Entrepreneurs and small business owners are oftentimes faced with diverse
financial challenges because they have access to a limited source of funding,
unlike big businesses and corporations. And when a global economic challenge
as huge and critical as the one occasioned by the Covid-19 crisis, hits, there’s
hardly a snowball’s chance in hell for the survival of these businesses.

These small business owners need funds to keep the inventory running, maintain
the business cash flow by ensuring it never goes south, and sometimes, payment
of the staff. So in a situation that they can’t get a credit facility or other
convenient sources of funds, they would have no other option than to fold up.
Though they are a couple of funding options open to businesses, not all are
easily accessible or come with less burden.

This is why grants will always stand
as a monument of gold to all funds-seeking business people. Why? Because it’s
cash you don’t need to repay, which implies no revenue installments, no late
installments, and no way of losing any guarantee.

Accessing accurate information and getting it at the right time, is very important
to businesses and institutions alike. Needless to say that this is what
AfricanAmericanGrants.org offers to its readers, and many other
complementary services to boost and help your application.

You may also want to check out our list of grants for African American women
and men starting their businesses in 2023.

Applying For Grant in Illinois

There are numerous grant opportunities out there for residents of Illinois,
however, we curated a few of them, covering small business, entrepreneur, and
nonprofit grant opportunities. So let’s get started!

Grants and Loans to Illinois and Georgia Organizations and
Entrepreneurs to Improve Health Equity for Local Residents
(Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund)

Description

Grants and loans to Illinois and Georgia are designed for both entrepreneurs and
organizations in eligible locations to improve health equity for local residents.
Funding is basically meant to assist community-based initiatives in order to
broaden access to nutritious food. Only proposals that are designed to benefit
residents of Atlanta, Georgia, or the greater Chicagoland area, Illinois will be
considered as eligible.

AHA’s Bernard J. Tyson Impact Fund is a national fund that focuses on local
investment, providing support and investing in evidence-based, locally-led
solutions that serve as a panacea to the social and economic barriers to health
equity.

Both grants and loans will be provided by the American Heart Association so as
to promote innovative, community-based solutions that increase access to both
cheap and healthy food in under-resourced communities and/or food deserts
within the Atlanta or Chicago area.
.
Funding Source: American Heart Association
Conf. Date: 05/13/21
Deadline Date: 06/13/21
Eligibility: See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility
Additional Eligibility: This Fund is specially designed for social entrepreneurs
and nonprofits that serve communities in Atlanta or Chicago.

Pre-proposal Conference:
Atlanta: Entrepreneurs and other organizations are invited to register for a virtual
town hall on May 12 to learn more about the funding opportunities and how to
submit an expression of interest.

To Register:
https://heart.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpdeGpqDIuGNWwdjCsQn4UC46Yvg5
0yNQo
Chicago: Entrepreneurs and other organizations are invited to register for a
virtual town hall on May 13 to learn more about the funding opportunities and
how to submit an expression of interest.

To Register:

https://heart.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAuce2opzsiEtyURYhe-
iULGv51OwXkl-xF
Pre-Application Information:
Submission window: April 26 – June 4
Contact: For inquiries, contact BJTImpactFund@heart.org.
AHA National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231
1-800-242-8721
Full Text: See the full text of this grant

Geographic Focus:
USA: Georgia: Atlanta; Illinois: Greater Chicagoland area
Click Here to Submit an Expression of Interest

Grants to Illinois Small Businesses in Eligible Locations for
Support During the COVID-19 Health Crisis (Small Business Grant)

Description
This grant offers up to $5,000 to Illinois small businesses in eligible locations in
order to provide support during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. Funding
is designed to help applicants experiencing closures, limited operations, and
fewer sales as a result of the pandemic. Locations for eligible businesses must
be within the municipal boundaries of Antioch.

The main purpose of this grant program is to assist in sustaining the business
community and keep it vibrant amid covid-19 periodic shutdowns and
restrictions imposed by the state government orders and the orders of the state
and county health departments.

Funding Source: Village of Antioch
Deadline Date: 05/28/21 4:00 PM
Estimated Size of Grant: Maximum grant of $5,000

Eligibility: See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility

Additional Eligibility: The Village Board created the “Small Business Grant
program” with a set of preconditions that would provide small businesses, retail,
hair salons, spas, or restaurants, with grants. Here are basic pre-conditions
required:

Small business with 25 or fewer employees.
Located within the municipal boundaries of Antioch.
A restaurant, coffee shop, retail shop and hair salon, barber, nail salon, spa,
yoga, dance studio,
With annual sales of less than $500,000 per year.
For-profit business with FEIN number.
Experienced reduced operations or completely closed down because of
government orders, public health guidelines, or reduced patronage due to the
Covid-19 crisis.
Home-based businesses not eligible
Service businesses, including professional offices not eligible.
National chains not eligible.
All local taxes must be current.
Independently owned and operated business.
Have experienced reduced sales since March 21, 2020.
Businesses that are currently not in bankruptcy court.
Also, applicants must demonstrate any of these three criteria to qualify for the
loan program:
(i) An annual fall of up to 20% in gross sales in 2020 from the previous year.
(ii) Gross sales fall by 15% in any quarter in 2020 compared to the same quarter
in 2019.
(iii) Can prove that they generated a positive net income in 2019 and recorded a
business loss in 2020.
Pre-Application Information:
The Village Board has extended the “Small Business Grant” program to a new deadline
of May 28, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
Contact: The application and applicable documents must be submitted to the
Village Hall dropbox, 874 Main Street, Antioch, Illinois.

Also, submit questions to Michael Garrigan at mgarrigan@antioch.il.gov.
Full Text: See the full text of this grant

Geographic Focus: USA: Illinois: Antioch

Grants and In-kind Assistance to US Small Businesses to Support
Business Expansion (Small Business Grant)

Description
This program comprises grants and in-kind assistance provided to US
businesses to promote business expansion. So the funding is intended to help
small business owners build and expand their businesses. Applicants are
expected to describe how they overcame a previous business challenge or how
they are tackling a current challenge. These grant funds are expected to produce
a grand prize winner and a runner-up. Additionally, all the finalists will also
receive a free year of Nav Business Boost.

Funding Source: Nav
Deadline Date: 05/31/21
Estimated Size of Grant: Grand Prize: $10,000, Runner-Up: $5,000

Eligibility: See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility

Additional Eligibility:
(i) Small businesses in the United States can apply.

(ii) Participants must be 18 years and above, also have a U.S.-based billing
address.
Pre-Application Information:

Timeline:

April 29: Grant round opens
May 31: Grant round closes
June 2: Voting closes
June 2023: Winner announced

Application Process:

Be a Nav customer or just sign up for a free Nav account.
Fill out the form at the URL for the Full Text (RFP) link, below.
Post on your business’s Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram account (to avoid
being disqualified don’t use a story as your entry post). Remember to Include

Small Business Grants

What your business is about
State a challenge your business has overcome in the past and a current
challenge it still faces
Demonstrate how the grant funds will help you overcome your challenge while
providing a detailed explanation of how you plan to use the prize money
Share your unique voting link from step 2 in your post (or with your link in bio for
Instagram) and galvanize your followers and customers to vote for your
business. Note that Individuals can only vote once for a business during each
grant round.

Continue to encourage your followers and customers to vote for your business
with your unique voting link. These votes are very important because they will be
used to narrow down the top 200 businesses. Social media posts of the top 200

businesses will be reviewed and Nav will verify that they have created a Nav
account to choose the finalists. Note, voting closes June 2nd, 2023.

You will receive an email confirmation immediately after you completed the
processes, letting you know that Nav has received your application and providing
your unique voting link.

June 2023: Selecting & Notifying Finalists

After the grant submission & voting period has elapsed, 5 finalists will be
selected from the 200 businesses that made it to the top with the highest
number of votes. If you are selected as a finalist, Nav’s team will contact you
through a call to share more about your business.
Contact: After you submit your application, you will receive an email that will
contain your unique voting link. If you do not receive an email within 24 hours,
please email grants@nav.com.
If you’re having trouble signing up for a Nav account, please give the customer
support team a call at 855-226-8388.
Nav
13693 South 200 West, Suite 200,
Draper, UT 84020
Also, submit questions to Michael Garrigan at mgarrigan@antioch.il.gov.

Full Text: See the full text of this grant
Geographic Focus: USA: Alabama; Alaska; Arizona; Arkansas; California;
Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Idaho; Illinois;
Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maine; Maryland;
Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana;

Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New Mexico; New York
City; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon;
Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee;
Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington, DC; Washington; West
Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming

Click Here to Apply Now!

Grants to Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin Nonprofits and Individuals
to Improve Personal and Financial Well-Being (Dupaco R.W. Hoefer
Foundation Grant)

Description
These Grants are to nonprofit organizations and individuals in Illinois, Iowa, and
Wisconsin to help improve personal and financial well-being. Funding may be
used for a variety of purposes, including scholarships for higher education,
support to needy families, and assistance to individuals undergoing financial
emergencies. The Foundation also provides voluntary grants to Dupaco
members residing anywhere.

Grants will be primarily determined by the Foundation Board of Directors based
on the applicant’s need. These grants can be offered for a multitude of purposes,
including:

The encouragement and promotion of education through grants and by
providing scholarship funds for the opportunity to obtain an education;
The encouragement and promotion of charity by providing financial
support to meet the financial obligations of needy families;
By providing funds to meet the health requirements of needy children and
adults; and
By providing funds to individuals facing financial emergencies and
difficulties occasioned by health, weather, storm, fire, earthquake, or other
catastrophic events.

Funding Source: Dupaco R.W. Hoefer Foundation
Deadline Date: 11/01/21
Eligibility: See RFP and/or Grant Guidelines for full eligibility

Additional Eligibility:
The Foundation provides voluntary grants to Dupaco members residing anywhere, non-
members residing in the states of Illinois, Iowa, or Wisconsin, and 501(c)3 organizations
within the states of Illinois, Iowa, or Wisconsin.
Pre-Application Information:
Annual grants application and awards timeline:

May 1: Deadline for submission of grant applications for June awards
June 15: Notification for June award cycle
November 1: Deadline for submission of grant applications for December
awards
December 15: Notification for December award cycle
Meanwhile, grant requests can be made at any time. It’s within the exclusive
preserve of the Foundation Board of Directors to determine the frequency of the
grand awards, based on urgency, timing, and the volume of applications.

Contact: For questions, please contact the Foundation via email at
foundation@dupaco.com.
Dupaco Community Credit Union
P.O. Box 179
Dubuque, IA 52004-0179

Full Text: See the full text of this grant
Geographic Focus: USA: Illinois; Iowa; Wisconsin