WEST FRANKFORT – The Night’s Shield in West Frankfort is one of 10 small Illinois nonprofits receiving a part of $200,000 in grants through the Charitable Trust Stabilization Program, which is managed by State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ office.
According to the State Treasurer’s office, Charitable Trust grants help nonprofits fulfill their missions to serve people in need by providing housing, food, and workforce and economic development assistance. For the fall 2024 grant cycle, funds were awarded to nonprofits in two categories: organizations with food programs and organizations with workforce and economic development programs. The 10 grant recipients were selected from 110 applicants.
The Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund assists small nonprofits that have annual budgets of $1 million and at least one full-time employee. Money in the fund comes from fees that not-for-profit corporations pay when filing annual reports with the Illinois Secretary of State – and not from personal or property tax dollars.
Each awardee received the maximum grant amount of $20,000
Lindsay Jennings, executive director of The Night’s Shield, says their Youth Program will use the grant to fund educational and employment needs for their clients. Jennings says this funding will allow The Night’s Shield to better assist clients in obtaining education and/or employment to ensure their long-term stability and independence.
Since being established in 2017, the Charitable Trust Stabilization Fund program has awarded 241 grants — totaling more than $4.8 million — to 204 nonprofit organizations. The program has impacted more than 100,000 people’s lives for the better.
