July 1, 2026 - June 30, 2027 - Veterans Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket Program

Proceeds from Illinois lottery ticket sales are used to support Illinois veterans. On a quarterly basis, IDVA's Veterans Cash Grant Committee reviews applications and awards grants to groups that help veterans address challenges associated with the following: 1) Behavioral Health, 2) Homelessness, 3) Health Insurance Costs, 4) Long-term Care, 5) Disability Benefits, 6) Job Placement and Training, 7) Emergency Financial Assistance.

To charge indirect costs to a grant, the applicant organization must have an annually negotiated indirect cost rate agreement (NICRA). There are three types of NICRAs: Federally Negotiated Rate Organizations that receive direct federal funding may have an indirect cost rate that was negotiated with the Federal Cognizant Agency. Illinois will accept the federally negotiated rate. The organization must provide a copy of the federal NICRA. State Negotiated Rate The organization must negotiate an indirect cost rate with the State of Illinois if they do not have Federally Negotiated Rate or elect to use the De Minimis Rate. The indirect cost rate proposal must be submitted to the State of Illinois within 90 days of the notice of award. De Minimis Rate An organization that has never received a Federally Negotiated Rate may elect a de minimis rate of 10% of Modified Total Direct Costs (MTDC). Once established, the de minimis rate may b used indefinitely. The State of Illinois must verify the calculation of the MTDC annually to accept the de minimis rate.

This opportunity closes at the end of the business day on the Submission Close Date above. AmpliFund will not allow submission after 5 PM CST.

Applicants must be pre-qualified in the GATA Grantee Portal in order for their application to be considered for this funding opportunity. All applications must be submitted through the Amplifund Grant Management System (GMS): https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details No other form of submission will be accepted or considered eligible. The Uniform Application for State Grant Assistance and Uniform Budget Template must be fully completed within GMS. All supporting materials—such as project descriptions, proposals, website address, images, charts, tables, and maps—must be uploaded as separate documents. These materials provide IDVA and the review committee with the necessary information to evaluate each project thoroughly.

Contact the email address above if you have any programmatic questions about the Veterans Scratch-Off Lottery Ticket Program. Contact AmpliFund Customer Support with any questions about how to apply or with questions throughout the application process. Hours of operation are Monday - Friday, 7 AM - 7 PM CST, and you can expect a response within two business hours. Email: support@il-amplifund.zendesk.com Phone: 216-377-5500 x 2

The applicant should be pre-qualified in the GATA grantee portal before applying. Applicant Eligibility: Government agencies and tax-exempt entities currently providing veteran’s assistance or similar assistance to non-veterans and wishing to expand to veteran’s assistance are the only organizations eligible for grants under this program. Beneficiary Eligibility: Illinois veterans. Credentials Documentation: To support the tax-exempt eligibility, proof of 501(c) (3) status as determined by the Internal Revenue Service must be provided. An entity may apply for a grant but will not be eligible for a grant award unless the entity has pre-qualified through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) Grantee Portal, http://www.grants.illinois.gov/portal/ by the close of the application period. During pre-qualification, DUNS and Bradstreet verifications are performed including a check of Debarred and Suspended status and good standing with the Secretary of State. The pre-qualification process also includes a financial and administrative risk assessment utilizing an Internal Controls Questionnaire. If applicable, the entity will be notified that it is ineligible for award as a result of the pre-qualification process. The entity will be informed of corrective action needed to become eligible for a grant award.

Completed applications are reviewed and forwarded to the Vets Cash Committee for evaluation and recommendation. The Committee’s recommendations are then submitted to the Director for final approval or denial. Applicants will be notified of the decision through the AmpliFund system. Approved applicants will be asked to submit additional documentation. Once all required documents have been received, a Grant Agreement will be issued for the applicant to sign and return. After the agreement is fully executed by IDVA, a copy will be emailed to the applicant.

The Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), 30 ILCS 708/1 et seq. is the Administrative Code that this grant will be governed under.

Quarterly Reporting Requirements Grantees are required to submit both Financial and Performance Report information in Amplifund on a quarterly basis. Periodic Financial Report (PFR): Must include documentation of spending, such as invoices and receipts, along with proof of payment (e.g., front and back of checks, credit card statements, or reports from accounting/payroll software. Periodic Performance Report (PPR): Must include evidence of grant-related activities, such as, a spreadsheet listing event dates, veterans’ first names only, branch of service, and any related publications of materials. Failure to submit the required PFR and PPR may result in reimbursement payments being withheld or suspended by IDVA.

Auto Mileage for Travel and Lodging/Hotels. Applicants must refer to the Governor's Travel Control Board's Travel Reimbursement Schedule-Travel Guide. https://cms.illinois.gov/employees/travel.html