Who funds legal aid in Illinois
From 2022 to 2025, 162 foundations and charities reported 634 grants to 26 legal aid organizations in Illinois. The typical grant was $25,000.
The funders that paid the most of them: The Chicago Community Trust (13), Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (11) and Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (11).
From IRS grant records. Counts nonprofits with budgets under $5,000,000.
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The 15 funders that paid the most legal aid organizations in Illinois
| Funder | Nonprofits paid | Typical grant | Latest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Chicago Community Trust Chicago, IL | 13 | $67,075 | 2023 |
| Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois Chicago, IL | 11 | $149,000 | 2024 |
| Illinois Equal Justice Foundation Chicago, IL | 11 | $105,000 | 2024 |
| Chicago Bar Foundation Chicago, IL | 9 | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Public Interest Law Initiative Chicago, IL | 8 | $6,500 | 2024 |
| Resurrection Project Chicago, IL | 7 | $132,700 | 2024 |
| Seyfarth Shaw Charitable Foundation Chicago, IL | 3 | $1,000 | 2025 |
| Chicago Foundation for Women Chicago, IL | 3 | $20,000 | 2023 |
| MC Dermott Will and Emery Charitable Foundation Chicago, IL | 3 | $11,000 | 2023 |
| Perkins Coie Foundation Seattle, WA | 3 | $13,125 | 2024 |
| National Employment Law Project New York, NY | 3 | $146,000 | 2024 |
| Sidley Austin Foundation Chicago, IL | 3 | $2,500 | 2025 |
| Illinois Bar Foundation Springfield, IL | 3 | $15,000 | 2023 |
| Katten Muchin Rosenman Foundation Inc Chicago, IL | 3 | $3,500 | 2024 |
| Jpmorgan Chase Foundation New York, NY | 3 | $2,000 | 2024 |
Recent grants
- The Chicago Community Trust paid Raise the Floor Alliance $271,000 in 2023. Purpose: General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes.
- Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois paid Illinois Legal Aid Online $1,275,000 in 2024. Purpose: To provide free legal services.
- Illinois Equal Justice Foundation paid IL Legal Aid Online $327,500 in 2024. Purpose: To provide legal information to the public statewide via a website; to provide specialized legal information and technological expertise for.
- Chicago Bar Foundation paid Greater Chicago Legal Clinic Inc $562,991 in 2024. Purpose: General operating support, government/project grant, & project support.
- Public Interest Law Initiative paid Greater Chicago Legal Clinic $19,500 in 2024. Purpose: Law student internships.
- Resurrection Project paid Highland Park Highwood Legal Aid Clinic $1,278,911 in 2024. Purpose: Immigration legal and support services.
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Other causes in Illinois
- Who funds food banks and food pantries in Illinois (303 funders)
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- Who funds affordable housing in Illinois (282 funders)
- Who funds animal rescue and shelters in Illinois (449 funders)
- Who funds arts and culture in Illinois (1229 funders)
- Who funds mental health in Illinois (445 funders)
- Who funds disability services in Illinois (194 funders)
- Who funds domestic violence shelters and services in Illinois (212 funders)
- Who funds job training and employment in Illinois (297 funders)
- Who funds community development in Illinois (696 funders)
Legal aid in other states
Questions people ask
Who gives the most grants to legal aid in Illinois?
By the number of nonprofits paid from 2022 to 2025, the leading funders were The Chicago Community Trust (13), Lawyers Trust Fund of Illinois (11), Illinois Equal Justice Foundation (11). The count in parentheses is how many legal aid organizations in Illinois each one paid.
How big is a typical grant to legal aid in Illinois?
The median grant was $25,000 across 634 grants. Half were smaller and half were larger. Each funder's own typical grant is in the table above.
Do these funders accept applications?
Not always. IRS records show who a funder paid, not whether it takes new applicants. Open the funder's website and read its guidelines before you reach out.
Where does this data come from?
From grants reported to the IRS on Form 990 Schedule I and Form 990-PF for 2022 to 2025, matched to each recipient's IRS record. It counts legal aid organizations with budgets under $5,000,000, by their IRS cause code. Donor-advised fund sponsors are left out.