Member Organizations

Are you concerned about making health care more affordable, protecting the environment, fighting hunger and homelessness? Do you oppose discrimination and support equal opportunity for women, minorities and the disabled? Now your gift can make a difference!

The Public Interest Fund of Illinois represents non‑profit organizations throughout Illinois that are working for the people and issues you care about. Through a combination of advocacy, education and community action, our members are taking acti on on these and other issues that affect your family, your neighbors, and your community.

Indicated below is a listing of current the member organizations of the Public Interest Fund of Illinois. Here you will find a little information about many of the organizations you will be helping when you contribute to the Public Interest Fund of Illinois or one of its member organizations. We've provided links to the organizations with Web sites, or Web links about the organizations, so that you can learn more about them.

ACORN: A grassroots organization that works for home ownership for low and moderate income families, a living wage for all workers and economic justice for all. (312) 939‑7488
American Civil Liberties Union - Roger Baldwin Foundation: The legal and educational arm of the Illinois ACLU. The Roger Baldwin Foundation protects and extends civil liberties through education and litigation.(312) 201‑9740
American Friends Service Committee: Organizes for peace and human rights in Chicago and in international conflict areas through education, nonviolent actions and leadership development. (312) 427‑2533; FAX (312) 427‑4171
Champaign County Health Care Consumers: Grassroots organizing, advocacy, and education, seeking health care reform though participatory democracy and consumer empowerment. Quality health care for all. . (217) 352‑6533; FAX (217) 352‑9745
CASA of DuPage County: Advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in DuPage County's juvenile justice system. CASA protects each child's right to a safe, permanent home. (630) 871‑1402
Centro San Bonifiaco: Dedicated to improving the health and quality of life for Latino families in the West Town and Humboldt Park neighborhoods though community organizing and leadership development. (773) 252‑9098
Champaign‑Urbana Tenant Union: Prevents and resolves landlord-tenant conflicts, provides counseling, mediation, information, and community education programs to promote safe, decent, affordable housing options. (217) 352‑6220
Chicago Anti‑Hunger Federation: Dedicated to alleviating hunger in metropolitan Chicago through the distribution of quality food, education, training and advocacy. (773) 252‑3663
Chicago Area Committee on Occupational Health and Safety (CACOSH): Provides health and safety advocacy, training, and technical assistance to Illinois workers to prevent workplace injuries, illness and fatalities. (312) 666‑1611
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless: Homes and jobs for homeless women, children, and men! We create and implement programs to end home lessness in the Chicago Metropolitan area. (312) 435‑4548
Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities: A statewide advocacy organization promoting the independence and empowerment of persons with disabilities since 1985. (217) 522‑7016.
Coordinated Advice And Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS): A legal assistance hotline for all low‑income residents of Cook County, seeking civil legal assistance. CARPLS provides legal advice, brief services to prevent litigation, and referrals to appropriate programs. (312) 738‑9494; Hotline (312) 738‑9200
Council for Disability Rights: A statewide organization promoting independence, integration and empowerment of people with disabilit ies and their families through information, education and advocacy. (312) 444‑9484
Eighth Day Center For Justice: Works in coalition with local and statewide organizations for social justice through education and advocacy programs on peace/human rights, women's issues and economic structures (312) 641‑5151; FAX (312) 641‑1250
El Centro Por Los Trabajadores: Advocates for Latino workers and their families in Champaign County by helping with legal problems, as well as health, language and educational needs. (217) 344‑1266 ext. 369
Families Advocating Injury Reduction (FAIR): Founded by injury victims and their families to advocate for policies that reduce unnecessary injuries caused by malpractice, unsafe workplaces and dangerous products. (217) 352‑6533; FAX (312) 645‑6017
Habitat for Humanity, Chicago South Region: Volunteers partner with very low‑income families to provide them ownership of simple, decent houses; keeping payments below 20% of income and charging no interest. (708) 756‑2015
Habitat For Humanity Pilsen/ Little Village: Builds decent affordable housing for low income families through sweat equity of buyers, volunteer labor and donations of material and money. (312) 666‑7989
Habitat For Humanity--Rockford Area: Builds simple, decent housing for families in need. Prospective homeowners contribute their "sweat equity", working side-by-side with volunteers from across the community. (815) 636‑4573
Habitat For Humanity--Sangamon County: Builds and renovates houses with volunteer labor and homeowner sweat equity to provide decent houses in decent communities in which people can live and grow. (217) 523‑2710
Habitat For Humanity, Westside: Builds decent affordable housing for low‑income families on Chicago's westside, selling it a 0% interest. We empower our families through home ownership and stability. (312) 638‑1516
Healing Racism/Chicago Southland: Dismantles racism and promotes community and diversity through classes for teens and adults, educational and social events and collaborates on regional projects. (708) 647‑8547
Heartland Peace Center: Award‑winning, grassroots projects include a nonprofit global artisan Peace Store. Teenagers vital to volunteer staff. Weekly "Peace Talks" on television. Summer Peace Camp for kids. (217) 787‑3047
Homestead Corporation of C‑U: Provodong affordable housing for low and moderate income individuals. (217) 333‑5218
Illinois Center for Citizen Involvement: Sponsors programs that encourage citizens to participate in issues affecting their communities including health care, housing and economic development. (217) 352‑6533; FAX (217) 352‑9745
Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence: Educates the public about the dangers of handguns; works with law enforcement officials and community leaders for handgun control; and supports victims and their families. (312) 341‑0939; FAX (312) 341‑9770
Illinois Disciples Foundation: Peace-With-Justice campus ministry; trains young activists in multi‑tactical direct action organizing; activities include food coop, anti‑racism, Take back The Night, and studies of liberation theology. (217) 352‑8721
Illinois Hispanic Educational Foundation: Works to increase the number of Latinos at all levels of state government by providing scholarships to Latinos in pursuit of careers in state government. (312) 409‑3329
Illinois Hunger Coalition: With a membership base of nearly 400 organization, IHC works to end hunger among children, the poor and other populations through advocacy, education and empowerment programs. (217) 544‑8982; FAX (217) 544‑6707
Illinois Peace Action Educational Foundation: Promotes a safer, more secure world through global nuclear disarmament, and creating a Peace Dividend to addre ss Illinoisans' needs. (312) 939‑3316; FAX (312) 939‑3319
Illinois Pro Bono Center: Works to increase the number of low‑income Illinois residents receiving quality uncompensated civil legal services from volunteer lawyer programs. (217) 359‑ 6811
Illinois Stewardship Alliance: A citizens organization working statewide for healthy rural communities through the stewardship and responsible development of Illinois' natural resources.(217) 498‑9707
Illinois Student Environmental Network: A network of student environmental groups creating a strong force of student activists to work on habitat protection, clean air and water, global warming, etc. (217) 384‑0830
League of Women Voters of Illinois Education Fund: This nonpartisan civic organization educates the public on issues, citizen/voting rights and elections, and promotes greater involvement in our democracy. (312) 939‑5935; FAX (312) 939‑6887
NAACP, Illinois State Conference: Fights to end all forms of discrimination against people of color through education and advocacy programs. (217) 352‑7166 (voice & FAX)
The Peace Museum: More than a museum, works with youth and adults to reduce violence by building communication, cooperation and conflict resolution skills necessary for peaceful communities. (312) 440‑1860
Physicians for Social Responsibility: An organization of health professionals and concerned citizens committed to eliminating weapons of mass destruction, preserving a sustainable environment, and reducing violence and its causes. (312) 663‑1777; FAX (312) 939‑7867
Prairienet: Community network dedicated to equal access to computer resources. (217) 244‑1962
Rogers Park Community Action Network: Empowers residents to have a voice in community decisions and promotes development without displacement for an economically, culturally, and racially diverse community. (773) 973‑7888
Southern Illinois Coalition for the Homeless: Works to house the homeless and eliminate the causes of homlessness in Southern Illinois through a variety of housing programs and initiatives. (618) 993‑0094
Statewide Housing Action Coalition: Works to increase and improve affordable, decent and accessible housing throughout Illinois. The coalition assists organizations building affordable housing, while preserving existing affordable housing. (312) 939‑6074; FAX (312) 939‑6822
StreetWise: Through its operation as a Street paper, StreetWise empowers the homeless in Chicago though employment opportunity. Simply put, StreetWise helps the homeless help themselves. (312) 554‑0060
Voices for Illinois Children: A statewide group of child advocates who champion the full development of every child in Illinois to assure the future well‑being of the people of the state. (312) 456‑0600
WBEZ - 91.5 FM - Chicago's Public Radio Station: WBEZ is a community supported public service broadcasting institution offering distinctive engaging, thoughtful and entertaining programming to listeners throughout Chicago at 91.5 FM. (312) 832‑9150
WDBX - FM Radio: A community radio station (91.1.FM) providing the peop le of southern Illinois with news, music, information and culturally diverse programming not otherwise available through existing media sources. (618) 457‑3691
WEFT - FM Radio: A non‑commercial radio station (90.1 FM) that provides community members access to the airwaves and gives voice to multi‑cultural music and political views. (217) 359‑9338; FAX (217) 352‑9745.