Resource Directory /

Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources

  • Fresh Start Surgical Gifts

    Fresh Start Surgical Gifts provides reconstructive surgery at no cost to families of children who are uninsured, underinsured, denied procedures as cosmetic or the deductible would be a financial hardship to the family. Surgery weekends are held three times a year at Comer Children’s Hospital.

  • Friends of Man

    Friends of Man is a non-profit that uses 100% of donations for charitable assistance. The charity receives applications requesting mobility equipment, prosthetics, home modifications, medical equipment, hearing aids, basic needs and much more from referring professionals. Referring professionals include caseworkers, case managers, healthcare workers, social workers, school counselors, teachers and clergy who apply on behalf of their patients and clients.

    In addition to the assistance listed above, Friends of Man can provide assistance nationwide for adaptive equipment, assistive technology, lift chairs, mobility equipment, orthopedic braces and shoes, stairlifts, vehicle adaptations and wheelchair ramps.

    More details are on the Friends of Man Eligibility page.

  • Good Samaritan Ministries in Carbondale

    Good Samaritan Ministries assists families and individuals in need in the Carbondale area. Programs and services include:

    • Emergency assistance
    • An emergency shelter and transitional housing
    • A soup kitchen
    • Food pantry

    For questions, please contact the Good Samaritan House in Carbondale.

  • Granted

    Granted helps “wishes” come true for children in southeast Illinois, southern Indiana and western Kentucky with terminal or life-threatening conditions. The non-profit aims to give children and their families respite from the physical, emotional and financial toll of a life-threatening illness. Granted’s wishes aim to to provide strength, hope, joy and a wonderful experience that the family can enjoy together and treasure among their memories.

    Granted’s services also include events throughout the year, support groups and resource referrals for families in crisis. The organization serves a 100-mile radius of Evansville, Ind. See a map of Granted’s service area.

    For questions, please contact Granted online.

  • Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association

    Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) in Lake Forest, Ill., offers programs for individuals ages 3 and up with physical or visual disabilities, such as amputation, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, stroke, visual impairment and more. GLASA offers more than 20 adaptive sports. Programs are adapted to meet the needs of individuals who use manual or power wheelchairs and other ambulatory disabilities. GLASA also offers an Ability Awareness Program for schools and community groups to help students participate, compete and thrive.

    A GLASA membership is required to participate in GLASA’s weekly programs and access the anytime equipment lending program. Scholarships are available. GLASA will never turn anyone away due to financial hardship. Please contact Cindy Housner at chousner@glasa.org or (847) 283-0908 to request a scholarship or one free month of membership.

    GLASA membership includes an anytime equipment lending program and information to help athletes stay up to date on programs.

  • Habitat for Humanity – Illinois

    Habitat for Humanity helps build safe, affordable housing for people in need. Some Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Illinois also offer programs to help with home repairs, weatherization and access ramps for eligible homeowners. Please contact the Habitat for Humanity affiliate serving your area for specific details and application information.

    Habitat affiliates offering the additional programs include:

    Habitat for Humanity International affiliates in the Chicagoland area:

  • HealthWell Foundation

    The HealthWell Foundation aims to reduce financial barriers to care for underinsured patients with chronic or life-altering diseases. It provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover copays, healthcare premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.

    For any questions, please call (800) 675-8416, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or email grants@healthwellfoundation.org.

    Mail all grant-related documents to the HealthWell Contact Center, P.O. Box 489, Buckeystown, MD 21717.

  • Healthy Chicago Resource Directory

    The Chicago Department of Health provides a wide range of health care and social services for women, infants, children and families in Chicago.

    For questions, please call the Chicago Department of Health at (312) 747-9884.

  • Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association

    The Heart of Illinois Down Syndrome Association (HOIDSA) offers support and information to help families adjust to the special needs of a child with Down syndrome. Its programs and resources for families and caregivers include Individual Education Program (IEP) resource providers, conference and classroom stipends, and events to increase inclusion and understanding of people with Down syndrome.

    The association’s service area in central Illinois includes Peoria, Marshall, Tazewell and Woodford counties.

    For questions, visit HOIDSA’s website contact page, call (309) 363-3125, or email info@hoidsa.org.

  • Heartland Alliance Health, Housing and Legal Services

    Heartland Alliance in Chicago provides programs to address the root causes of poverty, generate social change and inspire people to build better lives not only for themselves but for their communities.

    Heartland Alliance’s National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) provides direct legal services to and advocates for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers through policy reform, impact litigation and public education. Other programs include: