Communities of Color Special At Risk Population
🏛 Illinois Department of Public Health
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Jul 7, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Illinois-based organizations working on HIV prevention, testing, education, and care for communities of color and special at-risk populations.
Eligible recipients are nonprofits, health centers, and government agencies in Illinois with capacity to reach minoritized communities. Specific target populations include men who have sex with men, people experiencing homelessness, formerly incarcerated individuals, sex workers, and those with mental illness or substance abuse history.
Programs must address health disparities and health inequities. Funds support all reasonable and allowable costs related to HIV services. Geographic scope is limited to Illinois.
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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
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- State application forms (GATA system)
- Project narrative describing HIV prevention/care activities
- Budget and budget narrative
- Organizational capacity documentation
- Letters of support from communities or partners
- Evidence of tax-exempt status (if nonprofit)
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?
Illinois-based nonprofits, health centers, and government agencies with demonstrated capacity to serve communities of color and special at-risk populations. You must have experience reaching difficult-to-access populations.
What activities does the grant fund?
HIV prevention, testing, education, and care programs. Funds can support outreach, counseling, testing services, health education, and other reasonable costs that reduce health disparities.
Is there a deadline?
Yes, the deadline is July 31, 2026. Contact the Illinois Department of Public Health for rolling deadline information or multi-round cycles.
What's the funding range?
Total program pool is $400,000. Individual award amounts are not specified. Contact the state for typical award sizes.
Is matching funds required?
No cost sharing or matching funds are required for this grant.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Focus your narrative on your track record serving the specific at-risk populations listed. Document past HIV prevention or health equity outcomes.
- Clearly explain how your program reduces health disparities. Reference social determinants and equity framework in your approach.
- Identify your geographic service area in Illinois and detail partnerships with trusted community organizations and peer leaders.
- Include letters of support from the communities you serve. Authentic community voice strengthens competitiveness.
- Request reasonable costs with clear HIV outcomes metrics. Budget narratives should justify each line item's connection to HIV prevention or care goals.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Vague claims about serving communities of color without specific evidence of deep relationships or trust. Overlooking health equity language—funders expect explicit framing around social determinants and disparities reduction. Failing to clearly identify which special at-risk populations your program targets most effectively.
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