The She Gave Grant Process and Past Recipients
Starting November 19, the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation (HICF), is accepting applications from area nonprofit organizations and schools seeking grants from the She Gave Women’s Giving Circle.
In 2026, the She Gave Women’s Giving Circle Grant Program will award $25,000. The maximum grant per organization is $10,000. The deadline to apply via the online application was December 19, 2025.
She Gave Giving Circle grants will be awarded to established not-for-profit organizations and schools serving Macon County. The grant’s purpose is to support programs and projects that empower, connect and inspire women and girls by supporting initiatives and resources that better their lives.
Founded in 2023, the She Gave Women’s Giving Circle has grown to over 100 members. In 2024 and 2025, the Giving Circle awarded $25,000 in area grants annually. Giving Circle members donate their own money to a pooled fund, then decide together what projects and charities to support with grant funding. In the process, Giving Circle members seek to increase their awareness of and engagement in the issues covered by the Circle.
Questions about the competitive grant cycle and application process should be directed to Andrea Gerhard at agerhard@heartofillinois.org or 217-429-3000.
In 2025, She Gave members voted to award $25,000 in grant funding to:
- $7,500 to God's Shelter of Love
- $5,500 to Children's Museum of Illinois
- $4,500 to Milligan Academy/Futures Unlimited
- $4,250 to Macon County Health Department
- $3,250 to Riding Warriors
In 2024, She Gave members voted to award $25,000 in grant funding to:
- $5,665 to Children’s Museum of Illinois to support Chem Girls program
- $5,665 to CJs Loving Hands to support temporary housing and wrap around services for mothers and children.
- $5,000 to InPower Ministries to support their Mother’s Day event and outreach programming
- $3,870 to Milligan Academy/Futures Unlimited to support program participant graduation ceremonies/recognition
- $3,000 to Project Read Plus to support Freeing Minds: The Jail Book Project
- $1,800 to Old Kings Orchard Community Center to support their 4-H Club
She Gave members pool their charitable dollars into a fund at the HICF in order to maximize their philanthropic impact. She Gave launched in 2023 and has awarded $50,000 in community grants. To learn more about membership, click here.
