.00
Homecor
Homecor enhances Holland, Michigan's central city neighborhoods by providing grants to homeowners who are seeking to improve their homes.
Received to Date $1447.00
Hope for Grieving Children-Africa
Hope for Grieving Children Africa is a faith based organization committed to working with pastors, families, orphans, and leaders in the community to help orphaned children reach their full potential by addressing the many symptoms of grief they experience due to parental loss. We are called to help relieve the suffering and improve the well being of children in many regions of Africa.
Received to Date $79.00
Hope for the Day
Hope For The Day is a non-profit movement committed to educating youth utilizing music and the arts as a defense mechanism to prevent suicide. Our alternative approach strives to offer education, prevention and hope through creative expression.
Received to Date $3955.00
Housing Action Illinois
Housing Action Illinois works to increase and preserve the supply of decent, affordable, and accessible housing for low- and moderate-income households in Illinois through 3 program areas: Public Policy Advocacy; Public Education and Organizing; and Training and Technical Assistance.
Received to Date $7664.00
Housing Choice Partners of Illinois, Inc.
To help break the cycle of intergenerational poverty and promote racial and economic diversity in housing.
Received to Date $920.00
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights ICIRR
ICIRR is a member led organization that educates and organizes immigrant and refugee communities to assert their rights; promotes citizenship and civic participation; monitors, analyzes, and advocates on immigrant-related issues; and informs the general public about the contributions of immigrants and refugees.
Received to Date $1052.00
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence
The Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence (ICHV) is the oldest and largest statewide organization in the U.S. working to prevent the devastation caused by firearms. Founded in 1975 by four suburban Chicago women concerned about the tragic consequences of handgun proliferation and availability, ICHV works on a variety of fronts to educate, raise public awareness, and build coalitions to enact change in laws and behavior. For 37 years, ICHV has been a leader among state gun violence prevention groups.
Received to Date $4531
Illinois Legal Aid Online
To increase access to justice for lower-income and vulnerable Illinois residents through the innovative use of technology to assist and educate the public and to train and support legal aid providers and pro bono attorneys.
Received to Date $1037.00
Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
The Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) is a non-partisan and tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization established in 2002 with three important goals: To empower Illinois Latinos and increase access to federal, state and community programs in critically important areas; To provide college scholarships for young Latino men and women who need assistance to further their education; and To support research and the widespread distribution of policy reports through the Illinois Latino Public Policy Institute. The Foundation’s Board of Directors includes members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus and others from Illinois Latino communities.
Received to Date $1750
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance
The mission of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance (the Alliance) is to promote safety, support and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, in Illinois schools and communities, through advocacy, education, youth organizing and research.
Received to Date $2911
Journey Center of Chicago
JOURNEY CENTER OF CHICAGO is a safe, welcoming place for all, a place where
one can be genuinely heard and valued, and a place to experience healing, wholeness, and
a deeper awareness of God. We offer services and workshops related to body, mind, and
soul for that purpose.
Received to Date $8284.00
Jubilee Ministries
We “Rebuild, Restore and Renew” lives that are broken and caught in cycles of addiction, incarceration or homelessness.
Received to Date $6905.00
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is committed to conserving land, water and wildlife of the Lower Kennebec Estuary. We are a community based membership organization serving the Maine towns of Arrowsic, Bath, Bowdoinham, Dresden, West Bath, Georgetown, Westport Island and Woolwich.
Received to Date $387.00
Kids Hope USA
Kids Hope USA is a mentoring model that mobilizes and empowers the church to engage their members in on-going I-believe-in-you relationships with at-risk students at the local public elementary school. KIDS HOPE USA builds caring relationships… one child, one hour, one church, one school.
Received to Date $3595
Kids’ Food Basket
Kids' Food Basket seeks to empower communities to attack childhood hunger.
Received to Date $1000.00
KIPP Chicago
Our mission is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and character traits necessary to succeed in top-quality high schools and universities, and have a positive impact on their communities. KIPP Ascend Charter School is a tuition-free, college-preparatory school located in the North Lawndale community on Chicago's West Side. As a charter school, we offer free, public education to any student who lives in the city of Chicago.
Received to Date $8728
Ladder Up
The Center for Economic Progress helps hard-working, low-income families move from financial uncertainty to financial security. Local in service but national in voice, we achieve our mission in three ways: 1) we provide trusted tax and financial counseling, giving Illinois families the tools to make sound choices, 2) we lead a national coalition of organizations that promote economic progress for low-wage workers and their families and 3) we advance policies and practices to create a financial system that works for all.
Received to Date $1175.00
Lake Forest Open Lands Association
Lake Forest Open Lands Association is dedicated to conserving our natural environment through land acquisition, habitat restoration, environmental education and conservation advocacy.
Received to Date $15881
Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois
To contribute funds for providing civil legal assistance to the poor throughout Illinois and for such other programs for the benefit of the public as are specifically approved by the Supreme Court of Illinois for exclusively public purposes.
Received to Date $873.00
League of Chicago Theatres
The League of Chicago Theatres is an alliance of theaters that leverages its collective strength to promote, support and advocate for Chicago's theater industry locally, nationally, and internationally.
Received to Date $1764.50
Lighthouse Immigrant Advocates
While most nonprofit immigration law offices focus exclusively on legal services, Lighthouse offers a unique service model that provides holistic case management, advocacy, education, and outreach, in addition to legal services at a low cost.