SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - United Way of Central Illinois announced 21 grant recipients for the 2026-2029 Community Fund cycle.
More than $1.3 million will be committed annually across Sangamon and Menard counties, focusing on youth opportunity, financial security, community health, and community resiliency.
Programs were chosen from a pool of 35 applicants through a competitive review conducted by UWCIL's Vision Councils volunteer leaders.
$390,827 was given for youth opportunity. Grant partners include the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Illinois (Project Learn); Compass for Kids, Inc. (Camp Compass); Springfield Public Schools (Camp Kindergarten: Ready, Set, Go!); Springfield Urban League, Inc. (Jumpstart Academy); United Way of Central Illinois (Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library)
$234,200 will go to financial security. Grant partners include: Helping Hands of Springfield, Inc. (Representative Payee Program); Memorial Behavioral Health (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness); MERCY Communities, Inc. (Permanent Supportive Housing & Transitional Living Program); Senior Services of Central Illinois (Comprehensive Elder Assistance Services); Springfield Urban League (Financial Opportunity Center); Youth Services Bureau (Launchpad).
$300,000 will go to community resiliency efforts. Grant partners include: American Red Cross (Disaster Cycle Services); Catholic Charities (St. John’s Breadline); Contact Ministries (Women with Children in Crisis); Helping Hands of Springfield (Emergency Shelter); Mini O’Beirne Crisis Nursery (Crisis Nursery Emergency Childcare); Motherland Gardens (Youth Development and Community Education); Sojourn Shelter and Services (Adult and Children Shelter); Springfield Urban League (Rapid Intervention for Survivor Empowerment); United Way of Central Illinois (ALICE Emergency Fund; 211 Call Center).
$114,800 will go towards healthy community efforts. Grant partners include: Memorial Behavioral Health (MOSAIC); TASC (Adult Criminal Justice Services).
An additional $300,106 in donor-designated funds will be distributed to local 501(c)(3) agencies, bringing UWCIL’s total 2026–2027 community investment to $1,339,933.
Copyright 2026. WAND TV. All rights reserved.
