Best Community and School Garden Grants in Illinois

Illinois schools, nature centers, and youth groups creating native plant pollinator gardens on public sites in Illinois can access funding through Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Grants up to US $2,000 support purchasing specified native plants, mulch, and soil products to establish schoolyard habitats with strong student involvement and long-term maintenance.

Illinois teachers, nature center staff, and youth group leaders can use this grant to create or enhance native plant wildlife habitats on school or public grounds in Illinois. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources provides up to US $2,000 for projects like prairie plots, rain gardens, butterfly gardens, wetlands, arboretums, and related habitat tools and materials.

Illinois nonprofit community and school gardens focused on urban organic agriculture and feeding low-income communities can receive US $3,000 to support their projects. Nature's Path Organic provides funding to registered nonprofits across the U.S. (except Arizona) and Canada (except Quebec) that manage organic gardens without toxic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, or GMOs, including those serving underserved or underrepresented communities.

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Full-Time Associates

Regions supports organizations important to our associates through the Regions Matching Gifts Program. This program, which is open for use for all full-time Regions associates, affiliate associates and recent retirees, allows you to make an even greater difference to your favorite charities by doubling your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations. 

About Regions

Regions Financial Corporation is a member of the S&P 500 Index and is one of the nation's largest full-service providers of consumer and commercial banking, wealth management and mortgage products and services. Regions serves customers across the South, Midwest and Texas.

Regions Foundation

Regions Foundation supports community investments that positively impact the communities served by Regions Bank. The Foundation engages in a grantmaking program focused on priorities including economic and community development; education and workforce readiness; and financial wellness. The Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation funded primarily through contributions from Regions Bank.

Matching Gifts Program

Full-time associates and recent retirees (up to 5 years after retirement) of Regions and its affiliated companies can request a Regions Matching Gift to eligible organizations. The recipient organization must be a 501(c) or 170(c) organization located in the Regions footprint (except for accredited educational institutions, which may be located anywhere in the United States) and has a primary mission that clearly fits one of these categories:

• Economic and community development: Supporting economic prosperity through affordable housing, job creation, small-business development, homebuyer education and retention, neighborhood revitalization and stabilization, food security/hunger relief.
• Education and workforce readiness: Supporting career prosperity through student competency and skill building, college and career readiness, educational access and success, credential building and employment and educator training and resources.
• Financial wellness: Supporting financial prosperity through K-12 and college financial education, adult and workforce financial empowerment.
• Arts and culture: Organizations that promote visual or performing arts, historic or science museums, zoos, botanical gardens, libraries, parks or public radio and television.
• Service members and Veterans: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting U.S. military service members and veterans.
• Individuals with disabilities: Organizations that have a primary mission of supporting individuals with disabilities.

Regions Matching Gifts for Recent Retirees

Retirees of Regions and its affiliated companies are eligible for the Matching Gift Program for up to 5 years after retirement (the gift date must be within the first 5 years of retirement). Regions will match donations of $25 or more, up to a total of $1,000 per year per retiree.

The Regions Community Affairs team will contact the organization on your behalf to verify the gift and review eligibility.

The ENF Community Investments Program - Beacon Grants offers a unique opportunity for Elks Lodges to initiate and lead charitable projects in their local communities. This program encourages Lodges to develop sustainable initiatives, allowing them to address community needs effectively. By fostering collaboration and providing resources, the Beacon Grants enhance the quality of life for residents, including veterans and families. In 2025-26, all Lodges will have the chance to participate, promoting a culture of giving back.

The Fulton Gardens Fund Grant, established by the Quad Cities Community Foundation, honors Gerhart A. Kopf and aims to enhance public gardens in Fulton. The fund supports various needs including softscape costs for plants, hardscape expenses for landscaping, labor for installation and maintenance, and equipment purchases. This initiative empowers local residents and organizations to create and sustain beautiful garden spaces, fostering community engagement and environmental appreciation.

Illinois horticulture and gardening organizations, 501(c)(3) nonprofits, public schools, school districts, and Tribes working on youth food and nutrition programs can access funding through Newmans Own Foundation’s Hunger to Health Collaboratory. Awards up to US $100,000 support projects in Indigenous food justice, nutrition education, and school food initiatives that help kids engage with healthy, culturally relevant foods.

U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations and government entities planning horticulture, gardening, or public landscape projects can apply for funding that creates or preserves gardens, parks, school and teaching gardens, and nature centers. Garden Club of Houston prioritizes projects in the greater Houston area, which may include education, conservation, and related community garden initiatives.

Impact 100 Chicago provides Illinois horticulture and gardening nonprofits with US $100,000 grants for high-impact projects and programs in Chicago. Eligible 501(c)(3) public charities based in the city, with $1–8 million in annual revenue, can fund new, expanded, or ongoing initiatives, including community gardens, urban agriculture, and related education or family services, using unrestricted support.

Illinois schools, homeschooling families, and education organizations can use this grant to create hydroponic classroom gardens that support STEM and nutrition education. Rise Gardens provides horticulture and gardening programs with tools for NGSS-aligned, hands-on science, entrepreneurship projects, and community-building activities that can strengthen community and school garden efforts.

Students pursuing horticulture or floriculture degrees who aim to work in commercial cut flower production, including those in Illinois, can receive US $1,000 scholarships for their education. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers awards two annual Dave Dowling Scholarships plus one-year memberships, which may benefit future leaders of community and school garden projects.

Universities, colleges, and federal research institutions in the U.S. conducting floriculture and horticulture-related research may be eligible for the Fred C. Gloeckner Foundation Research Fund, including those in Illinois. Grants from American Floral Endowment support research and educational projects in floriculture and allied fields that share results with the public and may benefit community and school garden efforts.

Illinois 3rd grade classrooms interested in horticulture and gardening can access funding and free cabbage plants through the Bonnie Plants Foundation 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. Teachers, parents, and administrators in the 48 contiguous states may apply, supporting youth development and school garden projects with US $1,000 in in-kind support for selected students.

Nonprofit, school, religious, and other tax-exempt organizations transforming vacant lots into gardens in Illinois and other U.S. locations can receive US $20,000 for community garden development. Focused on horticulture and gardening, KidsGardening prioritizes under-resourced communities, limited prior funding, and projects engaging at least fifteen participants, which can include community and school garden efforts.

Nonprofit floral industry organizations in Illinois and across the U.S. can apply for American Floral Endowment’s Meinders Retail Florist Education Grant Fund to support retail floral education events. Grants provide reduced or free registration fees for educational floral industry programs, which may benefit community and school gardening initiatives with a retail floristry component.

Nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored groups operating in North Lawndale can seek funding to advance food access, gardening, and nutrition initiatives in Illinois. Focused on community food systems, The Lumpkin Family Foundation invites projects that grow food-related businesses, expand green spaces and food production, and provide culturally relevant food justice and nutrition education that may include community and school gardens.

Illinois horticulture and gardening nonprofits with local community projects can access funding through Kubota for initiatives like gardens, parks, and public spaces. This national program offers up to US $50,000 per 501(c)(3), combining cash and equipment to strengthen hometown projects, which may include community and school garden efforts.

Academic, governmental, industry, and 501(c)(3) researchers working on horticulture and gardening projects in Illinois can seek funding for one-year or shorter studies benefiting specialty cut flower growers. The Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers supports U.S. research, with 2026 awards totaling US $30,000, and encourages collaboration with growers and on-farm testing that may involve community or school gardens.

Schools, nonprofits, and other youth-serving organizations in Illinois planning or improving garden programs for at least 15 children can receive US $500 in gardening supplies through KidsGardening’s Youth Garden Grant. With a mission to expand horticulture and gardening education, KidsGardening provides U.S. programs with seeds, tools, curriculum, and specialty container or vertical garden awards, prioritizing under-resourced communities.

NGC-member garden clubs in Illinois can apply for National Garden Clubs’ Ames Tools Grant, receiving up to US $250 in in-kind garden tools for community gardens or garden therapy projects. Projects scheduled March 1–September 30, 2026, including joint ventures with other organizations, may be eligible if the applying club is an NGC member.

About Us

Some say natural is the new normal – but at Sprouts, there’s nothing new about natural foods! Back in 2002, we opened our first store in an effort to make natural foods accessible to everyone. Up until then, grocers offering fresh, organic choices were either too expensive to shop or too hard to find. We wanted to be different! No more weaving through a maze of narrow aisles without anyone offering to help. No more ingredient lists featuring 40 unpronounceable chemicals. And most of all, no more spending an entire paycheck for food from the honest effort of a farmer – not a factory.

To us, being different is good!

People thought we were crazy when we wouldn’t sell the country’s top-selling sodas, snacks and candy. But we believed that eating clean and living healthy was more than just a trend. At Sprouts, it’s our passion. And we knew that by focusing on farm-fresh produce and other healthy, affordable items, we could create a grocery experience where you didn’t have to be wealthy to eat healthy!

So think of Sprouts as all of the very best parts of a real farmers market under one roof, open every day of the week. With our commitment to value in every department, and knowledgeable and friendly team members, we’re confident that once you shop Sprouts you’ll think different is good too.

Today we have grown to more than 380 stores with approximately 31,000 team members. It’s these individuals who are the key to our success. They’re the ones who put good at the heart of everything we do at Sprouts … every day, in every community, with every guest.

Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation: Event Sponsorship

Thank you for considering Sprouts to support your organization. We value the opportunity to partner with local nonprofit organizations in the communities where our stores operate and are happy to lend a hand when we can.

Request Guidelines

Every day, Sprouts receives numerous donation and sponsorship requests. Due to the volume of applications we receive, we regret we cannot approve every request.

GardenScape Professional Association/Ted Burnett Memorial Scholarship

To award scholarships to residents of the Genesee-Finger Lakes region who are students of horticulture/landscaping.

Number and Size of Awards

One award of $1,000; paid in one lump sum in the Fall and divided equally between the Fall and Spring semesters.

Allowed Use of Award

Awards may be used for tuition, fees, books, and other expenses associated with higher education.

August Corso Scholarship Fund

Scholarships shall be awarded to residents of Erie County, Ohio pursuing a post-secondary education. Preference shall be given to students pursuing a degree in Horticulture, Environmental Science or Agricultural Business. Financial need is a consideration for the scholarship award.

Scholarships are available for students planning to attend an accredited nonprofit college or university, or planning to receive licensure, accreditation, or a certificate from a nonprofit vocational or apprenticeship program in the United States.

The scholarship may be renewed for a second, third, and fourth year.

The Hagerstown Garden Club Scholarship, administered by the Community Foundation of Washington County, supports Washington County residents pursuing education in horticulture. Eligible applicants include graduating high school seniors and current college students with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This scholarship honors the legacy of the Hagerstown Garden Club and is part of a broader initiative to enhance community life through educational opportunities, fostering both personal and professional growth in the horticultural field.

IDNR Mission Statement

To manage, conserve and protect Illinois' natural, recreational and cultural resources, further the public's understanding and appreciation of those resources, and promote the education, science and public safety of Illinois' natural resources for present and future generations.

Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant

Purpose

Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement with planning, development and maintenance and increase the educational and wildlife habitat values of the site. The applicant must be prepared to maintain and commit resources to the project for at least five years. The project must be implemented on school grounds or another public place (for example, a park or nature center/forest preserve district land). Illinois Conservation Foundation sites and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sites do not qualify for funding. Admission fees cannot be charged to obtain access to the site. Individual student projects will not be funded.

The Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant includes three options: Option One; Option Two; and Option Three.

Option Three: For Chicago and East St. Louis metro areas schools that have no soil on their school grounds for planting

Option Three is for schools only in Chicago and East St. Louis metro areas that have no soil on their school grounds in which to plant. Other schools may be considered if they have no soil around their school. This is not for every school to use instead of putting plants in the ground. It is creating a container garden at your school to have native species onsite. It must be developed following the criteria stated in the instructions for the application form. Schools that choose this option have additional reporting that needs to be done as they will be part of a scientific study. You must check with us before you apply for this grant. 

Funding requests will include containers, insulation, soil, plants, and mulch.

This grant will pay for the purchase of simple gardening tools such as child- and adult-sized gloves, spades, shovels, rakes, trowels and hoes. Tool costs shall not account for more than 25% of the total project cost.

Our Mission

KidsGardening creates opportunities for kids to play, learn, and grow through gardening, engaging their natural curiosity and wonder.

We want every child to experience the unique transformation that occurs when they spend time caring for a garden, be it outside, in a classroom, or in a cup on the kitchen windowsill. Since 1982, KidsGardening has served as a premier support provider for youth garden programs nationwide.

We support educators and families with grant funding, original educational resources, inspiration, and community to get more kids learning through the garden.

Growing the Future Intergenerational Garden Grant

In celebration of Miracle-Gro’s 75th anniversary, Miracle-Gro and KidsGardening are partnering to fund 75 intergenerational youth garden grants in 2026.

Intergenerational gardens provide opportunities for older gardeners to pass along traditions, knowledge, and skills to the next generation or share the experience of developing skills if new to gardening. In turn, young people bring their curiosity, wonder, and contagious enthusiasm for learning and life, exciting everyone involved in the growing process.

The 2026 Growing the Future Intergenerational Garden Grant is designed to support gardens that intentionally bring children and older adults together through shared gardening experiences.

Funding Priorities

The selection of winners is prioritized based on demonstrated need and program impact. KidsGardening considers a variety of factors when determining needs, including:

• Socioeconomic & Sociodemographic Factors: How does the program exist within or engage a community that has been systematically denied resources, whether physical assets and money or representative leadership and community services? Organizations affected by multiple socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors are given priority.

• Program Funding and Support: Does an organization have access to consistent, substantial monetary support or prior grant funding? Or are pre-existing resources (financial or otherwise) limited? Organizations experiencing the latter are given priority.

• Impact: Will grant funding dramatically expand learning opportunities for program participants? Does the intended impact reflect the needs of the community? Organizations working with more than 50 youth will be given priority.

Award Packages

Grantees will receive:

• A $500 cash award check
• A $250 coupon to purchase essential gardening supplies from ScottsMiracleGro.com