Browse grants

U.S. National Science Foundation · $25K–$1.2M

Open to U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic organizations (such as independent museums, observatories, research labs, and professional societies tied to research/education) and to accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty. NSF's Infrastructure Capacity for Biological Research (Capacity) Program funds building or scaling shared research infrastructure in three areas — cyberinfrastructure, biological collections, and biological field stations/marine laboratories — with awards ranging from about $25,000 up to $1.2 million. It excludes instrumentation (use the MRI program) and infrastructure built for a single project or lab; resources are expected to be openly accessible and serve a broad research community.

CA Energy Commission · $500K–$5M

Open only to public agencies and tribal governments in California -- nonprofits and private businesses are not eligible under the stated criteria. Provides cost-share funding paired with two federal programs (INDIGO and FPIP) supporting industrial decarbonization, grid reliability, and greenhouse gas reduction at industrial and food production facilities; awards range from $500,000 to $5 million. This is a large-award but narrowly targeted program tied to specific federal solicitations.

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.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $50K–$600K

This NSF program funds early-stage collaborative projects that build research data infrastructure supporting public access and open science, bringing together cyberinfrastructure researchers, data and library experts, and research labs. Eligibility is unrestricted, so most entity types may apply, though successful projects rely on cross-disciplinary teams typically based at universities and research organizations; proposals are accepted year-round. Awards range from about $50,000 to $600,000.

State Water Resources Control Board · $1–$1M

California petroleum underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators — businesses and individuals — can apply for reimbursement of cleanup costs from leaking USTs, with grants up to $1,000,000 per site. This fund is not open to nonprofits or the general public; it is restricted to UST owners/operators meeting state financial-responsibility requirements.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $5K–$5M

NSF's Division of Environmental Biology funds ecological and evolutionary research from populations to ecosystems, with award amounts ranging widely from about $5,000 up to $5,000,000. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. nonprofit research organizations and accredited institutions of higher education, so general nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals do not qualify.

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.

State Treasurer's Office · $1–$9.7M

This California program is restricted by statute to 13 named Children's Hospitals (eight private nonprofit and five University of California hospitals) for capital improvement projects, so it is not open to other nonprofits or the general public. Grant awards can be very large, up to $98 million per private nonprofit hospital and $39.2 million per UC hospital, with applications accepted monthly on an ongoing basis (except October/November). Not a fit for any organization outside this named list of hospitals.

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.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments in California operating or serving drinking water systems, with priority given to small disadvantaged communities facing water access or safety gaps. Up to $130 million per year is available over ten years (through fiscal year 2029-30) for emergency needs, compliance assistance, and system consolidation; complementary loan programs offer partial-to-full principal forgiveness for qualifying disadvantaged communities. No fixed per-project award amount is listed.

State Treasurer's Office · $1.5M–$550M

A tax-exempt bond financing program (not a grant) for California businesses of any size involved in pollution control, waste disposal, recycling, composting, or resource recovery facilities; smaller businesses (500 employees or fewer) may also qualify under separate federal size standards. Financed amounts range from about $1.5 million to $550 million, with strict rules on how bond proceeds may be used (e.g., at least 95% must go to the defined project). Final eligibility depends on review by bond counsel and tax counsel.

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.

FAA-COE-JAMS · Up to $20M

This FAA Joint Center of Excellence for Advanced Materials (JAMS) opportunity is restricted to member universities of the Center of Excellence, so most applicants will not be eligible. It funds research on composites and advanced materials for aircraft safety and certification, with awards potentially up to about $20 million across the program. The program is built around academic-industry-government cost-sharing partnerships, so expect a matching/cost-share expectation.

San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy · $50K–$2M

Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments for projects benefiting the Lower Los Angeles River area in California, funded through the Conservancy's Non-Bond Priority Grant Program. Awards range from $50,000 to $2,000,000, and applications follow a two-phase Concept Proposal then Full Application process. Limited to projects within the Lower LA River program area.

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.

State Water Resources Control Board · Amount varies

Open to cities, towns, public agencies, tribal governments, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits for wastewater treatment, sewer, stormwater, and nonpoint-source pollution projects in California. Offered as low-interest financing (roughly half the state's general obligation bond rate) with terms up to 30 years and no maximum funding limit; small disadvantaged communities may qualify for partial or full principal forgiveness (effectively grant funding). This is primarily a loan program, though DAC applicants can receive substantial grant-equivalent forgiveness.