IAW: Environmental Grant Program

IAW: Environmental Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Illinois American Water
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: March 06, 2026

Summary

The Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program, established in 2005, supports innovative community-based environmental projects aimed at improving local watersheds and water supplies. Open to organizations within American Water service areas, it funds activities like watershed cleanup and biodiversity projects. Selection criteria emphasize project clarity, design innovation, community collaboration, sustainability, and engagement. This program reflects Illinois American Water's commitment to environmental stewardship and community support, ensuring clean and reliable water resources for all.

Overview

About Us Illinois American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 1.3 million people. American Water also operates a customer service center in Alton and a quality control and research laboratory in Belleville. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help make sure we keep their lives flowing. Environmental Grant Program Our commitment to protecting the environment runs deep and we’re proud to support the efforts of local organizations that share our vision. Established in 2005, our annual Environmental Grant Program offers funding for innovative, community-based environmental projects that improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and groundwater supplies in our local communities. Project activities and outcomes should address a watershed or source water protection need in the local community within American Water service areas. Source water protection projects are activities that result in the protection or improvement of the community’s public drinking water supplies. Watershed protection projects should focus on activities that improve, restore or protect one or more watersheds. Examples of Activities: Watershed CleanupReforestation EffortsBiodiversity Projects (habitat restoration, wildlife protection)Streamside Buffer Restoration ProjectsWellhead Protection InitiativesHazardous Waste Collection EffortsSurface or Groundwater Protection Education (i.e., designing and providing workshops for citizens and local officials) Selection Criteria: Clarity of project goals and projected impact.Innovation and strength of project design.Nature and strength of collaboration with other community and/or municipal organizations.Likelihood of project’s sustainability after the American Water funding ends.Evidence of community engagement.Plan for assessing the project’s impact and capacity to measure project outcomes. Assessment of budget as reasonable and cost-efficient

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. To qualify for Environmental Grant funding, a proposed project must be:Located within an American Water service areaCompleted between May and November of the grant funding yearBe a new or innovative program for the community, or serve as a significant expansion to an existing programbe carried out by a formal or informal partnership between two or more organizationsprovide evidence of sustainability (continue existence after the American Water grant monies are utilized)

Ineligibility

Projects that do not qualify:Pipeline or main extension projects, land or major equipment acquisition, entertainment, food/beverages, lobbying (attempting to influence local, state or national legislation), interest payments or personal articles, such as clothing. Grant money cannot be used for salaries, wages or personal compensation.