Illinois State Grants

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.

Aging · $15K–$30K

State and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, faith-based and community-based nonprofits, hospitals, and colleges/universities can apply for this Illinois Aging Department program (Older Americans Act Section 411; state agencies also eligible under ACA Section 2042). It funds mentoring and internship programs within Adult Protective Services provider networks to build a pipeline of trained staff and address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Awards range from $15,000 to $30,000.

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.

Environmental Protection · $100K–$18M

This is the Driving a Cleaner Illinois - Volkswagen settlement funding program from a state Environmental Protection agency, with large awards ranging from $100,000 to $18 million, but no eligibility criteria or project description is listed here. This program typically funds vehicle/equipment replacement to reduce diesel emissions; applicants should confirm specific eligibility and use restrictions with the funder.

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.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency · Amount varies

Funded through the Illinois Emergency Management Agency for costs associated with its Homeland Security Preparedness and Response 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 (SFY23) program, so applicants should confirm current availability with the funder.

Emergency Mgt Agency · Amount varies

This FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance program funds state, territorial, and federally recognized tribal governments, applying through the state's emergency management agency or floodplain management office, to reduce repetitive flood damage to buildings insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. Only one application is accepted per state, territory, or tribe, and the applicant must already have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan in place. Award amounts and a deadline were not listed, so check the current FEMA notice for the active funding cycle; local nonprofits and businesses cannot apply directly.

Commerce And Econ Opp · $300K–$1M

This Illinois DCEO Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program offers awards between $300,000 and $1,000,000. The listing doesn't specify eligibility or funded activities — confirm details with DCEO before applying.

Aging · $15K–$75K

State and local governments, tribal governments and organizations, faith-based and community-based nonprofits, hospitals, and colleges/universities can apply for this Illinois Aging Department program (Older Americans Act Section 411; state agencies also eligible under ACA Section 2042). It funds mentoring and internship programs within Adult Protective Services provider networks to build a pipeline of trained staff and address elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Awards range from $15,000 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.

Emergency Mgt Agency · Amount varies

This FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program funds states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local governments for hazard mitigation activities. Per the listing, eligible applicants are predetermined by FEMA through the FEMA GO system rather than open to general application, so most organizations cannot apply directly. Award amounts and a deadline were not listed; check the current FEMA notice for the active funding cycle.

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.

Emergency Mgt Agency · Amount varies

Restricted to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal governments, and local governments that FEMA has predetermined are eligible via the FEMA GO application system — not open to general applicants. Funds hazard mitigation activities under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. No award amount is listed for this specific (2023) cycle.

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.