Funding Amount

$500

Deadline

February 1, 2027

126 days left

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Annual
Current deadline
February 1, 2027
Tracked since
April 2026

Deadlines typically fall in: February

From the program guidelines: “Deadline: February 1st each year”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Eligible organizations

  • Schools with high enthusiasm and high need are prioritized

Other requirements

  • School must be part of Openlands' network through Building School Gardens program or Space to Grow

Overview

Geographic Scope: Chicago region schools in Openlands' network (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties)

Focus Areas:

  • Support for existing school gardens
  • Garden activation as living laboratories for students
  • Community connection through school gardens

Eligibility:

  • School must be part of Openlands' network through Building School Gardens program or Space to Grow
  • Schools with high enthusiasm and high need are prioritized

What Funds Support:

  • Plants and seeds
  • Tools
  • Soil and soil amendments
  • Replacing old benches
  • Replacing garden beds
  • Supplies for activating garden space through art, STEM, SEL, nature play
  • Optional: Openlands garden support session (garden team check-ins, garden tips, hands-on support)

Implementation:

  • Funds distributed via Class Wallet digital wallet
  • All funds must be spent by end of June
  • Funds received within 2-3 weeks of selection

Additional Resources: Openlands maintains a page with additional school garden grants from other organizations.

How to Apply

Application Process

1. Submission: Fill out application form
2. Deadline: February 1st each year
3. Notification: Status notification at end of February
4. Fund Distribution: Selected schools work with Openlands to set up Class Wallet account
5. Timeline: Funds received within 2-3 weeks of selection
6. Spending Deadline: All funds must be spent by end of June

    Required Materials

  • Application form (link available on program page during application period)
  • Plan for activating gardens as living laboratories
  • Information about school-community connection plans

Note

The application for the current year (2026) is closed. Applications typically open in January each year.

What Openlands actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
19
Total given
$316K
Median grant
$10K
Range
$1,000–$165K
  • By dollars: Illinois 100%. Top recipient cities: Chicago, IL; Wheaton, IL; Woodstock, IL.
  • 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 74% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • The Wetlands Initiative · Chicago, IL

    Subgrant to The Wetlands Initiative for wetland restoration at Midewin National…

    $165K

  • Origin Woods Restoration · Chicago, IL

    ComEd Green Region 2025 Grant - Origin Woods Restoration

    $10K

  • Friends of the Woodstock Public Library · Woodstock, IL

    ComEd Green Region 2025 Grant - Prairie Roots: Planting Connections at the Woodstock…

    $10K

  • Logan Square Preservation · Chicago, IL

    ComEd Green Region 2025 Grant - Emil Biorn Community Garden and Memorial Park

    $10K

  • Dekalb County Regional Office of Education · Dekalb, IL

    ComEd Green Region 2025 Grant - The Basics Toddler Gardens

    $10K

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Community gardens
  • K-12 schools
  • Environmental education
  • STEM education

Categories

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