Browse grants

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, supporting fisheries and boat access projects. Awards range from $10,000 to $8,000,000. A program description was not included in this listing.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program funds fundamental engineering research on biosensing — detecting and quantifying biological analytes using innovations across engineering, life sciences, and information technology — within NSF's Engineering Biology and Health cluster. Eligibility is unrestricted as to entity type, but NSF research grants are typically led by universities and research institutions; proposals must advance both engineering and the life sciences. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so applicants should consult the full NSF solicitation.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program funds fundamental research on how nanomaterials and nanosystems interact with biological and environmental media, part of NSF's Environmental Engineering and Sustainability cluster. Eligibility is unrestricted as to entity type, though NSF research grants in practice are led by universities and research institutions; collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so applicants should consult the full NSF solicitation for budget and submission details.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program (Chemical Evolution of the Solid Earth and Volcanology) funds fundamental research on the origin and evolution of Earth's core, mantle, and crust, including volcanology, igneous and metamorphic processes, ore deposits, and geochronology. Only U.S.-based institutions of higher education and non-profit, non-academic research organizations (such as museums, observatories, and research laboratories) may submit proposals, so for-profit firms and individuals are not eligible to apply directly. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

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.

Department of Commerce · $1–$1.5M

The Department of Commerce / Economic Development Administration Research and National Technical Assistance (RNTA) program funds research and technical assistance projects that support economic development in economically distressed areas of the U.S. Eligibility is broad, including district organizations, tribes, states, local governments, institutions of higher education, nonprofits acting with local officials, private individuals, and for-profit organizations. Awards range up to about $1.5 million, and applications use a two-step process (concept proposal first, then invited full application) submitted through EDA's EDGE platform. No deadline is stated.

Economic Development Administration · Up to $30M

The Economic Development Administration's FY 2023 Disaster Supplemental funds long-term economic recovery projects (construction and non-construction) in communities affected by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other 2021-2022 natural disasters covered by a federal disaster declaration. Eligible applicants include district organizations, tribes, states and local governments, institutions of higher education, and public or private nonprofits acting with local officials; awards can reach up to $30 million. A major restriction is that projects must be located in or primarily benefit FEMA-designated disaster-eligible counties. Applications are submitted through EDA's EDGE portal; no deadline is stated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program (Particulate and Multiphase Processes) funds fundamental research on the physics and chemistry of particulate and multiphase systems, including suspensions, granular flows, structured and active fluids, aerosols, and self-assembly processes, with relevance to advanced manufacturing, energy, biotechnology, and environmental sustainability. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), though NSF research awards in practice are typically made to U.S. universities and research organizations. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF's Structure and Physics of the Solid Earth program funds research on Earth's deep dynamical processes, including geohazards like earthquakes, and is restricted to U.S. nonprofit research organizations and accredited institutions of higher education. Typical small businesses, individuals, and non-research nonprofits are not eligible. No specific funding amount is listed for this program.

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.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This U.S. National Science Foundation program (Transport Phenomena) funds fundamental research into the transport of mass, momentum, energy, and species across scales, supporting advances in areas such as AI, manufacturing, biotechnology, microelectronics, and energy. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any entity type), though NSF research awards are typically made to U.S. universities and research organizations through experiments, theory, and computational modeling. Funding amounts and deadlines are not stated.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Advanced Manufacturing program funds fundamental, multidisciplinary research that transforms U.S. manufacturing capabilities, including manufacturing systems, materials processing, machines, and nanomanufacturing. Eligibility is unrestricted in principle (open to NSF's listed entity types, typically universities and research institutions), subject to NSF's standard clarifications. Proposals of varying sizes are considered; no fixed award amount or deadline is given here, so consult the current NSF solicitation.

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.

Air Force Office of Scientific Research · Up to $10M

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research funds basic research aligned with Air Force priorities across engineering, information science, and physical and biological sciences, with awards reaching up to about $10 million. Eligibility is governed by the announcement itself ('See Announcement'); these programs commonly fund universities, research institutions, and industry labs. Applicants should review the specific AFOSR announcement for detailed eligibility, restrictions, and submission requirements before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF STEM K-12 program funds fundamental, applied, and translational research that advances STEM teaching and learning across formal and informal settings. Proposals may only be submitted by U.S.-based for-profit organizations (including small businesses) with R&D capacity, non-profit non-academic organizations tied to education or research (e.g., museums, research labs, professional societies), state and local governments, accredited U.S. institutions of higher education, and federally recognized tribal nations. Individuals and most general nonprofits without a research/education tie are not eligible; no specific award amount or deadline is listed here.

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.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Electrochemical Systems program funds fundamental engineering research on electrochemical and photochemical processes for sustainable production of electricity, fuels, and chemicals, and for energy storage. Eligibility is unrestricted in principle (open to the entity types NSF lists, typically universities, research institutions, and qualifying organizations), subject to NSF's standard clarifications. No specific award amount or deadline is given in this listing, so check the current NSF solicitation for proposal windows and limits.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI) program has unrestricted eligibility, meaning most entity types may apply, though it is geared toward researchers at universities and research organizations. It funds empirical social-science research on how scientific discovery happens, how science is communicated, and how science creates public value and informs evidence-based policy. No specific award amount or deadline is listed. Strong proposals are expected to advance theory, build data and analytical tools, and include robust open-science data management plans.