Moving Forward
Building a Stronger, Healthier Community
The Heart of Illinois (HICF) and Decatur Earthmover Credit Union (DECU) have partnered on a first-of-its-kind comprehensive $1 million funding collaboration, Moving Forward.
Moving Forward includes four discretionary open-call grant programs, Places & Neighborhoods ($100,000), CommunityWorks ($400,000), Emergency Services Support ($100,000) and Impact200 ($200,000). An additional $200,000 in grant funding will benefit DEI, financial literacy, arts and summer education programs.
Grants will be distributed throughout 2024 and timelines as well as more information for each funding program will be posted below. Funding will be granted in Macon, Moultrie, and Piatt Counties as well as Paris, IL, where DECU provides services.
Moving Forward Announcement Press Release
Get to Know Our Funding Partner, Decatur Earthmover Credit Union
Since 1956, DECU has served as a member-owned full-service, financial institution serving all who live or work in Champaign, Christian, Clark, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Logan, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Sangamon and Shelby counties.
Investing in the communities DECU serves has always been an important part of their organization's philosophy. Every year since 2013, DECU has selected a non-profit in the community to support throughout the year through direct investment of time and treasure. From collecting diapers for expectant mothers served by Baby Talk, goodie bags for local nursing home, Prairie Creek Village, to organizing our community's Christmas parade every year, DECU takes their well-known slogan "It's Friends, Family and You" to heart.
February
This $50,000 grant celebrates the important work the African-American Cultural & Genealogical Society does to preserve African-American genealogy, provide resources and education about African-American history of the Central Illinois community, and promote and preserve the study of African-American history as a whole.
This project matched 1:1 by The Lumpkin Foundation, aims to promote a fuller understanding of history as a contribution to the conversation about racial equity and social justice.
A $30,000 open grant call is part of this campaign. Those details will be available by May 1.
2024 is the inaugural offering of this grant program thanks to funding from Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Available Funding & Eligibility
- $100,000 available
- Funding range per grant: $2,500 to $25,000
- Have 501(c) 3 status from the Internal Revenue Service or be a qualified charitable, school, religious or government organization in Macon, Piatt, or Moultrie counties or Paris, IL.
Purpose & Types of Projects Supported
- To support local efforts to build and sustain a high quality of life in neighborhoods or a specific community.
- Encourage and support the work of neighborhood groups, nonprofits, schools, churches and government organizations trying to preserve and/or improve the quality of life in the areas they serve.
- We want neighbors to feel connected to one another and to have access to programs and events within their community that are engaging and inspire a sense of belonging.
- Priority for projects that have a long-term impact for the community and its residents, promote community participation and engagement, and/or encourages public art, community engagement in the humanities.
Sample Ideas for Submission
- Community Gardens, Environmental Restoration Projects, Neighborhood Clean Ups, Neighborhood Outreach and Events, Crime Prevention, Beautification Projects*, Community Arts and Cultural Activities
*Beautification Projects
- Permanent fixtures must be installed on public property or common areas (lights, planters, trash receptacles, etc.)
- Landscape projects must be permanent improvements to the area
- Landscape projects must have a maintenance plan
Timeline to Apply
- Applications are open Feb 2. at 9 a.m. and will close Feb. 29 at 4:30 p.m.
- Recipients will be announced March 12 on Byers & Co. followed by check presentations.
Apply for a Places and Neighborhoods Grant
Download the Project Budget Template
*Places and Neighborhoods grant applications should use this project budget template when submitting their applications. Please rename this file before saving.
Learn more about the CommunityWorks Grant Program.
More Information
Questions about the competitive grant cycle and application process should be directed to HICF Director of Communications, Rachel Moran, at rmoran@heartofillinois.org or by calling 217.429.3000.
April
The inaugural That's What She Said (TWSS) Macon County will be Saturday, April 6 at 6 p.m. at the historic Lincoln Square Theater. TWSS is a live, one-night only performance featuring 10 local women sharing their powerful personal stories. Some will make you belly-laugh, some will make you ugly-cry and everything in between.
Decatur Earthmover Credit Union will serve as the Step & Repeat sponsor for this inaugural event.
Available Funding & Eligibility
- $400,000 available
- Funding range per grant: $10,000 to $100,000
- Have 501(c) 3 status from the Internal Revenue Service or be a qualified charitable or government organization in Macon, Piatt, or Moultrie counties or Paris, IL.
Purpose & Types of Projects Supported
- CommunityWorks invites proposals in the areas of workforce development, education and environmental sustainability.
Timeline to Apply
- Application opens April 9 at 9:00 a.m. and will close May 7 at 4:30 p.m.
- Recipients will be announced June 11 on Byers and Co. followed by check presentations at a DECU branch at the end of June.
Apply for a CommunityWorks Grant
Download the Project Budget Template
*CommunityWorks grant applications should use this project budget template when submitting their applications. Please rename this file before saving.
Learn more about the CommunityWorks grant program.
More Information
Questions about the competitive grant cycle and application process should be directed to HICF President, Natalie Beck, at nbeck@heartofillinois.org or by calling 217.429.3000.
May
2024 is the inaugural offering of this grant program thanks to funding from Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation will work together to award 10 $3,000 grants to support organizations offering opportunities for youth engagement with the arts, arts education, summer youth programming, field trips, etc. Organizations must have a minimum one-year track record of providing a comprehensive summer art/educational camp or youth program.
Check presentations with DECU team at grant recipient locations to be presented at programs in June.
2024 is the inaugural offering of this grant program thanks to funding from Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Available Funding & Eligibility
- $100,000 available
- Funding range per grant: $5,000 to $20,000
- Have 501(c) 3 status from the Internal Revenue Service or be a qualified charitable, religious or government organization in Macon, Piatt, or Moultrie counties or Paris, IL.
Purpose & Types of Projects Supported
- To acknowledge our local firefighters, police, and EMT's are indispensable to the safety of our communities.
- Priority for projects that provide emergency medical services providers, first responder organizations, and other emergency medical service-related organizations with funds for projects to acquire, repair, improve or upgrade emergency medical services systems or equipment, and for specialized training.
Timeline to Apply
- Applications are open May 1. at 9 a.m. and will close June 15 at 4:30 p.m.
- Recipients will be announced July 9 on Byers & Co. followed by check presentations at emergency service grant recipient locations at the end of July.
More Information
Questions about the competitive grant cycle and application process should be directed to HICF President, Natalie Beck, at nbeck@heartofillinois.org or by calling 217.429.3000.
July
2024 is the inaugural offering of this grant program thanks to funding from Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation.
Decatur Earthmover Credit Union will work with DOVE, their 2024 nonprofit of the year, to offer a financial literacy educational program free to the public.
Dates and program scope to be announced.
Learn more about Dove, Inc., DECU's 2024 Charity of the Year.
August
Available Funding & Eligibility
- $200,000 available
- Funding range per grant: no minimum to $50,000
- Have 501(c) 3 status from the Internal Revenue Service or be a qualified charitable, religious or government organization in Macon, Piatt, or Moultrie counties or Paris, IL.
Purpose & Types of Projects Supported
- Funding focus to be announced.
Timeline to Apply
- Application opens Aug. 6 at 9:00 a.m. and will close Sept. 13 at 4:30 p.m.
- Recipients will be announced October 8 on Byers and Co. followed by check presentations at a DECU branch in mid-October.
Learn more about the Impact200 grant program.
More Information
Questions about the competitive grant cycle and application process should be directed to HICF President, Natalie Beck, at nbeck@heartofillinois.org or by calling 217.429.3000.
November
Stay tuned for an exciting $50,000 grant that will be awarded to a nonprofit in November!
December
Stay tuned for exciting details on how Decatur Earthmover Credit Union and the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation will commemorate the impact of the $1 Million Moving Forward Campaign.
