Sign Up for Funding
For over 50 years, the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program has provided funding for 250,000+ clients of the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) to attend summer camps. Summer camps that participate in this program commit to working towards the four established outcomes of this program to help the clients.
The American Camp Association, Illinois (ACA Illinois), under contract with the State of Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), administers the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program. In IDHS this program is referred to as the Donated Funds Initiative (DFI) because of the matching funds involved in the program. ACA Illinois purchases the camping services for eligible campers from day and resident camps that wish to participate. The relationship between ACA Illinois and any individual camp/organization is for purchase of service and payment for these services.
*Please note: this program is not a grant.
Upcoming FREE Info Sessions for New Camps
Click on the session below for a FREE, no obligation info session if you're a new camp interested in the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program.
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Qualifications for Camps/Agencies to join the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program include:
- Must be an established and operating agency or business with a valid EIN number.
- Must be able to provide a 36% cash match (in form of a check) prior to reimbursement.
- Must complete all required paperwork and forms by the established deadlines.
- Must meet industry and licensing requirements for program supervision and training. (This is unique to the specific type of agency and program.)
- Must attend all required training for the DFI Title XX program.
- Must work towards the four established outcomes.
- Must meet the requirements found in the DFI Title XX Camping Services Program Guidelines.
All of the following requirements must be met in order for the Client (camper) to qualify for this funding:
- Client (camper) must be age 5 to 17 years of age* on the first day of the camp session being billed to the state.
- Client (camper) must be receiving TANF, Medicaid, or SNAP benefits form the State of Illinois.
- Must be a resident of the State of Illinois.
- Must attend camp on all the days billed.
- Must have a current and complete DFI Title XX program registration and outcomes report on file.
*Camps that primarily serve adults with special needs may have a different age requirement outlined in their agreement.
Program Outcomes Our program is rooted in helping young people develop the skills needed to go into the workforce and become contributing members of their community when they become adults. Knowing the value of interpersonal skills in the workplace and when a person is active in their community, IDHS and ACA Illinois identified camps as a powerful experience to help young people strengthen and focus on these skills during the summer months. The DFI Title XX Program through ACA Illinois has created an outcome survey to direct camps and the program to achieve the following outcomes for campers who are IDHS clients and receive funding through DFI Title XX. All camps must meet these outcomes and produce outcome results on required documents provided. The Four Outcomes:
Camp must provide 36% cash match for the allocated funds. Camps must submit their match funds prior to billing the state for reimbursement. Once the required billing paperwork is turned in and processed and ACA Illinois has received the cash match (only accepted in the form of a check) the state will be billed for the remaining portion of the allocation. Due to the continued challenges faced by the state with the COVID-19 pandemic, payments are delayed up to 12 weeks. This and more about how the financials work is covered in the Financial & Allocation Process Training. Allocations are based a variety of factors including but not limited to:
Allocations are issued each year and may increase or decrease each summer. The state and ACA Illinois have the ability to decrease or revoke the allocations at anytime. |
This program is not:
- Designed to cover the entire cost of the camp experience. This program is a subsidy.
- Able to fund all your campers.
- Funding academic, sport, single program focused (i.e. programs that focus on only one activity such as a specific sport), or childcare programs. This program is for summer camps that offer a VARIERTY of activities.
- A grant. ACA Illinois is PURCHASING the camp experience on behalf of the IDHS Client.
- Pay ahead. This is a REIMBURSEMENT based program. Camps are paid 12-16 weeks after paperwork and match funds are submitted.
- Serving early childhood groups. Youth must be age 5 or OLDER on the first day of camp.
- Funding for the entire summer season per camper. Funding typically covers 1 WEEK OF CAMP per IDHS Client per summer.
If you, a new agency, hoping to join our program this upcoming summer (2024), complete this form to learn more.
Questions About the DFI Title XX Program? Contact Colette Marquardt, Chief Executive Officer, at 312-343-1070 or by email at colette@acail.org. |
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