Communities of Color Special At Risk Population
🏛 Illinois Department of Public Health
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Jul 9, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for organizations serving communities of color with HIV prevention, education, testing, and care programs in Illinois. Eligible applicants likely include nonprofits, government agencies, and community-based organizations with demonstrated capacity to reach special at-risk populations. Activities include HIV prevention, education, testing services, and care programs targeting African Americans, Latinos, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Geographic scope is limited to Illinois.
Recipients must focus on underserved populations including men who have sex with men, people experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated individuals, sex workers, and those with mental health or substance use histories. The program prioritizes reducing health disparities and advancing health equity for minority communities.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The initiative is funded through State of Illinois general revenue funding, and funds HIV prevention, education, testing, and care programs targeting communities of color – specifically programs with the capacity to reach special at risk minority populations to include, but not limited to, men who have sex with men, people experiencing homeless, ex-offenders, sex workers, those with a history of mental illness or substance abuse, and other difficult to reach populations. These specific efforts are necessary due to the unique problems that many of these individuals may face that places them at greater risk for HIV disease. This funding should aim to reduce health disparities and health inequities where they exist. Health equity exists when all people have the opportunity to thrive and no one is limited in achieving comprehensive health and wellness because of their social position or any other social factors/determinants of health such as income, education, race/ethnicity, sexual identity, and disability. Funds can be used for all reasonable, allocated and allowable costs. Beneficiaries: For the Communities of Color Special At-Risk Populations program, racial and ethnic minorities include “African Americans, Alaska Natives, Latinos, American Indians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Paci?c Islanders”. Administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 482-00-0931).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Demographic focus
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Application form (via Illinois GATA system)
- Project narrative/work plan
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from community partners
Program contact
- 👤 Jorge De La Fuente
- 📧 jorge.delafuente@illinois.gov
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Illinois state appropriations. How funding has trended year over year.
| 2020 | $657,000 | |
| 2021 | $657,000 | |
| 2022 | $650,000 | |
| 2023 | $700,000 | |
| 2024 | $1,600,000 | |
| 2025 | $617,099 | |
| 2026 | $618,000 | |
| 2027 | $400,000 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Nonprofits, government agencies, and community-based organizations operating in Illinois. Applicants must demonstrate capacity to serve communities of color and special at-risk populations.
What activities does this funding support?
HIV prevention, education, testing, and care services targeting racial and ethnic minorities. Programs must focus on difficult-to-reach populations including MSM, homeless individuals, ex-offenders, and sex workers.
Is this a competitive grant?
Yes, this is a competitive state funding opportunity. Applicants should demonstrate strong community connections and proven outcomes serving target populations.
What geographic area does this cover?
This grant is restricted to organizations in Illinois. Programs must serve Illinois communities of color.
Can I use funds for staffing and operations?
Yes, reasonable and allocable costs are generally allowed. Budgets should reflect actual program expenses for prevention, testing, care, and education activities.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Clearly demonstrate your organization's track record serving the specific at-risk populations named in the grant (MSM, homeless, formerly incarcerated, sex workers).
- Show how your program will reduce health disparities and advance health equity in your target community.
- Build relationships with referral partners and community leaders who can attest to your cultural competence and reach.
- Address the unique barriers your target population faces and explain why your approach is effective for them.
- Align your evaluation plan with health equity metrics and demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications fail when organizations cannot show prior success serving the specific at-risk populations mentioned. Vague plans to increase HIV services without addressing health disparities weaken proposals. Poor community engagement documentation and lack of referral partnerships suggest limited capacity to reach difficult-to-access groups.
Similar grants
- ROLLING REACHing Communities (REACH) Consortium (U01) Clinical Trials Optional — Food and Drug Administration
- CLOSED Innovative Approaches for Reducing Disparities in Kidney Health — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- OPEN Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Part C Capacity Development Program — Health Resources and Services Administration
- CLOSED Making America Healthy Again by Addressing Dementia Disparities — Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
- CLOSED FDA OMHHE Convener for Racial & Ethnic minority Acceleration Consortium for Health Equity (REACH) — Food and Drug Administration