Environmental Conservation Grants in Illinois
Last updated October 19, 2026
There are 49 active environmental conservation grants tagged to Illinois. Updated daily.
Find the environmental conservation grants matched to your org
Free, no account to start — Grantable's AI ranks all 49 on mission, geography, and award size in a few minutes.
| ★ | Grant |
|---|---|
| Illinois support of Upper Mississippi River Asian Carp control and management (FY25) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Conduct fish and wildlife management activities that align with the conservation, restoration, and management goals and priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices. | |
| AIS Grants to Great Lakes States (FY26) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. | |
| Natural and Working Lands+ Climate Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies The Illinois Department of Natural Resources proposes to expand on an exploratory collaboration with the US Climate Alliance and the UIUC Land-use Evolution and impact Assessment Modeling (LEAM) Lab. | |
| State ANS Comprehensive Management Plan (FY26)) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. | |
| PR - Wildlife Restoration (FY27) Department of Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Notices of award will be sent to the Principal Investigator for the award. | |
| Endangered Species (FY24) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Assist in the development of programs for the conservation of endangered and threatened species. Notices of award will be sent to the Principal Investigator for the award. | |
| CMP - Coastal Management Program - USEPA 2026 GLRI Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Support for projects focused on coastal planning, coordination, coastal hazards, habitat protection and management, education and outreach materials and programs. | |
| Natural and Working Lands+ Climate Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies The Illinois Department of Natural Resources proposes to expand on an exploratory collaboration with the US Climate Alliance and the UIUC Land-use Evolution and impact Assessment Modeling (LEAM) Lab. | |
| Line Item - Operational Grant (FY27) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Grant programs as defined within the annual appropriation bill (Public Act) including Member Initiatives. | |
| DJ - Sport Fish Restoration - Fisheries, Boat Access (FY27) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Notices of award will be sent to the Principal Investigator for the Award. | |
| Invasive Carp Management Control in IL Waterway GLRI (CAFWS-183) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. | |
| WNS - Endangered Species- White Nose Syndrome (FY24) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). | |
| WNS - Endangered Species- White Nose Syndrome (FY25) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease of hibernating bats caused by the invasive fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). | |
| Illinois support of Ohio River Basin Asian Carp control and management (CAFWS-182) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Conduct fish and wildlife management activities that align with the conservation, restoration, and management goals and priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices. | |
| CMP - Coastal Management Program - USEPA 2025 GLRI Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Support for projects focused on coastal planning, coordination, coastal hazards, habitat protection and management, education and outreach materials and programs. | |
| Illinois State Forest Action Plan (Urban) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Collection of data that is utilized to analyze and report on the condition and disease problems that affect Illinois trees and forests. | |
| PR - Wildlife Restoration (FY25) Department of Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. | |
| Illinois State Forest Action Plan (Forest Health) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Collection of data that is utilized to analyze and report on the condition and disease problems that affect Illinois trees and forests. | |
| AIS Grants to Great Lakes States (CAFWS-179) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. | |
| UCF - Urban and Community Forestry Program (FY24) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Technical and financial assistance to the state’s communities on the management of their trees and other related natural resources. https://dnr.illinois.gov/conservation/forestry.html https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/urban-forests/ucf… | |
| State ANS Comprehensive Management Plan (CAFWS-180) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies To provide technical and financial assistance to implement the highest priority actions in order to protect and restore the Great Lakes. | |
| SWG - State Wildlife Grants (FY26) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Development and implementation of projects for the benefit of fish and wildlife and their habitats, including species that are not hunted or fished. | |
| Illinois support of Ohio River Basin Asian Carp control and management (FY25) Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Conduct fish and wildlife management activities that align with the conservation, restoration, and management goals and priorities of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Offices. | |
| PR - Wildlife Restoration (FY24) Department of Natural Resources · State Not published · Varies Projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat. |
Showing 25–48 of 49
About environmental conservation grants in Illinois
Environmental conservation grants support protecting and restoring natural resources, including habitat, forests, wetlands, and working lands. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is among the largest conservation grantmakers, and federal programs through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service fund restoration and easement work. Nonprofits, land trusts, tribes, and government agencies are common applicants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grants are available for conservation work?
Conservation funding covers habitat restoration, species recovery, land and easement acquisition, watershed protection, and stewardship of working lands. The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation runs numerous competitive programs, and USDA/NRCS offers tools like Conservation Innovation Grants. Many programs require matching funds and prioritize measurable ecological outcomes.
Who funds conservation nonprofits?
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, created by Congress in 1984, pairs public dollars with private match and is the country's largest private conservation grantmaker. Federal partners include USDA/NRCS, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and NOAA, alongside private and community foundations focused on land and wildlife.
Do conservation grants require matching funds?
Many do. Programs such as those run by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and several USDA easement programs expect grantees to contribute matching cash or in-kind resources, sometimes a substantial share of project cost. Lining up partners and committed match early strengthens an application and is often a formal eligibility requirement.
Get a shortlist of Environmental Conservation Grants in Illinois built for your organization
Tell Grantable's AI about your nonprofit and it ranks these grants on mission, geography, and award fit — then emails you a personalized shortlist with the reasoning for each. Free, no account to start.
Find my grants — emailed to meHere's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 grants
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per grant profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning