Poverty alleviation funding opportunities:
1. Improving access to public benefits
2. Public policy advocacy for the social safety net
| Year at a glance: Poverty | ||
| March RFP | July RFP | November RFP |
| None | Public policy advocacy for the social safety net | None |
For people working in low-wage jobs or those who cannot work—such as seniors or people with severe disabilities—our society offers a variety of financial supports and human services. For those who are extremely poor, access to those supports is essential to escape homelessness and live with any minimum quality of life. The Trust supports administrative reforms and public policy advocacy aimed at improving access to public benefits and social services for those who need them.
Grant making in Poverty Alleviation supports Community Goal #2: Securing conditions for healthy, safe, just and caring communities.
Funding Opportunity 1: Improving access to public benefits
The current public benefits system has a number of significant shortcomings. Applications must be filed at state offices that may have long lines and be open at inconvenient hours, especially for the working poor. Difficult applications must be re-filed for each benefit program, and disconnected programs prevent development of a single case management database that could be used by service planners to view an individual’s benefits and eligibility. Some people who qualify for benefits are deterred from applying because they fear the stigma.
Illinois is currently committed to the Illinois Human Services and Healthcare Framework, a seven-year program that aims to create a single, unified data collection and application system across benefits programs administered by the state. Participating agencies include Departments on Aging, Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Children and Family Services, Employment Security, Healthcare and Family Services, Human Services and Public Health, which together offer programs to approximately 20% of Illinois residents. The Governor has listed the Framework project as one of his top three priorities. The overall result would be higher utilization of benefits by eligible persons and greater flexibility, and therefore quality, of service planning and counseling. The new system would make possible:
- Electronic access to as many benefit programs as is legally possible, securing federal waivers where necessary to facilitate access.
- Less reliance for benefits and service counseling on case workers who are state employees, and a more flexible and broad system of counseling and support using trained service staff at local providers and institutions.
- Integrated database that allows for better benefit counseling and service planning (similar in concept to unified medical records systems).
- More efficient use of state employees by minimizing inefficient data and application collection and empowering people outside the system to help clients.
Agency leaders realize that success depends on assuring that the new system is responsive to its clients and that a broad array of service planners and counselors outside state agencies is in place to assist clients who are potentially newly empowered to apply through the Internet. While financial support for the internal state system is beyond the Trust’s capacity—and likely not needed in any case—support for the non-state system is very much needed.
Outcomes Sought
- Eligible users of public income supports are able to gain full benefits.
- Public benefits are available through more channels in 2015 than they were in 2010.
- A strong network of nonprofits, sites and social workers supports users of electronic benefit sources.
Our Funding
The Trust will support the state effort to develop new benefit systems that maximize enrollment of eligible clients who desire benefits. Once the structure of the new system is determined, the Trust will issue a request for proposals from providers that can train service assistants in local community settings such as social service agencies, libraries, health care facilities, schools and religious institutions. Timing for funding of this work is subject to the roll-out of the state Framework project.
Requests for Proposals
RFPs will be released in the future, once the new system is determined.
Contact Us
Please direct all inquiries to Jim Lewis, Senior Program Officer at
Funding Opportunity 2: Public policy advocacy for the social safety net
The vast majority of service and supports provided to low-income persons are either paid for or delivered by state or local governments. The availability and nature of these services and supports are worked out in the legislative arena, and also through decisions made in state and city departments. History has shown that a strong and progressive safety net depends upon strong advocacy organizations able to inform government decision-makers, marshal public opinion, inform the media and the public and provide technical assistance to public officials. The need is even more vital at this time, as the current Illinois budget crisis will persist over the next five years, creating pressure and need to reduce many governmental functions. It is essential that program cuts affect the poorest residents to the least extent possible.
Outcomes Sought
- Evidence that messages of funded advocacy groups to improve public benefit programs reach public officials and are reported by the media.
- Some portion of policy or programmatic initiatives advocated by groups becomes law
- Human service agencies receive no more budget cuts than are essential given state budget constraints.
- Evidence that the economic or social value of the advocacy projects substantially exceeds the cost of advocacy effort.
Our Funding
The Trust will provide operating support for six to ten advocacy organizations, with support levels determined according to the issues facing the state and city and the types of contributions each organization is able to make. The Trust will issue a request for proposals from organizations providing advocacy on behalf of one or more of the following issues:
- Poverty alleviation
- Children
- Seniors
- Homelessness and supportive housing
- Hunger
- People with disabilities
- Immigrants
Successful applicants will need to demonstrate that:
- Advocacy goals are likely to be achieved within the next five years or significant progress is being made.
- Advocacy goals are important to significant numbers of persons.
- The organization’s work will have a demonstrable impact on the policy process and achievement of objectives.
Requests for Proposals
This RFP will be released July 16, with proposals due September 5.
Contact Us
Please direct all inquiries to Jim Lewis, Senior Program Officer at
