Grants for Schools & Universities

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

This Illinois Department of Natural Resources program (FY25) provides technical and financial assistance to government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and for-profit organizations for projects that protect and restore habitat and species in the Great Lakes Basin, with awards from $5,000 to $150,000. Eligibility is broad, covering most organization types. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $1K–$350K

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; individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $1,000 to $350,000. 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.

U.S. National Science Foundation · $1M–$1.5M

This NSF initiative funds research networks to advance K-12 mathematics education by combining the science of learning, education practice, and data science. It is open to U.S. institutions of higher education, U.S. non-profit non-academic research organizations, and federally recognized tribal nations; for-profit businesses and individuals cannot apply directly. Phase I awards range from about $1,000,000 to $1,500,000, and Phase II is open only to Phase I awardees.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Law & Science Program funds social-scientific research on law and on how science and technology are applied in legal contexts, and its eligibility is unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type, subject to NSF's standard rules). It supports standard and collaborative research grants as well as conference awards across many disciplines. Funding amounts are not specified here, so review the full solicitation for award size and any entity-specific requirements.

Natural Resources · $5K–$150K

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding Great Lakes habitat and species protection, restoration, and management priorities under the Aquatic Nuisance Species Comprehensive Management Plan. Awards range from $5,000 to $150,000.

Department of Commerce · Up to $300K

This EDA program funds economic development planning and local technical assistance in economically distressed U.S. areas, and is open to economic development district organizations, Indian tribes, states and local governments, institutions of higher education, and public or private nonprofits acting with a local government. Individuals and most for-profit businesses are not eligible, and applications must now be submitted through EDA's EDGE platform rather than Grants.gov. Awards range up to about $300,000.

Administration for Community Living · Amount varies

This forecasted Administration for Community Living program (a DRRP) would fund a knowledge-translation center for the ADA National Network on Americans with Disabilities Act implementation. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted; DRRP awards typically go to universities, nonprofits, and research organizations conducting disability and rehabilitation research. Review the formal announcement for applicant requirements and award levels.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted NIH opportunity supports novel approaches to advance precision aging and cognitive health research. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published; NIH research grants of this type are typically awarded to universities, academic medical centers, and research institutions rather than individuals. Review the formal announcement for applicant requirements and award levels.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds fundamental, generalizable research on manufacturing systems integration, including digital integration of design and manufacturing, intelligent production systems, interoperability, and secure manufacturing communications. Eligibility is described as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type, subject to clarifications), so a broad range of applicants may qualify, though NSF research awards in practice center on universities and research organizations. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified; investigators are encouraged to contact a program director before submitting.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Up to $600K

This NSF program (LTREB) funds long-term data collection to address questions in evolutionary biology, ecology, and ecosystem science, with awards up to about $600,000 over an initial 5-year period. Proposals may only come from U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty, so individuals, businesses, and foreign organizations are not eligible. Marine population/community/ecosystem research is excluded unless it focuses on evolutionary dynamics.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF's Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences core programs fund fundamental research on molecular, subcellular, and cellular biology, and are restricted to U.S. nonprofit research organizations and accredited institutions of higher education (faculty-sponsored). General nonprofits, small businesses, and individuals are not eligible. No specific funding amount is listed.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted NIH R25 program supports bioengineering research education and training (BRITE); clinical trials are not allowed. Formal eligibility, funding, and deadlines are not yet posted, but R25 education awards are generally made to universities and research institutions rather than to individuals or businesses. Confirm applicant eligibility and amounts when the full announcement is released.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted NIH opportunity would establish a research network to guide foundational research on human consciousness. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published; NIH network awards of this kind are generally limited to research institutions rather than individuals or businesses. Confirm applicant requirements when the full announcement is released.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted NIH opportunity (part of the HEAL Initiative) is a UG3/UH3 cooperative agreement to plan and run clinical trials within a Pain Management Effectiveness Research Network, and a clinical trial is required. Formal eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines have not been posted yet, but NIH research awards of this type are typically limited to research institutions and academic medical centers, not individuals or small businesses. Confirm details when the full announcement is released.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds research on why organisms are structured and function as they do, spanning developmental biology, neuroscience, biomechanics, physiology, symbioses, genomics, and animal behavior. Proposals may only be submitted by U.S.-based nonprofit non-academic research organizations and accredited U.S. institutions of higher education acting for their faculty, so individuals, businesses, and foreign organizations are not eligible. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified.

Natural Resources · $30K–$3M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant, which funds fish and wildlife management activities supporting Asian carp control in the Ohio River Basin. Awards range from $30,000 to $3,000,000.

Administration for Children & Families - ACYF/FYSB · Amount varies

This forecasted FY 2026 Basic Center Program from the Administration for Children & Families (FYSB) funds emergency shelter and services for runaway and homeless youth. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted, but Basic Center awards typically go to nonprofits and community-based organizations serving youth. Review the formal announcement for applicant requirements before applying.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds innovative research on electronic, photonic, optoelectronic, and magnetic devices for applications such as communications, sensing, healthcare, energy, and manufacturing. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity type, subject to clarifications), so a broad range of applicants may qualify, though NSF awards typically support universities and research organizations. Funding amounts and deadlines are not specified; contact the relevant program director about topic fit.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This forecasted NIH opportunity supports interdisciplinary research into the biology of resilience to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines have not yet been published; NIH research grants of this type typically go to universities, academic medical centers, and research institutions rather than individuals. Check the formal announcement for applicant requirements and funding levels.

National Institutes of Health · Amount varies

This is a forecasted NIH BRAIN Initiative opportunity to fund data archives for the BRAIN Initiative. It will likely target research institutions and organizations with the infrastructure to host and manage large neuroscience data archives. Eligibility, funding amounts, and deadlines are not yet posted; review the full announcement before applying.