Midwest RFP 2026–2027

Grant Applications

Request for Proposals — 2026–2027 Grantmaking

Elea Institute is seeking proposals to provide charity care, integrative therapy, and education related to end-of-life care within 13 counties of Illinois. This grant program will provide funding for up to two years of care and programming.

Notice to Previous Applicants

Elea Institute has transitioned to a new online grants management system, which will be used going forward for applications, acknowledgements, reporting, and reminders. If you've applied before, we recommend logging into the old application system and saving copies of your past applications and supporting materials before mid-October, when historical records will begin migrating to the new portal. Your data will not be lost, but it won't be accessible during the transition period.

Timetable

Date	Milestone
September 15, 2026	RFP Released
October 27, 2026	Proposals Due (application portal closes at 11:59 pm CT)
Late January 2027	Applicants Notified of Funding Decision

Grant Programs

Three grant programs are available. Organizations that meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply for more than one program area.

Charity Care

Total available: $550,000 – $600,000 Avg. grant size: $100,000 – $300,000 Est. grants: 2–5 Project period: Up to 2 years

Designed to help patients receive hospice and palliative care by providing financial assistance for those who do not have insurance or cannot afford care. Grants cover care to be provided in the future — not charity care that has previously been made available.

Selection Criteria

Organization is financially stable
If possible, project will expand current efforts, building on existing capacity
Applicant provides quality care, as demonstrated by quality scores
Experience providing charity care, as illustrated by implementation of best practices including clear policies around who qualifies for financial assistance

Education

Total available: $75,000 – $150,000 Avg. grant size: $50,000 – $100,000 Est. grants: 1–3 Project period: Up to 2 years

Designed to fund education for health care providers, patients, families, and community members related to hospice and palliative care. Staff professional development may qualify if it helps staff provide better care to patients.

Selection Criteria

Organization is financially stable
Project will build on existing activities
Will have direct impact on patients or patient care
Experience engaging the community through outreach and education efforts

Integrative Therapy

Total available: $75,000 – $150,000 Avg. grant size: $50,000 – $100,000 Est. grants: 1–3 Project period: Up to 2 years

Designed to fund integrative therapy for patients, families, and community members related to hospice and palliative care. Staff professional development may qualify if it helps staff provide better care to patients.

Selection Criteria

Organization is financially stable
Project will build on existing activities
Will have direct impact on patients or patient care
Experience engaging the community through outreach and education efforts

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for funding, organizations must meet all of the following criteria:

Tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
Does direct or indirect work connected to the hospice and/or palliative care fields
Located in the United States, with activities focused in at least one of the 13 Illinois counties previously part of JourneyCare's service area

Eligible counties:

Boone Cook DeKalb DuPage Kane Kendall Lake LaSalle Lee McHenry Ogle Will Winnebago

Exclusions

The following organizations or uses of funds are not eligible for consideration:

For-profit organizations, unless there is a specific charitable purpose with appropriate board oversight and expenditure responsibility
Organizations where project budgets include more than 25% of unrelated general operating costs
Grant funds cannot be used to directly support lobbying efforts

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through Elea Institute's online grants management portal using the access code below. Proposals must be completed and submitted with all required responses and attachments to be considered for funding.

Getting started:

Check if your organization already has an account — some organizations may have used this system through other funders. Try logging in with existing credentials, or use "Forgot Password." Contact sbrown@gmafoundations.com if you're unsure.
If you don't have an account, click "Create New Account." You'll need your organization's legal name, EIN, mailing address, and primary contact information.
Enter the access code Elea26 to unlock the application for this grant cycle.

Access the Application

Use the access code below when registering in Elea's online application system. Proposals must be completed and submitted with all required responses and attachments to be considered for funding.

Elea26

Access the Application Portal