Funding search · criminal justice reform · Illinois
Who funds criminal justice reform work in Illinois
15 funders have a record of paying for criminal justice reform work by Illinois recipients: 153 grants totaling $24.7M, most recently in 2025 — mostly private foundations, plus grantmaking charities. The largest by matched giving are John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated) ($12.5M), Pritzker Family Foundation ($2.8M) and Helen V Brach Foundation ($205,500).
From IRS Form 990-PF and 990 Schedule I filings, 2019–2025. Grants already paid to Illinois recipients — evidence of what these funders back, not open calls.
John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation (Consolidated)Chicago, IL
54 matching grants · $12.5M · through 2024Largest: $250,000 to LOYOLA UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO — to support the participation of the loyola center for criminal justice research, policy and practice in state and local criminal justice reform efforts in illinois
Largest: $570,000 to SAFER FOUNDATION — supporting women in the criminal justice system
Largest: $15,000 to Lutheran Social Services IL — to support prisoner family ministry program which encompasses services for incarcerated individuals, returning citizens and their children
Robert R McCormick FoundationChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
6 matching grants · $3.7M · through 2024Largest: $420,000 to METROPOLIS STRATEGIES NFP — mccormick reentry fellow and illinois justice project, for the mccormick reentry initiative
Largest: $1.0M to UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN — to continue to support prison education and reentry programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students through engagement with faculty, graduate, and undergraduate studen…
Largest: $75,000 to RESTORE JUSTICE FOUNDATION — criminal justice
Largest: $33,000 to LLOYD R GASTON — to research the scope and impact of illinois' workers rights amendment to the illinois state constitution on incarcerated workers and to develop a know your rights curriculum and t…
Accountable Justice Action FundAlbany, NYCharity · may take applications
7 matching grants · $480,000 · through 2023Largest: $130,000 to THE PEOPLE'S LOBBY — criminal justice reform
The Chicago Community TrustChicago, ILCharity · may take applications
7 matching grants · $853,199 · through 2022Largest: $30,000 to Women in Need Recovery — in support of general operations for wraparound, holistic reentry services at sites in chicago and berwyn to members of the lgbtq2s+ community after a period of incarceration.
United Workforce Development BoardPekin, ILCharity · may take applications
4 matching grants · $240,819 · through 2022Largest: $73,146 to GOODWILL INDUSTRIES OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS — to assist participants reentry after incarceration
Largest: $42,130 to IMPACT FOR EQUITY INC — policy analysis and research around criminal justice reform in illinois.
Largest: $55,000 to PRECIOUS BLOOD MINISTRY — prisoner reentry programs
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Start with one paperBroader: criminal justice reform funders nationally · all Illinois-based grantmakers