Browse grants

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.

Department of Commerce · Up to $300K

This EDA planning program (Seattle region) funds economic development planning and technical assistance for district organizations, Indian tribes, state/local governments, higher education institutions, and nonprofits partnering with local government officials, with awards up to $300,000. Applications must be submitted through EDA's EDGE platform rather than Grants.gov. Individuals and standard for-profit businesses are not eligible.

Natural Resources · $50K–$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 (funded via the Inflation Reduction Act); individuals and for-profit businesses are not eligible. It funds coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education/outreach projects, with awards from $50,000 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.

Illinois Community College Board · $5K–$500K

Restricted to programs that were already awarded funding through the FY25 IELCE grant competition — this is a continuation opportunity, not open to new applicants. For those already-funded programs (government, education, or nonprofit entities), it funds English language acquisition, civics education, and workforce preparation services for adult English language learners under WIOA Title II Section 243, with awards from $5,000 to $500,000. Years 3 and 4 of funding are contingent on meeting programmatic requirements.

Natural Resources · $10K–$1M

Illinois' State Wildlife Grants program (FY24) funds government agencies, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit fish and wildlife habitats, with priority given to species of greatest conservation concern. Awards range from $10,000 to $1,000,000. No application deadline is listed, so applicants should check with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for current cycle timing.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

NSF's Marine Geology and Geophysics program funds research on ocean basin and Great Lakes geology, covering topics like seafloor tectonics, paleoclimate, and marine geohazards. Eligibility is unrestricted among standard NSF applicant types, meaning it is effectively aimed at research institutions rather than typical small businesses or general nonprofits. No specific award amount is listed.

U.S. National Science Foundation · From $300K

The NSF Ocean Drilling Program supports operations of the International Ocean Discovery Program, including running the JOIDES Resolution research drillship and related marine-geoscience science operations. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any eligible entity, subject to notice clarifications), but in practice these large facility-operations awards go to major research institutions; the listing notes an award figure starting around $300,000. Funding ceiling and deadline are not specified, so review the full notice for details.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

This NSF program funds foundational robotics research and is explicitly open to any type of entity, though proposals must clearly justify the research as centered on robots and address fundamental gaps in robotics science rather than routine engineering. No specific award amount or deadline is listed. Best suited to researchers and research institutions rather than general nonprofits or businesses, despite the broad formal eligibility language.

Natural Resources · $10K–$240K

Open to government agencies, schools, and nonprofits for fish and wildlife habitat projects, with priority for species of greatest conservation concern. Projects must involve a multi-state effort and compete at the federal level, which narrows practical eligibility to organizations able to coordinate across states. Awards range from $10,000 to $240,000; no deadline listed.

Natural Resources · $25K–$500K

Illinois' Coastal Management Program (funded via USEPA's 2026 Great Lakes Restoration Initiative) supports coastal planning, hazard mitigation, habitat protection, and education projects, with awards from $25,000 to $500,000. Eligible applicants are units of local government, universities, and nonprofit organizations that are pre-qualified through the state's GATA grantee portal; private individuals and for-profit organizations are explicitly not eligible, and this is a reimbursement grant requiring full expense documentation. No application deadline is listed.

Natural Resources · $20K–$6M

Government agencies, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit businesses can apply for this Illinois Natural Resources grant funding invasive carp management and control in Illinois waterways, supporting Great Lakes restoration priorities. Awards range from $20,000 to $6,000,000.

U.S. National Science Foundation · Amount varies

The NSF Interfacial Engineering program funds fundamental research on atomic- and molecular-scale interfacial phenomena to improve chemical and biochemical process efficiency, including chemical and biological separations and engineered interfaces. Eligibility is unrestricted (open to any entity type subject to NSF's standard rules), but in practice these awards support university and research-institution investigators; proposals should show a clear path to advancing industrial chemical processes. Award amounts and deadlines are not specified here, so check the program solicitation for current limits and proposal windows.

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 (FY24), which funds projects to restore and manage wild bird and mammal habitat, expand public access to wildlife resources, hunter education and safety, and shooting range development. Awards range from $10,000 to $10,000,000.

Natural Resources · $1K–$30K

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 $30,000.