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Search Through History Grants in Chicago, Illinois

The Andrews Family Foundation offers Board Grants to public, non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status. Focused on enhancing communities through education, humanitarian work, and the arts, the foundation aims to foster individual growth. Established in 1993 in Chicago, it continues a legacy of community commitment. Grant proposals are reviewed quarterly, with final awards decided by the Board. Eligible organizations must have a budget between $1M and $4M and provide opportunities for board member involvement.

The New Leaf Illinois Network Grant, funded by the Illinois Equal Justice Foundation, aims to support civil legal aid programs that assist individuals in clearing cannabis convictions. It provides funding for legal services, community outreach, and technical assistance, ensuring equitable access to justice for those impacted by past cannabis-related offenses. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and provide free legal representation to low-income clients, focusing on communities disproportionately affected by cannabis laws.

The African American Legacy Grants, initiated by The Chicago Community Trust, aims to enhance the quality of life for Black communities in metropolitan Chicago. This program supports Black-led organizations focused on community wealth building, mobilization, and care. Grants range from $15,000 to $75,000 depending on the project's scope, promoting initiatives like worker cooperatives and mental health services. The grants prioritize organizations that are responsive to community needs and emphasize collective impact through shared ownership and democratic participation.

The RRF Foundation for Aging offers research grants aimed at improving the well-being of older adults and their caregivers. Established in 1950, the foundation has awarded over $239 million to support innovative projects nationwide. Grants are targeted at nonprofit organizations proposing research with immediate implications for adults aged 60 and older, with a focus on practical knowledge and dissemination to impact policy and practice.

The Asian Giving Circle (AGC) Grant, established in 2002, supports Asian and Pacific Islander nonprofits in the Chicago area by pooling donor resources to advance social justice. With over $800,000 in contributions, AGC prioritizes proposals from API organizations for general operating costs, emphasizing support for underrepresented communities and innovative projects. Applications will be reviewed from mid-June to August 2025, with awards announced by September.

The Dena Epstein Award for Archival and Library Research in American Music, established by the Music Library Association in 1995, honors the legacy of Dena Epstein, who significantly contributed to the field of American music research. This award supports research in archives and libraries globally, focusing on any aspect of American music. Open to all applicants regardless of age, nationality, or profession, proposals are evaluated solely on merit, encouraging diverse explorations of America's musical heritage.

The Big Ten Academic Alliance Smithsonian Fellowship offers unique research opportunities for graduate students from member universities. Eligible candidates can conduct research at the Smithsonian in diverse fields such as anthropology, ecology, and history of science. The fellowship provides a stipend of $45,000 per year, with additional research allowances, and supports both U.S. and international students. This initiative fosters collaboration among leading academic institutions to advance knowledge and innovation.

The Newberry Library offers short-term residential fellowships for individual research, providing scholars with the opportunity to explore its extensive collections. These fellowships, lasting one to two months and offering a stipend of $3,000 per month, are open to researchers at various academic stages, including ABD candidates. The program supports diverse scholars, welcoming applicants from any nationality and those residing in the Chicago area, thereby fostering a rich community of inquiry.

The Jack Miller Center Fellowships at the Newberry Library support scholars advancing the understanding of America's founding principles and history. Open to postdoctoral scholars and PhD candidates, these short-term fellowships provide a stipend of $3,000 per month for research on specific collection items. Applications are encouraged from scholars of all nationalities, including those in the Chicago metropolitan area, fostering a diverse academic community committed to exploring America's historical narratives.

The Newberry Center for Renaissance Studies Fellowships offer unique opportunities for one postdoctoral scholar and one PhD candidate to explore medieval, Renaissance, or early modern studies. With a stipend of $3,000 per month for a duration of one month, these fellowships support research that is crucial for scholarly advancement. Open to both national and international scholars, it welcomes those ready to delve into specific items within the Newberry's extensive collections.

The Adele Hast Fellowship in American History, offered by The Newberry Library, supports scholars working on projects related to American history, particularly those with a specific need for the Newberry's extensive collections. This short-term fellowship provides a stipend of $3,000 per month for a duration of one month. Open to postdoctoral scholars and PhD candidates, it encourages research that contributes to a deeper understanding of American history and its impacts.

The American Society for Eighteenth-Century Studies (ASECS) Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports scholars investigating the period from 1660 to 1815. This short-term fellowship allows researchers to utilize the library's extensive collections for one to two months, with a stipend of $3,000 per month. Open to faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and ABD PhD candidates, it encourages international participation and aims to foster scholarly engagement with the rich historical resources available.

The American Society for Environmental History (ASEH) Fellowship, supported by The Newberry Library, offers scholars specializing in environmental history the opportunity to conduct research utilizing the Newberry's extensive collections. This short-term fellowship provides a stipend of $3,000 per month for a duration of one month. It is open to faculty members, postdoctoral scholars, and PhD candidates at the ABD stage, encouraging diverse applicants from around the world.

The Anne Jacobson Schutte Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports early career scholars focusing on the early modern period (1300-1700). This one-month fellowship offers a stipend of $3,000 per month and emphasizes research related to women’s studies, spirituality, or Venice. Open to postdoctoral scholars and PhD candidates, it encourages applicants from any nationality, while also providing opportunities for Chicago-area scholars. The fellowship honors Schutte’s significant contributions to the field.

The Arthur and Janet Holzheimer Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports scholars focusing on the history of cartography. With a stipend of $3,000 per month for a one-month duration, this fellowship is available to postdoctoral scholars and PhD candidates, including those ABD by the application deadline. Open to international applicants, it encourages research on cartographic materials within The Newberry's extensive collection, enriching the understanding of cartography's historical significance.

The Arthur and Lila Weinberg Fellowship for Independent Researchers offers a $3,000 monthly stipend for one month, targeting writers, artists, and humanists. This fellowship encourages applicants working outside traditional academic settings, welcoming scholars of all nationalities. The Newberry Library provides a rich collection for research, focusing on projects that promote social justice. Ideal candidates include independent and early-career scholars, particularly those from the Chicago metropolitan area.

The Charles Montgomery Gray Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports scholars in need of specific collection items for their research. Open to postdoctoral scholars and PhD candidates, it prioritizes projects in early modern or Renaissance studies, English history, legal history, and European history. The fellowship offers a stipend of $3,000 per month for a duration of one month, welcoming applicants from all nationalities and encouraging local scholars from the Chicago metropolitan area.

The Historical Fiction Writing Fellowship at The Newberry Library offers one month of financial support to writers focusing on historical fiction, including novels, short stories, plays, and poetry. With a stipend of $3,000, this fellowship is open to scholars of any nationality, encouraging diverse voices in the genre. The Newberry, a historic Chicago institution, fosters research and creativity, making it an ideal environment for writers to develop their craft and explore historical narratives.

The Jan and Frank Cicero Fellowship supports artists in the visual and performing arts for one month, providing a stipend of $3,000. Applications are due by January 3, 2025, with a grace period for recommendation letters until January 13, 2025. This fellowship is an opportunity to enhance artistic practice using the Newberry collection, open to scholars at the ABD stage and beyond. Eligible applicants include artists and performers from various disciplines.

The John S. Aubrey Fellowship at The Newberry Library supports scholars with a demonstrated need for the library's collection. This short-term fellowship is available for one month, offering a stipend of $3,000 per month. It is open to scholars at various stages, including ABD candidates and those with terminal degrees. The Newberry Library, founded in 1887, serves as a vital cultural institution in Chicago, providing access to extensive historical resources.

The Rudolph Ganz Fellowship offers short-term research opportunities for scholars investigating Chicago music history through the Rudolph Ganz Papers. With a stipend of $3,000/month for a duration of one month, this fellowship is open to faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and PhD candidates (ABD) in any field. International scholars are welcome, and Chicago-area residents may also apply. This fellowship supports the exploration of vital historical materials, fostering academic engagement with the rich cultural heritage of Chicago.

The Herzog August Bibliothek Wolfenbüttel Joint Fellowship offers researchers a unique opportunity to conduct scholarly work for two months, combining resources from both the Newberry Library and the Herzog August Bibliothek in Germany. This fellowship supports scholars at various stages, including ABD candidates, providing a stipend of $3,000 plus additional funding for travel. Ideal for both domestic and international applicants, this fellowship fosters a collaborative research environment while promoting the exploration of historical collections.

The Illinois Community College Board is offering the FY2026 Advanced Manufacturing Grant with approximately $4.5 million in funds. This initiative supports the growth and innovation of Advanced Manufacturing programs across Illinois' community colleges. It aims to enhance collaboration within the system, creating flexible learning pathways that respond to industry needs, thereby strengthening workforce training and contributing to local economies.

The Award for Graduate Study in American History, offered by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Illinois (NSCDA-IL), provides $3,000 annually to a graduate student. This award supports research that enhances understanding of America's development from colonial times to the present, with a preference for those intending to teach. NSCDA-IL fosters appreciation for our national heritage through educational initiatives and historic preservation.

The Kosciuszko Foundation offers Tuition Scholarships for American students of Polish descent pursuing graduate studies in the U.S. Scholarships can provide up to $12,000 for full-time studies, including master's and Ph.D. programs. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal residents with Polish heritage and maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0. This program aims to foster educational exchanges and cultural understanding between the U.S. and Poland, supporting various fields of study.

Route 66 Grant Program

Since 1926, Route 66 defined a remarkable era in our nation's history and it lives on today in Illinois' many Route 66 roadside attractions, museums, and restaurants. Route 66 is one of the most famous roads in America. Generations of travelers have romanticized this highway as a symbol of unlimited mobility and freedom of the road. Its iconic status is enhanced by the unprecedented volume of music, books, films, and other art forms that depict it as the essence of America's highway culture.

It was born in 1926 as part of the new numbered highway network and quickly grew to be the preferred road west for a nation on the move. US Highway 66 was not as old or as long as some other transcontinental routes like the Yellowstone or the Lincoln Highway, but it quickly gained fame as the shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and the coast as it passed through the fabled landscape of the American Southwest. The construction of this thin, ribbon of the road helped to transform the American West from an isolated frontier to an economically vital region of the country and made it accessible to anyone with a car.

Part of the charm of Route 66 is its idiosyncratic personality. Like a giant carnival Midway, this corridor of neon signs and gaudy roadside attractions was embraced by the traveling public as an exciting diversion from ordinary life. A trip on Route 66 promised an exhilarating pilgrimage where one might discover the unknown and experience the unusual. Route 66 is synonymous with fun and adventure.

Route 66 is also synonymous with endless opportunity. As our transportation sector evolves and electrifies, more drivers will be choosing electric vehicles (EVs) to traverse our state’s roads and highways. Embracing future tourism trends like electrified transportation and promoting the state’s tourism areas as EV destinations will unlock all Route 66 has to offer for EV drivers who want to shop, dine, and explore Route 66’s local attractions.

In Illinois, we have over 300 miles of Route 66 to travel from its starting point in Chicago to the Chain of Rocks Bridge. This funding opportunity provides the certified convention and visitors bureaus along the route to partner and develop projects that will enhance the Route 66 experience in Illinois. 

Funding

• $20000 - $150000

The Lake Forest Garden Club Grant supports community initiatives focused on gardening, horticultural education, and conservation. It prioritizes projects in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and Lake County, Illinois. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding for public, accessible projects such as environmental education and historic garden restoration. The club aims to partner with groups that share its mission of enhancing community engagement and promoting sustainable practices, with a preference for single-year projects.