Best Grants for Special Education in Illinois

Students pursuing special education degrees at accredited campus-based colleges in Illinois and other U.S. states can apply for the UNICO Foundation’s Ralph J. Torraco Scholarship, awarding US $2,500. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens with a minimum 3.0 GPA, studying full-time in 2025–2026 and residing in a state with an active UNICO chapter.

Illinois special education and related service organizations can seek funding from the Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Trust to support education of physically, emotionally, financially, and developmentally challenged individuals in the greater Chicago area. Administered by First American Bank, grants typically benefit nonprofits serving children, seniors, and U.S. veterans.

Agencies located in Illinois that can operate regional intake and service coordination for early intervention may apply for Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Early Childhood’s Child and Family Connections awards of US $50,000,000 - US $60,000,000. Funding supports evaluation, assessment, and coordination of services for children under age three with disabilities, developmental concerns, or substantiated abuse or neglect cases.

Early-stage U.S. PK–12 public education organizations enhancing special needs education can receive US $150,000 - US $250,000 in general operating support, including work serving Illinois students. With a mission to reimagine education, NewSchools Venture Fund provides innovators with funding, expert coaching, and a national peer community to improve outcomes for students with learning differences.

Families of individuals with autism in Illinois can receive need-based support for non-reimbursable medical, nutritional, personal, and educational or socialization expenses. Focused on autism-related needs, MyGOAL invites first-time applicants and others to seek help with treatments, vitamins, camps, and other enrichment services that are not covered by schools, insurance, or other funders.

Students pursuing post-secondary education in Illinois, specifically Rock Island County residents, can apply for the Jerry and Martha Taylor Memorial Scholarship; awards up to US $1,000 for college or trade school costs. Administered by Quad Cities Community Foundation, it favors majors in special education, journalism, theater arts, or accredited trade schools.

Illinois students are not eligible; this scholarship is strictly for graduating seniors from any Ashland County high school planning to major in education, preferably special education, at a four-year college or university. These academic scholarship awards from Ashland County Community Foundation support students with financial need, leadership, community service, and strong school involvement.

Graduating high school seniors in the Crown Point Community Foundation service area pursuing a degree in special education can receive scholarship support for higher education. Grants from Crown Point Community Foundation help future special education professionals, including those from Illinois-border communities within its service area, access financial assistance through a single common application for multiple awards.

Students pursuing special education or speech, physical, or occupational therapy careers to support individuals with Down syndrome in Illinois can seek scholarship support through the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. With a mission to empower generous people with meaningful giving opportunities, the foundation uses a universal application for more than 30 scholarship options, including this award.

Illinois students pursuing special education, pediatric medicine, or Christian ministry may be eligible for the Kristin Lee Burry Memorial Scholarship, which supports higher education costs. North Decatur High School graduates planning these fields can access funding through Decatur County Community Foundation, which manages this and other academic scholarship opportunities.

Illinois special education teachers and students pursuing special education degrees can access funding through the Marietta Kiwanis Foundation’s Mack Henderson Special Education Scholarship. This US $2,500 award supports those accepted into accredited colleges or universities, with selection based on academic achievement and character; priority is given to current or former Cobb or Marietta students.

Special education teachers seeking additional licensing or a master’s in special education can receive up to US $2,500 annually for tuition and related study costs. Managed by the Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne, the WindSwell Foundation scholarship serves educators in designated Northeast Indiana public schools and may interest Illinois professionals exploring similar opportunities.

Students pursuing education degrees, especially in special education or early childhood fields, may be eligible for this scholarship program, which includes awards up to US $3,000 and is administered nationally, including Illinois. The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts’ Little Red Schoolhouse Scholarship Fund supports residents of Hampshire or Franklin County studying education, with a preference for special education-related majors.

Nonprofit organizations in Illinois working on special needs education, community safety, health, mobility, or environmental conservation can access funding through Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund. Grants from this program provide US $5,000 - US $10,000 to support human-centered solutions that improve transportation, promote healthier communities, and expand inclusive educational access and equity.

Students pursuing higher education in Illinois with special needs education interests can apply for the Ann Wall Scholarship to support study at a college, university, or business. With a mission to build a stronger community, Scranton Area Foundation gives preference to students from Dalton with learning disabilities or special needs who are active in a church or religious institution.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing careers teaching children with special needs and demonstrating financial need may benefit from this scholarship opportunity, though it is limited to residents of northern Chautauqua County. With a mission to strengthen education, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation manages the St. Joseph School Scholarship for future special needs educators.

Teachers, counselors, and administrators serving blind students in Illinois and nationwide can receive recognition and support for exemplary special needs education through the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award from the National Federation of the Blind. Honorees receive more than US $1,000, an expense-paid trip to the NFB National Convention, and professional development opportunities.

About

Mission, Vision & Values

To enhance our community through philanthropy.

We aspire to co-create diverse, meaningful and innovative charitable giving that yields an exponential positive impact within local communities and beyond.

David Bruce Belcher Fund

About the fund

The David Bruce Belcher Scholarship Fund was established for the training of professionals in nursing, special education, and therapy (physical, speech and occupational) as a legacy of David Bruce Belcher and the caregivers who comforted him. This fund reflects David’s rare spirit and bright love in its support of those who seek to advance their nurturing skills in nursing, therapy, and special education.

St. Ignace Area Community Foundation: CTE Technical Scholarship

The St. Ignace Community Fund annually awards scholarships assisting students with higher education, technical training, vocational training or retraining based largely on acknowledgement of student responsibility, community service, and civic involvement. These Scholarships are made possible through the generosity of donors to the various accounts within the St. Ignace Area Community Fund. Some accounts specifically are awarded to recognize higher education in the areas of special education, vocational/technical careers, teaching, law enforcement, and health care.

About Us

Driving Positive Change in Noble County!

At the Community Foundation of Noble County we are passionate about making Noble County an even better place to call home. Since 1991, area residents have been turning to the Community Foundation of Noble County to make their philanthropic giving as effective as possible, as we see it as our mission to serve as a catalyst for positive change. The Community Foundation of Noble County is a public charity 501 (c) 3 entity.

As a group of invested community members, we identify local current and emerging issues and stimulate resources to address those needs, helping our region prepare for the future. We then leverage gifts and bequests from generous donors like you to drive positive change through grants in such areas as arts and culture, education, health and human services, civic affairs and other charitable areas of interest.

Our Mission

To improve the quality of life in Noble County by serving as catalyst for positive change, enabling donors to carry out charitable intent, and making grants.

Donor Story – Joest, Brian H. Memorial Fund

Brian Henry Joest was born in Lagrange, Indiana in 1957. He grew up on the Atwood family farm that was settled by his ancestors in the mid-1800s. Now a historical Hoosier Homestead, the Atwood Farm provided him with all the outdoor activities possible for a farm boy in northern Indiana. Brian’s love of nature and the outdoors continued throughout his life. After high school, he attended Glen Oaks Community College and then Purdue University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Economics

For decades, Brian went on annual backcountry camping and canoeing trips across the US and Canada. He paddled some of the most beautiful rivers in North America. He took a road trip to remote northern Alaska. He camped out on an active volcano in Guatemala. He explored most of the US National Parks. In his later years, his travels were less rustic but still adventurous as he and his wife, Cindy, checked off many items on his bucket list. They traveled to Paris, Rome, Florence, the Amalfi Coast of Italy, Ireland, and all around the US and Canada.

Brian began his professional career with management positions at Many Glacier Hotel at Glacier National Park in Montana; the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan; the Mountain View Grand Resort in New Hampshire; and Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Colorado. He also worked for Marriott Corporation where he opened new hotels across the Midwest.

Upon the birth of his first child, Brian moved his young family back to Lagrange County so his children could grow up on the Atwood Farm near their family. Brian worked for Life Care Center of Lagrange, was a substitute teacher for the Lakeland School District, and worked for fifteen years for East Noble School Corporation, most recently as an Instructional Assistant for high school students with special needs.

Brian enjoyed doing things for other people and took so much joy in their happiness. His career choices reflected his servant’s heart. He loved working in the hospitality industry and being able to make someone else’s vacation more memorable. He helped the patients and their families at Life Care Center. He spent years making a difference for students in our local schools.

Brian experienced first-hand the unique challenges faced by the families of individuals with special needs. He was a father, stepfather, and step-grandfather to children with different disabilities. He understood the difficulties of navigating support systems and knew there are gaps in these systems that result in unmet needs. At the end of his life, while he was fighting cancer, Brian dreamed of being able to return to the classroom to help special needs students. This was not to be. In 2022, his family created this fund in his honor with the intent of continuing his dream to help improve the lives of individuals with special needs.

Anne K. Petry Scholarship Fund

Established by Summit Education Partnership Foundation to provide scholarships for Akron Public Schools students studying special education.

Amount:

• $1,000

Number of awards:

• 1

Renewal:

• No

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) offers training programs through the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER) to enhance special education research. For FY 2027, the focus is on Methods Training, particularly on analyzing large datasets related to learners with disabilities. This initiative supports early career researchers and current education researchers in developing rigorous methodologies to address significant educational challenges, aiming to inform policy and practice in special education.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship

Advancing the science and practice of supporting children to thrive

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is a global initiative supporting researchers working to deepen our understanding of how children thrive. Spanning disciplines from education and psychology to public health, data science, and humanitarian studies, the fellowship brings together early- and mid-career scholars whose work has the potential to generate evidence that matters for children’s lives.

Fellows receive three years of flexible support to pursue rigorous, practically relevant research, and join a cohort of peers working across the fellowship’s themes. In addition to funding research, the program fosters a community of scholars engaged in meaningful exchange with one another and with research, policy, and practice audiences.

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship is developed in partnership with the LEGO Foundation, and administered by SSRC as part of its commitment to supporting scholars whose work bridges research and real-world impact.

Research themes

The LEGO Foundation Fellowship welcomes research proposals that advance understanding of children’s thriving through one of the following three themes: the youngest children in crisis and conflict settings; inclusion and wellbeing of neurodivergent children; and children’s learning and development in an AI-enabled world. Applicants may explore the role of play where it is relevant to the research question. The consideration of play is optional and not a condition of eligibility.

The McGraw Foundation offers annual grants to not-for-profit organizations, primarily in the greater Chicago area, focusing on education, conservation, and human services. Grant amounts typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with larger grants available for particularly impactful projects. While supporting diverse initiatives, the Foundation does not fund individuals or specific events. Organizations must be tax-exempt under IRS regulations to qualify for funding. The Foundation encourages innovative approaches and partnerships in grant applications.

McCormick & Company, Inc. actively supports charitable contributions through its Charitable Donations Committee (CDC), which prioritizes donations to non-profit organizations that enhance education, health, environment, and culture. The CDC focuses on organizations that benefit communities where McCormick employees live and work, ensuring a positive impact. Eligible groups must be tax-exempt and demonstrate a commitment to non-discrimination. However, donations are not made to individuals, political organizations, or entities that conflict with corporate values.

With a mission to support youth, animals, conservation, and veterans, Von Voigtlander Family Foundation provides Illinois special needs education and related nonprofits with funding for scholarships, public schools, camps, and inclusive youth programs. Eligible applicants are IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) organizations, with priority for Michigan-based charities but potential support for national programs, including those serving Illinois, when no comparable local provider exists.