Funding supports 121 programs advancing health and well-being across Illinois

CHICAGO, Sept. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is proud to award nearly $4.5 million in 2026-2027 Blue Impact grants to 121 community-based organizations. These non-profits work to improve access to care and address the social drivers that influence health outcomes for people across Illinois. 

The Blue Impact grant program supports initiatives that advance long‑term, community‑driven health solutions. Grant recipients were selected through a comprehensive evaluation process focused on measurable impact, sustainability and alignment with BCBSIL's mission to support healthier communities statewide. 

"For 90 years, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has worked alongside organizations that know their communities best," said Brian Snell, President of BCBSIL. "Blue Impact grants build on that legacy by investing in proven local solutions that create healthier neighborhoods, expand opportunities, and help people across Illinois thrive."

Blue Impact program centers on five key pillars that influence overall health and well‑being;  

Economic Opportunity & Stability: Addressing issues such as poverty, removing barriers to employment, providing good jobs and upskilling;  

Nutrition: Supporting efforts to decrease hunger and increase access to nutritional food; 

Neighborhood & Built Environment: Focusing on affordable healthy housing, access to transportation and to physical activity; 

Locally Defined Health Solutions: Addressing hyperlocal health and human service needs; and   

Optimal Health Outcomes: Helping close gaps in care, specifically in immunizations, diabetes care, cardiovascular care, behavioral health, early detection cancer screening, and maternal and infant health.  

In the past five years alone, BCBSIL has awarded more than $20 million through the major grants program to community organizations statewide. In addition to Blue Impact grants, BCBSIL also supports local communities through sponsorships, in-kind donations, employee volunteerism and disaster relief. 

2026-27 Blue Impact grantees include:

Economic Opportunity and Stability 

• After School Matters 
• African American Christian Foundation 
• Austin Coming Together 
• Contact Ministries 
• Center For Enriched Living 
• Chicago House 
• Council For Jewish Elderly 
• Good Samaritan Ministries A Project Of Carbondale Interfaith Council 
• Growing Home Inc. 
• Inner-city Muslim Action Network 
• Jane Addams Resource Corporation 
• Land Of Lincoln Legal Aid 
• Lazarus House 
• Mercy Communities 
• Outreach Community Ministries, Inc. 
• Pioneer Center For Human Services 
• Prairie State Legal Services, Inc. 
• Pullman Tech Workshop 
• Ray Graham Association For People With Disabilities 
• Rush University Medical Center C/O West Side United 
• Saint Leonard's Ministries 
• The Cara Program 
• The Immigration Project  
• Transitional Living Services Dba Veterans Path To Hope  
• Tri-county Urban League, Inc. 
• Urban Growers Collective Inc 
• YBLC Inc 
• YWCA Of The Quad Cities 
• Zion West Enterprise NFP 

Locally Defined Health Solutions 

• A Long Walk Home 
• A Safe Haven Foundation 
• Access Community Health Network 
• B E D S Inc. 
• B U I L D Incorporated 
• Blackroots Alliance 
• Bridge Teen Center NFP 
• Bridge Communities, Inc. 
• Chinese Mutual Aid Association 
• Connections For The Homeless Inc 
• Chicago Workers Collaborative NFP 
• Community Health Care Clinic Inc 
• Consumer Credit Counseling Service Of Northern Illinois 
• Dupage PADS, Inc 
• Emmaus Ministries 
• Enlace Chicago 
• Fenix Family Health Center, Inc. (AKA Fenix Centro De Salud) 
• Focus Fairies Mentoring 
• Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Assoc 
• Housing Forward 
• Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc. 
• Illinois Coalition For Immigrant And Refugee Rights 
• Illinois Prison Project 
• Independence Health & Therapy 
• John Howard Association Of Illinois 
• Kankakee Area LGBQT Network  
• Lake County Crisis Center For The Prevention And Treatment Of Domestic Violence DBA A Safe Place 
• Latinos Progresando 
• Mano A Mano Family Resource Center 
• Mutual Ground Inc 
• PADS Lake County 
• Pride In The Pews Nfp Inc 
• Role Model Movement Inc Nfp 
• Rape Advocacy, Counseling, & Education Services 
• Sista Afya Community Care, NFP 
• Table Of Life Ministries 
• The Community Wellness Project 
• The Resurrection Project 
• Vision For Chicago 
• YMCA Of Metropolitan Chicago 

Neighborhood and Built Environment 

• C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation 
• Center For Housing And Health 
• Embarras River Basin Agency, Inc. 
• Housing Opportunities & Maintenance For The Elderly (H.O.M.E.) 
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation 
• Sola Gratia Farm 
• South Suburban PADS 

Nutrition

• Alicia's House, Inc. 
• American Indian Center, Inc. 
• College Of Lake County Foundation 
• Chicago Coalition To End Homelessness 
• Cultivate Collective 
• Dion's Chicago Dream 
• Dream Center Peoria, NFP 
• Fulcrum Farm Foundation 
• Global Garden Refugee Training Farm 
• Greater Chicago Food Depository 
• Herrin House Of Hope 
• L'arche Chicago 
• New Life Centers Of Chicagoland Nfp 
• Northern Illinois Food Bank 
• Neighborhood House Association 
• River Bend Food Reservoir 
• Star Farm Chicago 
• Teamwork Englewood 
• Vivery Community 
• Young Mens Educational Network 

Optimal Health Outcomes 

• Asian Health Coalition 
• Aurora African American Health Coalition 
• Breakthrough T1D
• Chicago Family Health Center Inc 
• Center On Halsted 
• Chestnut Health Systems, INC 
• Community Health And Emergency Services Inc 
• Equal Hope 
• Erie Family Health Centers 
• Friends Of The Highwood Public Library 
• Indo American Center Inc. 
• Institute For Nonviolence Chicago 
• Juvenile Protective Association 
• Lawndale Christian Health Center 
• Lawndale Christian Legal Center 
• Mcdermott Center Dba Haymarket Center 
• Mercy Housing Lakefront 
• Metropolitan Family Services 
• Nourishing Hope 
• Rosecrance Foundation 
• SIHF Healthcare 
• The Birthwork Foundation 
• The Josselyn Center, NFP 
• Wellness West 
• Will-Grundy Medical Clinic 

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving approximately nine million members and operating in all 102 counties across the state. For nearly 90 years, BCBSIL has been committed to helping its members and communities access quality health care while supporting their health and well-being. BCBSIL is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois