2026

Treasurer Frerichs speaks with a woman in the kitchen of a food pantry and service agency

Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Nearly $200,000 in Grants for Small Nonprofits in Illinois

Funds Will Support Housing and Food Programs in Aurora, Elgin, Aledo, Galesburg, Danville, Herrin, Peru, Pittsfield, and Chicago Key Points: Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs today announced $195,000 in Charitable Trust grants to 10 nonprofit organizations across the state that provide food and housing to people in need. “Through these grants, we are lending a hand to people who are struggling to meet basic needs like food and shelter,” Treasurer Frerichs said at a news conference in Chicago. “We recognize that people are faced with higher housing costs and grocery…

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Treasurer Frerichs as a boy, around age 8, climbing the stairs to exit a swimming pool

Helping You Build Good Money Habits

The 1980s seemed to be peak suntanning culture in America. In movies, the cool kids had a deep, dark tan. The ads for sunscreen focused on getting a nice even brown. In the summer, it seemed like everyone was grabbing some rays, and in the winter, tanning beds were a thing. I got caught up in the craze. I never visited a tanning salon, but I also rarely used sunscreen. I don’t think the sun’s harmful effects were clear to me until one particularly long suntanning session on our deck. Sure,…

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Shermann Dilla Thomas speaks at a microphone as Treasurer Frerichs and another man watch

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs Unveils New Investment Program to Build Affordable Housing

$10 Million Partnership with IFF Helps Nonprofits, Generates Investment Returns for State Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs today unveiled a new community investment program designed to build affordable housing, help nonprofits, and generate returns for the state. Frerichs invested $10 million with IFF, a Chicago-based Community Development Financial Institution that promotes economic development by providing financing and real estate consulting across the Midwest to nonprofits and people underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income communities. On Tuesday, Frerichs highlighted one of the first completed projects, the new South Side headquarters…

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Twin toddler boys sitting on a chair, each holding a book

Comparison Is the Thief of Joy

After I wrote about the boys’ birthday, a few people asked me what their favorite toy was. It’s different every day, but without question their current favorite toy is the one their brother is playing with. And we often experience a meltdown when their brother does not relinquish it to them. The toy could have been sitting at the bottom of the toy chest for months, out of sight and out of mind. But as soon as their brother has rediscovered it and starts to play with it, that toy…

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About 20 people standing and posing in front of a curtain on a stage

Illinois Among Founding Partners of New Consortium to Expand Participation in 529 Education Savings Plans

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Proposed the Idea While Serving as President of the National Association of State Treasurers The University of Chicago Becker Friedman Institute for Economics (BFI) and Stanford University Initiative for Financial Decision-Making (IFDM) are partnering with the National Association of State Treasurers through its education savings network, The 529 Network, with support from the National Endowment for Financial Education, to launch a new consortium dedicated to advancing research on public understanding of 529 education savings plans and related financial education and education access initiatives. Chicago, IL —…

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