Illinois Natural Resources Grants

Natural Resources · $30K–$2M

Open to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for fish and wildlife management activities tied to Upper Mississippi River Asian carp control, in line with Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office priorities. Awards range from $30,000 to $2 million. No deadline is listed; broad eligibility across organization types.

Natural Resources · $10K–$800K

Open to government agencies, schools, and nonprofits for fish and wildlife habitat development and implementation projects, with priority for species of greatest conservation concern (including species not hunted or fished). Awards range from $10,000 to $800,000; no deadline listed.

Natural Resources · $200K–$5M

This USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act grant funds urban and community forestry work — planning, establishing, managing, and protecting trees, forests, and green spaces in and around cities and towns — to deliver ecosystem, social, and economic benefits, often through partnerships with government, private, and grassroots groups. Only government organizations and nonprofit organizations are eligible; for-profits and individuals are not. Awards are large, ranging from $200,000 to $5,000,000. No application deadline is listed in this record, so confirm timing directly with the program.

Natural Resources · Up to $238.7K

This Illinois Natural Resources grant funds participation in the federal Environmental Information Exchange Network and is by invitation only, limited to government and nonprofit entities already engaged with the program. The award is up to $238,655. Because it's invitation-only, most applicants without a prior relationship to the program will not be eligible.

Natural Resources · $1K–$75K

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 $75,000.

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 · Up to $100K

This 2025 NOAA-funded Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act research program supports research, surveys, and monitoring of fish activity in waterways spanning multiple jurisdictions, with awards up to $100,000. Eligibility is limited to government organizations only. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · Up to $50K

Illinois DNR (Phase 3) funding for greenway and trail planning along abandoned rail corridors, open only to public or quasi-public government agencies, not individuals, nonprofits, or businesses. Eligible applicants are limited to specific Illinois communities over 10,000 population or counties that have not already taken part in earlier planning phases, or multi-jurisdiction and interstate coalitions. These are non-competitive grants for pre-identified priority projects, capped around $20,000, with no application deadline listed.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources program (FY25) funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Ohio River Basin Asian Carp control efforts, open to government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations, with awards from $30,000 to $3,000,000. Eligibility is broad across sectors. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$200K

This Illinois Forest Action Plan (Forest Health) grant funds data collection on tree and forest disease conditions, open to 501(c)(3) and non-501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, but explicitly excludes institutions of higher education. Awards range from $1,000 to $200,000. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $10K–$1M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources State Wildlife Grant, which funds projects benefiting fish, wildlife, and their habitats — with priority given to species of greatest conservation concern. Awards range from $10,000 to $1,000,000.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Open to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for invasive carp management in Illinois waterways under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Funds technical and financial assistance to protect, conserve, or restore habitat and species on public or private land in the Great Lakes Basin. Awards range from $20,000 up to $6 million; no deadline listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$350K

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 $1,000 to $350,000.

Natural Resources · $50K–$800K

Open to government agencies, schools, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for aquatic invasive species work in Great Lakes states. Funds technical and financial assistance to identify, protect, conserve, manage, or restore habitat and species on public or private land within the Great Lakes Basin. Awards range from $50,000 to $800,000; no deadline listed.