28 private foundations reported environment & conservation grants in Illinois on their IRS Form 990-PF filings for tax years 2023–2024. Historical giving records — not an open application portal.
Themes are derived from the free-text purpose each foundation wrote on its own Part XV filing, so a grant is classified by what the funder said it was for. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from recipient counts and tables.
Across tax years 2023–2024, 28 private foundations reported 46 grants for environment & conservation totaling $2,800,785 to 41 organizations in Illinois. The most-funded Illinois communities were Chicago, Lake Forest, Glencoe. Exelon Foundation reported the most environment & conservation giving — $1,000,000 across 1 grant. The median grant was $13,000.
Foundation filings are a record of past giving. The UseGrants eligibility check matches you to federal and state opportunities accepting applications today.
| Foundation | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Exelon Foundation | 1 | $1,000,000 |
| The Rockefeller Foundation | 2 | $400,000 |
| Clif Family Foundation | 6 | $260,000 |
| 128 Collective Foundation | 2 | $250,000 |
| The Kresge Foundation | 1 | $150,000 |
| The Volgenau Foundation | 1 | $150,000 |
| Carnegie Corporation of NEW York | 1 | $139,575 |
| Patagoniaorg | 7 | $122,200 |
| Gail Anita Flagler Foundation | 1 | $50,000 |
| Watersheds Foundation | 1 | $40,000 |
| Needmor Fund for Social Justice | 1 | $40,000 |
| Scott Family Foundation | 1 | $35,000 |
| Recipient | Grants | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Museum of Science & Industry | 1 | $1,000,000 |
| National Partnership for NEW Americans | 2 | $300,000 |
| Resourced Inc | 1 | $300,000 |
| Global Philanthropy Partner | 1 | $150,000 |
| Smithsonian Institute | 1 | $150,000 |
| People's Action Institute | 2 | $145,000 |
| Pollination Capital Partners LLC US | 1 | $100,000 |
| Wttw | 1 | $50,000 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | 2 | $42,500 |
| A Rocha Peru | 1 | $40,000 |
| Workers Center for Racial Justice | 1 | $40,000 |
| Climate Cabinet Education | 1 | $30,000 |
| Land Connection Foundation | 1 | $25,000 |
| The Ocean Agency | 1 | $25,000 |
| Lake Forest Open Lands | 2 | $15,500 |
28 private foundations reported environment & conservation grants in Illinois on their IRS Form 990-PF filings, totaling $2,800,785. The largest by reported dollars were Exelon Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation, Clif Family Foundation. These are historical filings, not open application portals — check each foundation's own guidelines before approaching them.
41 distinct organizations appear as recipients in Illinois, led by Museum of Science & Industry, National Partnership for NEW Americans, Resourced Inc. Grants paid directly to named individuals are excluded from these figures.
The median reported environment & conservation grant in Illinois was $13,000, and the largest single reported grant was $1,000,000. Amounts are as reported by the filing foundation for a historical tax year.
The UseGrants feed tracks federal and state opportunities that are open today, each with the eligibility explained in plain English.
Source: public IRS Form 990-PF Part XV filings (tax years 2023–2024). Theme classification is derived from the funder’s own purpose text and is a summary, not a legal categorization. UseGrants is an independent aggregator, not affiliated with any foundation listed.
