Illinois Natural Resources Grants

Natural Resources · $10K–$240K

Open to government agencies, schools, and nonprofits for fish and wildlife habitat projects, with priority for species of greatest conservation concern. Projects must involve a multi-state effort and compete at the federal level, which narrows practical eligibility to organizations able to coordinate across states. Awards range from $10,000 to $240,000; no deadline listed.

Natural Resources · $25K–$500K

Illinois' Coastal Management Program (funded via USEPA's 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) supports coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education projects, with awards from $25,000 to $500,000. Eligible applicants are units of local government, universities, and nonprofit organizations that are pre-qualified through the state's GATA grantee portal; private individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly not eligible, and this is a reimbursement grant requiring full expense documentation. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp management and control in Illinois waterways, supporting Great Lakes restoration priorities. Awards range from $20,000 to $6,000,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$300K

This Illinois Forest Action Plan (Urban) grant funds data collection and reporting on the condition and disease problems affecting Illinois trees and forests, with awards ranging from $1,000 to $300,000. Eligibility is listed as N/A, so applicants should contact the Illinois Department of Natural Resources directly to confirm who may apply. No deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$30K

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds work to combat white-nose syndrome in bats and conserve affected species. Awards range from $1,000 to $30,000.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp management and control in Illinois waterways, supporting Great Lakes restoration priorities. Awards range from $20,000 to $6,000,000.

Natural Resources · $50K–$500K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources program funds government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations to protect and restore habitat and species within the Great Lakes Basin, with awards from $50,000 to $500,000. Eligibility is broad, covering most organization types with a Great Lakes conservation project. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $25K–$500K

Open to Illinois units of local government, universities, and nonprofit organizations for coastal planning, coastal hazards, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects. Private individuals and for-profit organizations are not eligible, and applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois GATA grantee portal. This is a reimbursement grant, with awards from $25,000 up to $500,000.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources program (FY25) provides technical and financial assistance to government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for projects that protect and restore habitat and species in the Great Lakes Basin, with awards from $5,000 to $150,000. Eligibility is broad, covering most organization types. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$120K

Nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status) can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources Forest Health Management grant, though institutions of higher education are excluded. It funds data collection to analyze disease and health conditions in Illinois trees and forests. Awards range from $1,000 to $120,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$350K

Illinois units of local government (municipalities, park districts, school districts, forest preserve districts), universities, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources Coastal Management Program grant; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $1,000 to $350,000. This is a reimbursement grant requiring documentation of grant and matching expenses, and applicants must be pre-qualified through the state's GATA grantee portal.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding Great Lakes habitat and species protection, restoration, and management priorities under the Aquatic Nuisance Species Comprehensive Management Plan. Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Asian carp control in the Ohio River Basin. Awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$93.6K

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant supporting programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Awards range from $1,000 to $93,593.

Natural Resources · $10K–$8M

Illinois' Sport Fish Restoration program (Dingell-Johnson Act, FY24) funds government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofits for a wide range of activities including fisheries research, boat access development, habitat enhancement, and hatchery construction, with awards from $10,000 up to $8,000,000. Eligibility is broad across public and nonprofit sectors. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $50K–$800K

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) grant to Great Lakes states, administered via Illinois Natural Resources, which funds habitat and species protection, conservation, and restoration priorities in the Great Lakes Basin. Awards range from $50,000 to $800,000.

Natural Resources · Amount varies

This is an exploratory pilot program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the US Climate Alliance and a University of Illinois research lab, to develop a data-driven ecosystem service assessment model for climate response planning. Eligibility is limited to government organizations and the scope/funding details are still being determined ("Pilot Program/TBD"), so this is not yet a well-defined open opportunity for outside applicants. No award amount or deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $10K–$1M

Open to government agencies, schools, and nonprofits for sport fish restoration work such as fisheries improvement and boat access projects. No project description is provided beyond the funding category, so applicants should confirm specific eligible activities with the funder. Awards range from $10,000 to $1 million; no deadline listed.

Natural Resources · Amount varies

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources capital grant (FY25) funds specific projects named directly in the state's annual appropriation bill, covering local governments, units of government, educational facilities, and not-for-profit organizations for natural resource, recreation, and cultural resource purposes. Eligibility is restricted to entities explicitly named in the legislature's line-item appropriation, so organizations not already designated in the budget bill cannot apply on their own initiative. No deadline or award amount is listed.

Natural Resources · Amount varies

Illinois' Urban and Community Forestry Program (FY24) provides technical and financial assistance to communities for managing trees and related natural resources, open to public and private colleges/universities, 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education from that category), and government organizations. No award amount or application deadline is listed, so applicants should confirm current funding levels with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.