Illinois State Grants

Natural Resources · Amount varies

This Illinois Natural Resources grant is restricted to government organizations — it funds financial and technical assistance for organizing, training, and equipping rural fire departments, passed through to local fire departments and training academies, and connects departments with surplus federal firefighting resources. Award amounts were not specified in the listing.

Natural Resources · Up to $150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources operational grant (FY26) funds entities specifically named in the state's annual appropriation bill (line-item/Member Initiatives), covering local governments, units of government, educational facilities, and not-for-profit organizations, with awards up to $150,000. Because eligibility is limited to entities already designated in the budget bill, organizations not named there cannot apply on their own initiative. No deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $10K–$8M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Sport Fish Restoration (Dingell-Johnson) grant administered via Illinois Natural Resources. Eligible activities include sport fisheries research and management, boating access development, aquatic resource education, lake construction, land acquisition, and hatchery construction. Awards range from $10,000 to $8,000,000.

Department of Natural Resources · $10K–$10M

Government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations can apply for this Illinois Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Restoration grant (FY26), which supports wildlife habitat restoration and related conservation activities. Awards range from $10,000 to $10,000,000. A detailed program description was not included in this listing.

Natural Resources · $30K–$2M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp removal and monitoring activities in the Upper Mississippi River. Awards range from $30,000 to $2,000,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$45.1K

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 $45,088.

Commerce And Econ Opp · $10K–$2M

This Illinois DCEO Federal Grant Support Program offers awards between $10,000 and $2,000,000. The listing doesn't specify eligibility or how funds may be used — confirm details with DCEO before applying.

Natural Resources · $25K–$500K

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 (funded via USEPA GLRI); individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $25,000 to $500,000. 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 · Up to $1.5M

Illinois' Clean Vessel Act program (FY25) funds surveys, plans, and construction of sewage pumpout and dump stations for recreational boats, plus related education programs, with awards up to $1.5 million. Eligible applicants are public and private colleges/universities and 501(c)(3) nonprofits (excluding institutions of higher education from the nonprofit category, per the more detailed criteria); no application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · Amount varies

This is a pilot program from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, currently open to government organizations, to develop a preliminary statewide wetland mapping model using deep learning and GIS. Eligibility criteria and award amounts are still being finalized (marked TBD in the listing) — check back or contact IDNR for updates.

Natural Resources · $50K–$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 (funded via the Inflation Reduction Act); individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $50,000 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.

Illinois Community College Board · $5K–$500K

Restricted to programs that were already awarded funding through the FY25 IELCE grant competition — this is a continuation opportunity, not open to new applicants. For those already-funded programs (government, education, or nonprofit entities), it funds English language acquisition, civics education, and workforce preparation services for adult English language learners under WIOA Title II Section 243, with awards from $5,000 to $500,000. Years 3 and 4 of funding are contingent on meeting programmatic requirements.

Natural Resources · $10K–$1M

Illinois' State Wildlife Grants program (FY24) funds government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit fish and wildlife habitats, with priority given to species of greatest conservation concern. Awards range from $10,000 to $1,000,000. No application deadline is listed, so applicants should check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for current cycle timing.

Illinois Arts Council · $3.8K–$532.6K

An Illinois Arts Council grant supporting public radio and television, with awards ranging from $3,765 to $532,570, but no eligibility criteria or project description is listed here. Applicants should confirm with the Illinois Arts Council whether this is limited to licensed public broadcasting stations or open more broadly.

Natural Resources · $20K–$1.5M

This federal Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (administered via Illinois Natural Resources) funds construction, renovation, and maintenance of docking and mooring facilities for large recreational boats. Per the detailed eligibility text, direct participation is limited to state, territorial, or Commonwealth agencies with lead fish and wildlife management responsibility — not individuals or private businesses, despite conflicting category labels elsewhere in the listing. Awards range from $20,000 to $1,500,000.

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.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency · Amount varies

Funded through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for costs associated with its Homeland Security Preparedness, Response, and Unmet Needs Grant Program, listed as available to government organizations and other direct beneficiary awardees. No specific award amount or detailed project description is provided; this appears to be a prior state fiscal year (SFY24) program, so applicants should confirm current availability with the funder.

Commerce And Econ Opp · $250K–$2M

This Illinois DCEO Community Development Block Grant Community Revitalization Program offers awards between $250,000 and $2,000,000. The listing doesn't specify eligibility or funded activities — confirm details with DCEO before applying.