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Strategic Initiatives

For more than six decades, Nicor Gas has provided clean, safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to communities across Northern Illinois. It is our privilege to serve our customers. That's why Nicor Gas gives back by investing in communities, supporting non-profit organizations and working to enrich the quality of life of our customers. Our three strategic initiatives provide focus and direction, allowing us to make a meaningful impact on the customers we serve through the good work of our non-profit community partners.

Supporting Basic Needs

Clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy is a basic need of our customers – and delivering that energy to our customers connects us to them a personal way. That connection drives our support of other basic needs of our customers – from providing bill payment assistance, to addressing food insecurity.

Nearly 11% of residents in the state of Illinois live in poverty. This number has grown significantly as a result of the economic impacts of the pandemic, and the need to support customers’ basic needs, like food, clothing, and shelter, is greater than ever.

Our partners: Here are a few of our Supporting Basic Needs strategic partners. 

Housing Forward  |  Northern Illinois Food Bank  |  Operation Warm

Protecting the Environment

We don’t just believe in the clean energy economy – we are the clean energy economy. This understanding drives our commitment to sustainability and the environment – from delivering renewable energy, to conserving nature that enriches the lives of our customers.

Parks, gardens and nature preserves in the communities we serve provide critical opportunities for nature and wildlife to thrive, and for community wellness, education and recreation.

Our partners: Here are a few of our Protect the Environment partners.

Brookfield Zoo | Chicago Wilderness |  Morton Arboretum

Enabling Economic Opportunity

We work every day to fuel a vibrant economy in Illinois. Our role in delivering the energy that enables our customers to live, work and play drives our commitment to enable economic opportunity – from creating jobs to investing in economic development.

Education, job training and economic development are the building blocks to strengthen communities, our region and our state. When our customers have equitable access to education, job training and capital investment, they can build wealth, improve quality of life in communities, and contribute to a thriving economy.

Our partners: Here are a few of our Enable Economic Opportunity strategic partners.

Chicago United  |  Junior Achievement of Chicago |  Quad County Urban League

Who Can Apply?

Strategic partnerships are offered by invitation only. We’ve focused these partnerships on non-profit organizations with a broad reach in our service territory that can make great strides to help us meet our three strategic objectives.

Eligible organizations that support one of the five pillar focus areas and whose programs benefit those within Nicor Gas’ service area are encouraged to apply for a pillar grant.