Grant Opportunities
Cook County Department of Public Health is pleased to share grant and funding opportunities to help community partners expand the work they’re doing in suburban Cook County Communities.
As part of our commitment to supporting community-led solutions, we curate and distribute funding opportunities form public and private sources to help organizations access the resources they need to grow their impact. See below for funding opportunities:
Open Call: Cook County Shop Talk
Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) is offering a $475,000 funding opportunity for municipalities to address youth mental health.
Cook County will expand culturally responsive community conversations about mental health for teens and young adults in high-need suburban communities through an initiative called Cook County Shop Talk.
Application dates: June 29 – July 30, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
For more information, including the virtual information session, click below.
More Information
CCDPH is seeking proposals from municipalities that can engage youth of color in their communities and host community mental health events.
The Cook County Shop Talk events will be hosted by municipalities for teens and/or young adults between the ages of 12 and 24 years old. Municipalities will have the flexibility to engage different age groups for their events and to include younger and older youth and young adults in programming.
Eligibility: Municipalities in south and west suburban Cook County, excluding Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, and Stickney Township, which are served by their own state-certified public health departments. See if your municipality is in south or west suburban Cook County.
Awards: $475,000 in funding is available to support up to a total of four awards—up to 2 awards in south suburban Cook County and up to 2 awards in west suburban Cook County. Individual awards will range from $118,750 to $237,500.
Application period: June 29 – July 30, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
To learn more and apply: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019dbae916967cd6a9e37bce5e8fe65d
Virtual information session: July 8, 2026, 11 a.m. CDT
Registration Link: Eventbrite
CCDPH will also share responses to questions submitted to the [email protected] email to the CCDPH Grants webpage with the following schedule:
| For Questions Submitted By | A Response Will Be Provided By |
| July 6, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 9, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
| July 13, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 16, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
| July 20, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 23, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
Open Call: Restorative Practices in Schools
CCDPH is offering a $55,000 funding opportunity to publicly funded schools and school districts, intermediate service centers, non-profits and restorative practice consultants to support restorative practices implementation in schools.
Application period: June 23 – July 22, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
For more information, including the virtual information session, click below.
More Information
Restorative practices offer an evidence-based alternative to exclusionary discipline in schools. Studies show that restorative practices can decrease suspensions and expulsions, and improve mental health, socio-emotional skills, and overall school climate. Restorative justice is a framework that focuses on repairing the harm caused by an offense.
High school students who report that they have been unfairly disciplined were more likely to report poor mental health, persistent sadness or hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, and suicide behaviors. Restorative practices offer an alternative to exclusionary discipline in schools, and can decrease suspensions and expulsions, and improve mental health, socio-emotional skills, and overall school climate.
Learn more about restorative practices in schools in Cook County Department of Public Health’s new Restorative Practices report.
Eligibility: Publicly funded schools and school districts, intermediate service centers, non-profits and restorative practice consultants serving suburban Cook County schools or districts. Organizations/entities can submit a joint application but must designate one organization as a fiscal agent. Schools in areas served by state-certified public health departments, including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie, and Stickney Township, are not eligible.
Awards: A total of $55,000 in funding is available. Up to two organizations will be awarded for three months. Organizations can request up to $55,000 in funding.
Application period: June 23 – July 22, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
To learn more and apply: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019e033302d3729f836215d9064bd9c4
Virtual information session: July 1, 2026, 2 p.m. CDT
Registration link: Eventbrite
CCDPH will also share responses to questions submitted to the [email protected] email to the CCDPH Grants webpage with the following schedule:
| For Questions Submitted By | A Response Will Be Provided By |
| June 29, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 2, 2026, 5 p.m. CDT |
| July 6, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 9, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
| July 13, 2026, 12pm CDT | July 16, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
Open Call: Power Building
CCDPH is offering a funding opportunity of up to $40,000 to two community-based power-building organizations to support base-building or community organizing efforts in suburban Cook County communities that address structural drivers of mental health, substance use, and social and emotional traumas.
Application period: June 23 – July 22, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
For more information, including the virtual information session, click below.
More Information
Funding will support staff time toward community engagement, policy analysis and development, training, and education, but cannot support direct legislative advocacy. Issues areas could include, but are not limited to: social isolation, civic engagement (including voter access), restorative justice/restorative practices, community alcohol policies, criminal legal system reform, and paid sick leave.
Eligibility:
- Community-based power building organizations that are organizing in suburban Cook County communities. Community-based power building organizations are community organizations that conduct community organizing and base building, often around a certain location, demography or identity or issue.
- Organizations must be a 501(c)(3).
Awards: A total of $40,000 in funding is available. Up to two organizations will be awarded for three months. Organizations can request up to $40,000 in funding.
Application period: June 23 – July 22, 2026, 6 p.m. CDT
To learn more and apply: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019e0332794e7ed5ad7e6002fc8b9224
Virtual information session: July 1, 2026, 2 p.m. CDT
Registration link: Eventbrite
CCDPH will also share responses to questions submitted to the [email protected] email to the CCDPH Grants webpage with the following schedule:
| For Questions Submitted By | A Response Will Be Provided By |
| June 29, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 2, 2026, 5 p.m. CDT |
| July 6, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 9, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
| July 13, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT | July 16, 2026, 12 p.m. CDT |
2026 Metro Chicago Good Food Purchasing Initiative Community Fund
IMPACT Small Grants
Cook County is supporting organizations and libraries that advance digital equity across the county through two key initiatives: the IMPACT Small Grants Program and the Digital Navigator Network.
The IMPACT Small Grants Program provides funding and storytelling support to local nonprofits, local media, and libraries. These grants help expand internet access, boost digital literacy, and amplify community voices to drive lasting change. Grants will be awarded in levels ranging from $7,500 to $30,000.
Here are opportunities to learn more about the IMPACT Small Grants Program:
- May 21 informational webinar. Target audience: Suburban Cook County communities. View the recording here: IMPACT Program Infrastructure Grant Info Session – Zoom Clips
- View the IMPACT Infrastructure Grant Guide and application on the City Bureau website here: Digital Equity IMPACT Application — City Bureau
Application period: Now through June 15.
Maximum award: $30,000 for 1 scalable broadband infrastructure project.
Funding for Walking, Biking and Trail Improvements
The Illinois Department of Transportation will provide $157 million in state and federal funding for walking, biking and trail projects around the state through its Illinois Transportation Enhancing Program (ITEP).
Here are opportunities to learn more about the ITEP grant:
- July 29 webinar offering an overview of the ITEP program, Cook County resources and lessons learned from successful applications. Target audience: Cook County communities. Register at https://tinyurl.com/ITEPCookCountyWebinar .
- Statewide ITEP webinar series: July 15 (ITEP overview), Aug. 12 (application walk-through) and Sept. 16 (Q&A with IDOT staff). Target audience: anyone in the state of Illinois. Learn more at https://activetrans.org/itep/ .
Application period: Aug. 1 through Oct. 5
Maximum award: $5 million per project and potential match assistance for communities with high economic need.
Updated June 29, 2026, 11:41 AM