Illinois State Treasurer’s Office News Releases

Eight baseball cards from the 1950s and 1960s, all featuring Ernie Banks of the Chicago Cubs

Ernie Banks & Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards, Gold Coins, and More on Tap at Treasurer Frerichs’ Unclaimed Property Auction Preview

Video will be posted here: Baseball cards of Cubs legend Ernie Banks and Yankees great Mickey Mantle, a 14-karat white gold ring with a 10-carat blue sapphire and 14 diamonds, and Morgan silver dollars from various years are just some of the pieces of unclaimed property that the public can preview today (Monday, August 3). “The preview we’re hosting today is a great opportunity for people to check out the items that we will be auctioning later this month during the Illinois State Fair,” said State Treasurer Michael Frerichs,…

Read MoreErnie Banks & Mickey Mantle Baseball Cards, Gold Coins, and More on Tap at Treasurer Frerichs’ Unclaimed Property Auction Preview
Green corn leaves in a field with an overcast sky above. Photo is titled Corn Rows.

Treasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Winners of 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest

Key Points: State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has announced the winning photographers for the 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest, which provides Illinois students with a creative opportunity to share their vision of agriculture in our state. The top nine photographers, ages 8 to 18, will be awarded Bright Start 529 college savings scholarships. “Congratulations to the young Illinoisans who explored their surroundings, tapped into their creativity, and experimented with their photographic skills by participating in our Cream of the Crop contest,” Frerichs said. “These students’ photos truly reflect the…

Read MoreTreasurer Michael Frerichs Announces Winners of 2026 Cream of the Crop Photography Contest
Treasurer Frerichs stands with a man and a woman, all holding a giant check for $20,040

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Returns Record $308 Million to People, Businesses, Nonprofits in Fiscal Year 2026

Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs returned a record $307.8 million in missing money to more than 567,000 residents, businesses and organizations through the ICash program during Fiscal Year 2026. “Our changes to ICash allowed us to return more money to more people,” Frerichs said. “We are proud to set records, but we’re even more proud of helping folks. Reuniting people with money that rightfully belongs to them is even more important as inflation and decisions made by the Trump administration squeeze the average person and make food and gas harder…

Read MoreIllinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Returns Record $308 Million to People, Businesses, Nonprofits in Fiscal Year 2026
Exterior of Illinois State Capitol against a blue sky

Treasurer Frerichs Bill to Help Nonprofits Increase Investment Opportunities Is Now Law

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ measure to expand investment opportunities for non-profit organizations across the state is now law after Gov. JB Pritzker recently signed the bill. Senate Bill 2968 creates the Non-Profit Investment Pool, a safe and efficient investment option allowing eligible nonprofits to make the most of available funds while reducing administrative burdens. The law is intended to help nonprofits strengthen their financial stability and maximize resources that support communities throughout the state. “We worked with lawmakers and the Governor’s Office to pass this law, and…

Read MoreTreasurer Frerichs Bill to Help Nonprofits Increase Investment Opportunities Is Now Law
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

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 prices while the federal government is abandoning its responsibilities. We are proud to team up with these nonprofit…

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