Illinois State Grants

Transportation · Amount varies

This Illinois DOT program funds organizations to serve as Cycle Rider Safety Training Course Providers, delivering state-approved motorcycle safety courses to Illinois residents. Eligible applicants include community colleges, state universities, state/local government agencies, and for-profit or nonprofit businesses in good standing operating in Illinois, but motorcycle dealerships and businesses that derive income from motorcycle sales are not eligible.

State Board Of Education · $50K–$600K

State Board of Education funding tied to the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program (Title IV Part B), which typically supports school districts and community partners running before/after-school and summer academic enrichment for students. Awards range from $50,000 to $600,000, with a 2026-08-24 deadline. Detailed eligibility and program requirements are not included in this listing, so applicants should confirm specifics with the funder before applying.

Commerce And Econ Opp · $300K–$1.5M

This Illinois Community Development Block Grant program funds public infrastructure projects, with awards ranging from $300,000 to $1.5 million. Eligibility details were not published with this listing, so applicants should confirm directly with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, but CDBG public infrastructure funding is typically limited to local units of government.

Commerce And Econ Opp · $300K–$800K

This Illinois Community Development Block Grant program funds housing rehabilitation projects, with awards ranging from $300,000 to $800,000. Eligibility details were not published with this listing; CDBG housing rehab funding is typically restricted to local units of government, so applicants should verify with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Illinois Arts Council · $6K–$600K

This Illinois Arts Council grant supports public radio and television, with awards ranging from $6,000 to $600,000. Eligibility details were not published with this listing, so applicants should confirm specific requirements directly with the Illinois Arts Council.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security · Amount varies

This Illinois State Indoor Radon Grant program funds local health departments and other eligible organizations to conduct outreach and community education on radon health hazards, covering federal fiscal years 2026-2028. Eligible applicants include county, local, municipal, district, and areawide governments, as well as colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations; this round targets unspent year-one funds for new second-year awards.

Office Of The State Fire Marshal · Up to $550K

Funding is restricted to the City of Chicago; no other applicants are eligible. Covers the city's operational expenses for regulating underground storage tanks, with awards up to $550,000. Deadline is July 31, 2026.

Agriculture · Up to $1.2M

This grant is limited to government organizations (such as counties) implementing no-till and strip-till conservation practices under Illinois's Climate Smart Agriculture Program, run by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as part of the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Subrecipient applications are awarded first-come, first-served by county, capped at 3,000 acres per application, with total program funding up to about $1.2 million; a signed conflict-of-interest and mandatory disclosure form is required before submission. Nonprofits, businesses, researchers, and individuals are not eligible — only government entities may apply. The deadline is August 31, 2026, so eligible county applicants should act soon.

Department Of Natural Resources · $20K–$1.1M

The Illinois OSLAD program funds local units of government to acquire, develop, or rehabilitate public outdoor recreation land, covering up to 50% of project costs (up to 90% in certain distressed areas), with awards from $20,000 to about $1.1 million. Only local governments with specific statutory authority over park and recreation land (counties, municipalities, park districts, etc.) are eligible — nonprofits and other private entities do not qualify, and matching funds are required.

Public Health · Up to $125K

This listing (funder: Public Health) does not include eligibility criteria or a program description, so it's unclear who can apply or what specific activities are funded under this lethal-means-reduction program. The maximum award is $125,000, with applications due August 31, 2026. Contact the funder directly to confirm eligibility and scope before applying.

Human Services · $187.5K–$3.5M

This funding opportunity from Human Services supports enhancement of suicide prevention call center operations, with awards ranging from $187,500 to $3,487,500. Specific eligibility criteria were not included in the available listing text, so applicants should confirm who qualifies directly against the official notice before applying. The application deadline is September 4, 2026.

Department Of Children And Family Services · $250K–$10M

The FY27 CON Level of Care Support Services Grant Program from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services funds income security and social services projects, with awards ranging from $250,000 to $10,000,000. The published listing describes only the required application components and attachments (technical narrative, project timeline, budget template, certified audit, etc.) rather than specific applicant eligibility criteria, so organizations should review the full NOFO to confirm they qualify. Applications are due September 14, 2026.

Emergency Mgt Agency · Amount varies

This federal fiscal year 2023 Congressionally Directed Spending program funds pre-disaster mitigation projects for seven specific Illinois communities pre-selected by Congress. Because recipients are predetermined by congressional earmark, this is not a competitive, open application for other organizations.

Illinois Community College Board · Amount varies

Open to Illinois government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations that qualify as an "eligible provider" under WIOA Section 203(5) — including local educational agencies, community-based organizations, libraries, housing authorities, and consortia — but only for providers located in Area Planning Council (APC) 507. Funding supports adult education and literacy services, including basic skills instruction, workforce-aligned career pathways, and English-language instruction for adults 16 and older. No maximum award amount is specified; applications are due September 15, 2026. Providers outside APC 507 are not eligible.

Illinois Community College Board · Amount varies

Open to Illinois government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations that qualify as an "eligible provider" under WIOA Section 203(5), restricted to providers located in Area Planning Council (APC) 507. This track uses non-match state funding, so no local matching funds are required, and it supports the same adult education, literacy, and workforce-aligned services as the standard AEFLA competitive grant. No maximum award is specified; applications are due September 15, 2026.

Illinois Environmental Protection Agency · $50K–$1.5M

Illinois EPA offers this Clean Water Act Section 319(h) grant to a very wide range of applicants — individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, for-profit companies, schools/universities, and government organizations with legal standing to receive Illinois state funds — for projects that reduce nonpoint source pollution (like agricultural and stormwater runoff) in Illinois waterways. Awards range from $50,000 to $1,500,000, but applicants must provide matching funds, front project costs for later reimbursement, and be pre-qualified in Illinois' GATA portal (active SAM.gov registration, good standing, no debarment). Priority goes to projects implementing an already-approved watershed-based plan or TMDL plan; routine maintenance, permit-required activities, and pure habitat/flood-control projects are not eligible. Applications are due September 16, 2026.

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) · $50K–$250K

Illinois-based nonprofits, small businesses, government agencies, educational institutions, and public housing organizations can apply for this ICJIA grant, which funds capacity-building and violence-prevention work with awards up to $250,000. Applicants must have an annual operating budget under $2 million, must have already completed a structured capacity-building program and an independent organizational assessment, must be current in the state's GATA Grantee Portal, and must not have received ICJIA funding in the past 24 months. The application deadline is September 17, 2026.

Community College Board · Amount varies

Open only to Illinois community colleges located in counties or census tracts that meet HRSA's rural classification criteria — not available to nonprofits, individuals, or non-rural institutions. Funding expands healthcare support-worker training programs, with emphasis on maternal care and substance abuse, through added instructional and clinical capacity, student supports, and delivery models designed for rural barriers. No maximum award is specified; applications are due September 18, 2026.

Public Health · Up to $38.8K

This listing (funder: Public Health) does not include eligibility criteria or a program description, so it's unclear who qualifies to apply or what research activities are funded. The maximum award is $38,792, with a deadline of September 18, 2026. Contact the funder to confirm eligibility before applying.

Community College Board · Amount varies

Open only to Illinois community colleges in counties meeting HRSA's rural classification — not available to nonprofits, individuals, or non-rural institutions. Funding strengthens rural healthcare workforce pipelines by expanding clinical and allied-health training capacity, student supports, and workforce partnerships. No maximum award is specified; applications are due September 18, 2026.