Resource Directory /

Financial Assistance and Grant Programs Resources

  • Needy Meds

    NeedyMeds is a national non-profit organization providing information on healthcare and medication programs designed to help people afford their medications and other healthcare costs. NeedyMeds can help with paying for prescriptions, finding a free clinic and understanding your healthcare options. All the information is free, easy to access and updated regularly.

    NeedMeds also offers:

    • A toll-free helpline at (800) 503-6897 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
    • A directory of affordable health clinics for medical, dental, behavioral health and substance abuse services
    • Assistance with finding a private or government-funded organization offering help with treatment costs associated with specific diagnoses
    • A Patient Assistance Program (PAP) providing free or discounted medicines to people who are unable to afford them
    • Information on coupons, savings cards, rebates and co-pays

  • New Kingdom Trailriders

    New Kingdom Trailriders (NKT) in Sherrard offers therapeutic horseback riding lessons for children ages 4 and up and adults with autism, mental illness, disabilities and other challenges. The lessons help promote mental focus, fine and gross motor skills, coordination, social skills and self-confidence. NKT serves residents in the greater Quad City area and surrounding communities. A limited number of scholarships are offered per riding session to individuals with proven financial need.

    For questions, please contact NKT at (309) 764-4220 or info@nktriders.org.

  • NORD: National Organization for Rare Disorders

    The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers support, information and a variety of events for clinicians, researchers, patients and families affected by rare diseases.

    NORD’s Resource Center provides patients and caregivers with free webinars, fact sheets, infographics, support and advocacy groups links, and referrals for rare disorders.

    NORD’s RareCare Program website provides a list of financial assistance programs that can help patients obtain life-saving or life-sustaining medication they could not otherwise afford.

    NORD’s State Resource Center contains local, state and national organizations listed by state or by topic offering free or low-cost services for people impacted by rare diseases.

    NORD’s free, self-paced online course “From Records to Research: Making Sense of Health Data for Rare Diseases” provides help for understanding health data, research participation and how both contribute to improving treatments and care. The course is available:

  • North Shore Gas Assistance Options

    If you cannot pay your energy bill due to financial difficulties, North Shore Gas has flexible payment arrangement plans or energy assistance options that may help.

    They also include information about these programs:

    • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
    • Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)
    • Share the Warmth, company- and customer-funded heating grants

  • North West Housing Partnership (NWHP)

    North West Housing Partnership (NWHP) programs cover a broad area of the suburban northwest, west and Chicagoland area. It offers a variety of housing and handyman programs for seniors 60 years and older and people with disabilities, 18 or over, in need of simple repairs in the communities of:

    • Arlington Heights
    • Buffalo Grove
    • Mount Prospect
    • Palatine
    • Rolling Meadows
    • Des Plaines
    • All of Palatine and Wheeling Townships
    • Oak Park Township (including Oak Park and River Forest).

    NWHP also offers:

  • Northeast Community Fund in Decatur

    Northeast Community Fund helps families in the Decatur and Macon County community with food, clothing, household goods and funding for utility payments, obtaining IDs, baby formula and wipes, emergency lodging and prescription medicines. The organization’s food pantry provides monthly food baskets to those in need. It also operates a microfinance program and a program for families to work with a staff member and mentor to achieve short- and long-term goals to move towards self-sufficiency.

  • Northern Illinois Foodbank

    The Northern Illinois Food Bank delivers food and healthy eating services across 13 counties (Boone, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, Ogle, Stephenson, Will and Winnebago counties). The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides weekly drive-thru Mobile Markets with free and fresh groceries, an online food pantry, a recipes and nutrition hub, and free economic mobility learning resources.

  • Nourishing Hope in Chicago

    Nourishing Hope helps individuals and families in Chicago by meeting them where they are to overcome barriers. Help includes food programs, trauma-informed mental health counseling in multiple languages, domestic violence support and a wide range of social services. Nourishing Hope offers a choice-based food distribution program that also includes:

    • Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickups through five different food access programs.
    • A home delivery services for people with disabilities, older adults and homebound neighbors.
    • Life-changing social services such as case management, job search support, domestic violence intervention and public benefits assistance (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, healthcare, government forms).

  • Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation – Ollie’s Branch

    The Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation (OHHF) offers a variety of information, resources and mental health support for families caring for children with pediatric heart conditions and heart disease. OHHF resources include:

    • Free mental health services through Ollie’s Branch. All sessions are completely free regardless of insurance status.
    • Financial support for families whose heart warrior is currently inpatient or has been admitted within three months of the request. OHHF Community Outreach requests are considered on a case-by-case basis and can help with housing, utilities, transportation, medical bills, and more.

    OHHF’s mental health access program is open to heart-warrior families anywhere in Illinois. Financial support requests may come from anywhere in the United States.

  • Oracle Health Foundation

    Oracle Health Foundation’s pediatric grants cover various clinical, equipment, and travel and lodging costs related to children’s healthcare needs. The foundation accepts applications from the United States and through select international providers.

    Funding criteria include that the applicant must be 21 or younger (special consideration given for individuals 22-25 receiving pediatric treatment). You can find more details on the Oracle Health Foundation website on how to request a pediatric grant.