Illinois Natural Resources Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for state forestry departments, universities, nonprofits, and local governments in the Eastern U.S. to manage and combat invasive species that threaten forest health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for non-federal members of the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystems Studies Unit to conduct statistical evaluations and monitoring of native fish populations in the Upper Mississippi River, aimed at improving ecological restoration efforts.

This funding program provides financial support to community-based organizations that empower youth aged 12 to 20 through established, youth-led urban greening initiatives focused on social and environmental justice in select states.

This program provides financial assistance to local governments in Illinois for the construction and rehabilitation of public recreational facilities, ensuring long-term benefits for community parks and recreation infrastructure.

This program provides low-interest loans to local governments and entities in Illinois for improving wastewater, stormwater, and drinking water infrastructure to enhance public health and environmental quality.

This program provides financial assistance to Certified Local Governments in Illinois to develop and improve their local historic preservation initiatives.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) offers the Section 319(h) Grant Program to address nonpoint source (NPS) pollution affecting Illinois’ water resources. This program, funded through the Clean Water Act, supports projects that prevent, eliminate, or reduce water quality impairments caused by NPS pollution. Prioritized projects include those implementing approved watershed-based plans or Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Implementation Plans, with activities ranging from BMP implementation to monitoring and outreach efforts. The program encourages applications that demonstrate a comprehensive approach to NPS pollution control and offer sustainable environmental benefits. Grant renewed every year.

The Forecast Public Art’s Midwest Memory Grant, ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, is open to non-profit organizations in rural Midwest communities, aiming to elevate and preserve the stories of BIPOC communities through monuments, with a focus on addressing systemic inequities and advancing racial justice.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S. states, territories, and eligible Indian tribes for implementing approved plans to prevent and manage invasive aquatic species.

This grant provides funding to Great Lakes states and tribes for projects that prevent and control aquatic invasive species, benefiting the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program, managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), is a state-financed grant initiative designed to assist local government agencies in acquiring and/or developing land for public parks and open spaces. This program aligns with a mission to enhance community access to outdoor recreational opportunities and preserve natural resources throughout Illinois. The primary beneficiaries of the OSLAD grants are units of local government authorized to expend public funds for public outdoor park, recreation, or conservation purposes. This excludes school districts. The program aims to increase the availability of public parkland, improve existing recreational facilities, and protect natural areas. Expected outcomes include expanded park sites, renovated recreational facilities, and preserved natural resources, leading to improved quality of life and access to nature for Illinois residents. The program prioritizes both land acquisition and development/renovation projects. Acquisition projects focus on securing land for new park sites, park expansion, water frontage, nature study, and natural resource preservation. Development/renovation projects encompass a wide range of improvements, including picnic and playground facilities, outdoor nature interpretive facilities, sports courts and play fields, swimming pools, campgrounds, winter sports facilities, park roads, parking, utilities, and restrooms. Measurable results include the number of acres acquired for public use, the types and numbers of facilities developed or renovated, and the increase in public access points to natural areas. Funding is substantial, with up to $1,725,000.00 available for acquisition projects and a maximum of $600,000 for development/renovation projects, reflecting a strategic commitment to significant, impactful projects. While not explicitly detailed as a "theory of change," the program operates on the premise that investing in public outdoor spaces directly contributes to community well-being, environmental stewardship, and opportunities for recreation and education.

The Movember Indigenous Men’s Wellbeing Innovation Initiative is a grant funding and capacity building program aimed at empowering Indigenous-led organizations. This initiative supports the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative programs and interventions to enhance Indigenous men's social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB). As one of four initiatives under Movember’s new Indigenous Social and Emotional Wellbeing Portfolio, it aligns with Movember's broader mission to build voice, capability, and power among Indigenous boys and men to design, lead, implement, and sustain SEWB in their communities, and to strengthen knowledge of effective SEWB strategies. The grant specifically targets Indigenous boys and men across all life stages in the United States. The program's core focus is on delivering innovative new programming or strengthening existing promising approaches that demonstrate improvements in SEWB. Movember aims to foster cultural connection and pride, embrace cultural knowledge, elevate overall social, emotional, spiritual, and physical wellbeing, strengthen resilience, enhance health literacy, and improve access to culturally appropriate spaces and services that support SEWB. These priorities are central to achieving the desired impact of improved holistic wellbeing within Indigenous communities. Eligible applicants must be Indigenous owned/managed/led organizations based in the United States, legally able to accept grant funds, and either implementing an existing SEWB program with promising evidence or proposing a new program aligned with the funding goals. This ensures that the initiatives are culturally relevant and community-driven. Movember’s strategic priorities reflect a commitment to supporting Indigenous self-determination and strengthening community-based solutions. The initiative provides annual funding of up to USD $250,000 per applicant for three years. The expected outcomes include a significant improvement in SEWB among Indigenous boys and men in the USA, measurable through indicators such as increased connection to culture and community, enhanced resilience, improved health literacy, and better access to culturally appropriate support services. This investment reflects Movember’s theory of change, which posits that by empowering Indigenous-led organizations and fostering innovative, culturally relevant programs, lasting positive impacts on Indigenous men's wellbeing can be achieved.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to Great Lakes states and tribes for collaborative projects aimed at preventing and managing aquatic invasive species across state and tribal boundaries.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to partner institutions affiliated with the Great Rivers Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit to research and manage the invasive Black Carp species in the upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on ecological conservation and management along transportation corridors in Illinois, enabling activities such as wildlife surveys, invasive species control, and prairie restoration.

This grant provides funding to Great Lakes states to implement their plans for managing and preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species, benefiting both the states and the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The City of Evanston's "Sustain Evanston" Incentive Program is a funding tool designed to empower small business owners to implement sustainability measures. This initiative directly aligns with the City’s Climate Action & Resilience Plan, serving the foundational mission of fostering a more sustainable community. By offering financial assistance, the program aims to reduce operating costs for businesses while simultaneously enhancing their service to customers through environmentally friendly practices. This strategic alignment underscores the city's commitment to both economic vitality and ecological responsibility. The primary beneficiaries of this program include commercial property owners, tenants of commercial buildings, business districts, and coalitions of businesses within the City of Evanston. The impact goals are centered on improving the environmental footprint of local businesses, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and encouraging eco-conscious operations. Through these efforts, the program seeks to create a more resilient and environmentally sound local economy, benefiting both businesses and residents. The program prioritizes a broad range of sustainability measures, categorized into capital projects, equipment, services, and education materials. Key focuses include the adoption of heat pumps, EV charging infrastructure, solar PV, waste collection enclosures, green infrastructure like green roofs, and energy-efficient upgrades such as insulation and windows. Equipment priorities involve reusable containers, energy-efficient lighting, and appliances. Services like composting, recycling, energy/water benchmarking, and consulting are also emphasized, alongside educational signage and labels. These priorities reflect a holistic approach to sustainability, addressing various facets of business operations. Expected outcomes include a significant reduction in the operational costs for participating businesses due to increased energy efficiency and waste reduction. Measurable results will likely involve the number of businesses implementing sustainable upgrades, the amount of energy saved, the volume of waste diverted from landfills, and the expansion of green infrastructure within the city. The program's strategic approach is to incentivize tangible changes that collectively contribute to the City’s broader Climate Action & Resilience Plan, acting as a catalyst for widespread sustainable practices within the business community. This aligns with a theory of change where financial incentives drive behavioral and infrastructure changes, leading to a more sustainable and resilient urban environment.

This program provides funding for farmers and ranchers in the North Central region to develop and share sustainable agricultural practices through research and educational projects.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations, local governments, and educational institutions in Illinois to enhance specialty crop production, improve local food systems, and promote sustainability, particularly benefiting beginning farmers and first-time producers.

This program provides financial assistance to rural fire departments in Illinois to enhance their firefighting capabilities through the purchase of essential equipment and materials.