Illinois Welcoming Center
Funds Illinois nonprofits to deliver comprehensive, culturally appropriate services and capacity-building for immigrants and refugees through the Welcoming Center program.
Funder: Illinois Department of Human Services
Due Dates (Anticipated): April 2027: Technical Assistance session RSVP | April 2027: Submit questions for NOFO/FAQs | April 2027: Letter of Intent/Preliminary submission | April 2027: Full application deadline | May 2027: Final full application deadline
Funding Amounts: Estimated $23–25 million total program funding per year; individual awards based on $800 per client/household for direct service; recent awards range from ~$700,000–$1.5 million/year.
Summary: Supports nonprofit organizations in Illinois to provide comprehensive services and capacity-building for immigrants and refugees, fostering integration and well-being.
Key Information: This is a forecasted opportunity—dates and details may shift; applicants must be prequalified and meet strict eligibility criteria.
Description
The Illinois Welcoming Center program, administered by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), funds nonprofit organizations to deliver comprehensive, culturally and linguistically appropriate services for immigrants, refugees, asylees, humanitarian parolees, and Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations across Illinois. The program operates as a “one-stop-shop” model, providing case management, crisis intervention, referrals, community education, and capacity-building support to strengthen both service delivery and the organizations serving these communities. Priority is given to organizations with deep community ties, especially those led by immigrants, refugees, or LEP individuals, and to proposals serving underserved geographic areas.
