Best Grants for Museums in Illinois

The IL Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program aids communities in recovering from natural disasters by providing both technical and financial assistance. It addresses threats to life and property from floods, fires, and windstorms without requiring a federal disaster declaration. Various recovery projects, led by eligible local sponsors, include debris removal, streambank protection, and establishing vegetative cover. The program is designed to be economically and environmentally sound, promoting sustainability in watershed management.

The IL Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) supports the conservation of agricultural lands and wetlands through financial and technical assistance. The program prioritizes applications from eligible partners, including Indian tribes and local governments, protecting farmland from non-agricultural use. By preserving agricultural land, ACEP enhances environmental quality, wildlife habitats, and historic preservation while ensuring the long-term viability of the nation's food supply.

The IL Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP): Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE) aims to assist private and tribal landowners in protecting and restoring wetlands previously degraded by agricultural practices. This program offers various easement options, including permanent and 30-year easements, while covering costs associated with easement recording. Additionally, NRCS prioritizes applications based on the potential to enhance habitat for wildlife, including migratory birds, thereby contributing to biodiversity and ecological resilience.

CON Level of Care Support Services Grant Program

The purpose of this funding opportunity is to support the construction, renovation, rehabilitation, expansion, and improvement of facilities that serve youth and families. Through this investment, the Department seeks to strengthen service capacity, improve safety and accessibility, address facility deficiencies, and enhance the quality of environments in which services are delivered.

Funding may be used to support projects that improve the availability, condition, functionality, security, accessibility, or suitability of facilities used to provide residential, treatment, supportive, or other Department approved services. The Department intends to invest in projects that demonstrate a clear need, readiness for implementation, and the potential to improve outcomes for youth and families served.

Examples of allowable grant activities include:

• Demolition (in preparation for additional work)
• Site preparation and improvement
• New construction of buildings and structures
• Reconstruction or improvement of existing buildings or structure
• Specialized furnishings and equipment
• Replacement of currently utilized assets by a better asset
• Expansion of existing buildings or facilities
• Direct costs which significantly increases the service potential of a current building or structure
• Work that contains repairs, maintenance, remodeling, or rehabilitation

Funding Information

• Opportunity Funding - $30,000,000.00
• Award Ceiling - $10,000,000.00
• Award Floor - $250,000.00

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.

Recreational Corridor Greenways and Trails Planning 

State funding for intergovernmental agreements and grant agreements that support specific projects identified as high priority a Recreational Corridor for repurposing the abandoned railroads. These are non-competitive grants that fund the specific miscellaneous purposes 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.

This is the third phase of the DNR-assisted program.

• Phase 1 covered Northeastern Illinois.
• Phase 2 covered 10 downstate metro-areas.
• Phase 3 covers non-metro communities and counties, including: Communities greater than 10,000 population that have not already participated in DNR-assisted northeastern Illinois or downstate metro-area greenway and trail planning.

Counties that have not already participated in DNR-assisted Northeastern Illinois or downstate metro-area greenway and trail planning. These counties may participate in the program individually, or in cooperation with one or more other eligible counties. Two or more northeastern Illinois and downstate metro-area coalitions that have (1) completed regional plans (under earlier Phases and (2) demonstrated significant progress in implementing portions of their plans. The goal for this planning is to connect metro-area networks. Interstate coalitions. The goal for this planning is to connect greenways and trails within Illinois to greenways and trails within adjacent states.

The Special Wildlife Funds - State Pheasant Fund provides competitive grants to non-profit and governmental organizations aimed at conserving wild pheasant habitats in Illinois. Funded through Illinois Habitat Stamps, projects should align with the state's Wildlife Action Plan and improve habitat quality and connectivity. Eligible activities include preserving, acquiring, and managing high-quality habitats, ensuring public access, and meeting feasible costs. Compliance with administrative rules is essential for grant administration.

About the Illinois Department on Aging

The mission of the Illinois Department on Aging is to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and quality of life.

Title V Senior Community Service Employment Program - Competitive

Description

The Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) is a program administered by the US Department of Labor (USDOL) and the Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) that serves unemployed low-income persons who are 55 years of age and older and who have poor employment prospects by training them in part-time community service assignments and by assisting them in developing skills and experience to facilitate their transition to unsubsidized employment.

Placing older individuals in community service positions strengthens the ability of the individuals to become self-sufficient, provides needed support to organizations that benefit from increased civic engagement, and strengthens the communities that are served by such organizations.

Grantees will administer SCSEP in assigned geographic areas within Illinois per the requirements of the IDoA and USDOL.

FY27 480-10-3700 Early Childhood Block Grant: Prevention Initiative 0-3

To provide funds for intensive, research-based, and comprehensive child development and family support services for expectant parents and families with children from birth to age 3 to help them build a strong foundation for learning and to prepare children for later school success.

Opportunity Funding

• $169,199,113.00

Funding Sources

• State

The Foster Grandparent Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Aging, empowers seniors aged 55 and older to tutor and mentor children with special needs in various educational settings. By providing a small stipend and training, the program encourages volunteerism, enhancing the lives of both seniors and youth. In 2024, 417 volunteers dedicated over 423,000 hours to support 3,670 children, showcasing the program's impact on community engagement and intergenerational relationships.

The Illinois Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Safety Programs and Engineering (BSPE) is actively working to meet the goal of zero fatalities on Illinois roadways. In order to make this goal a reality, BSPE offers grant opportunities for funding to state and local agencies and qualified organizations. Due to the size, population, and high traffic volume on Illinois roadways, BSPE partners with state and local agencies and qualified organizations to make this goal a reality.

28-0343-03 State Agency Traffic Records (TR) Program

I. INTRODUCTION

The Illinois Traffic Records Program is designed to improve statewide traffic data systems. The traffic records data systems include the collection, management, and analysis of traffic safety data. It is comprised of six (6) core data systems: crash; driver; vehicle; roadway; citation or adjudication; and EMS or injury surveillance. The six core data systems are commonly referred to as the NHTSA six-pack. Each of the six core data systems must ensure quality of data by measuring the timeliness, completion, accuracy, uniformity, integration, and accessibility of each data system.

II. PROJECT GOAL

Improve the Illinois core traffic data systems: crash; driver; vehicle; roadway; citation or adjudication; and EMS or injury surveillance.

III. GRANT PROPOSAL GUIDANCE

Project proposals submitted must address at least one (1) of the core data systems that make up an ideal traffic records system - crash, driver, vehicle, roadway, citation or adjudication, and EMS or injury surveillance.

Projects must also improve or enhance a miniminum of one (1) of the following in the data systems listed above - timeliness, accuracy, completeness, uniformity, integration, and/or accessibility..

Applicants must provide clear and convincing evidence that the requested project will meet these target objectives. In addition, the applicant must define specific, quantifiable performance measures and certify how these performance measures will be regularly monitored and reported.

About the Illinois Department on Aging

The mission of the Illinois Department on Aging is to serve and advocate for older Illinoisans and their caregivers by administering quality and culturally appropriate programs that promote partnerships and encourage independence, dignity, and quality of life.

Senior Health Assistance Program

Description

Tobacco Settlement Recovery Funds and federal grants funds have been earmarked for the Department to provide educational outreach and enrollment/application assistance on Medicare Part D drug plans, Social Security's Extra Help, Medicare Savings Programs, Seniors Free Transit Ride, Persons with Disabilities Free Transit Ride, and the Secretary of State's License Plate Discount Program through the network of Area Agencies on Aging and local service providers. The Area Agencies on Aging have funded approximately 150 Senior Information and Assistance Sites around the state to help older adults and family members learn about and apply for these federal and state public benefits. The Legislative mandate of the Senior Health Assistance Program (SHAP) is to provide information and assistance to older adults about available pharmaceutical assistance programs.

About NCRC

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) is a nationwide network of nearly 800 organizations and champions working for a Just Economy, where all Americans can build wealth and provide for their families with stability and dignity.

Our vision: To solve America’s historic racial and socio-economic wealth, income and opportunity divides. This vision is the foundation of the Just Economy Pledge.

NCRC Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) - Housing Counseling Services

The Field Empowerment Fund (FEF) empowers NCRC network members to level up established service lines.

The Housing Counseling Services series within FEF supports HUD-approved housing counseling agencies in driving homeownership, such as through pre-purchase counseling. In addition, the program builds agency knowledge on heirs’ property challenges to better equip first-time and low-income homebuying households with the know-how to retain intergenerational wealth.

In doing so, FEF-HCS aims to help underserved families begin their homeownership journey, with an additional goal of ensuring foresight into the long-term future of their home purchase.

The FEF-HCS series is funded in partnership with Key Bank and HSBC, and targets communities within the Key Bank and HSBC branch footprints.

Through these partnerships, $2.5 million in Key Bank geographies and $1.5 million in HSBC geographies has been allocated for the subgrants for direct-to-client housing counseling services that will be awarded in three rounds in the FEF-HCS track.

Funding Support

Awardee agencies will receive subgrants to support their housing counseling services to clients.

Knowledge Building

Awardee agencies will attend a training session on heirs’ property challenges and best practices, hosted by NCRC National Training Academy. Bolstering counselor knowledge on this topic will ensure that your agency is not only serving clients in their personal wealth-building journey now, but also helping them preserve that wealth in generations to come.

The Community Network Anchors RFA aims to strengthen existing Community Networks by fostering collaboration among diverse partners, including mental health providers, schools, and advocacy groups. This initiative is designed to enhance the well-being of families, helping them access essential resources to thrive and mitigate crises. Grant recipients will build on existing materials provided by IDPH and CBHTI, engaging in regular meetings to ensure a robust support system in their communities.

Illinois public, private, and charter schools starting a PLTW Engineering program for 2025–2026 can receive up to US $16,000 in participation and teacher training costs. Focused on engineering education, Project Lead The Way invites schools, including those serving high-need or minority-majority students, to expand STEM offerings that may enhance museum-related or experiential learning partnerships.

Project Lead The Way (PLTW) offers grants for schools to implement the PLTW Computer Science program from 2025 to 2028. Schools must provide at least one PLTW course in the first year and two courses in the second year. The total grant is $14,000, covering participation fees and training costs. Eligible institutions include public, private, and charter schools located in the U.S., with special encouragement for those serving low-income or minority-majority populations.

The Summer Youth Employment in the Arts Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, supports youth employment opportunities in the arts. Grants of up to $4,500 are available for organizations to hire youth aged 14 to 22, fostering both administrative and artistic duties. This initiative aims to empower young individuals by providing them with hands-on experience in the arts sector while contributing to the overall workforce development in the community.

Office of the Illinois Attorney General

The Attorney General is the state's chief legal officer and is responsible for protecting the public interest of the state and its people.

The job of the Attorney General is to:

• Advocate on behalf of all of the people of Illinois;
• Legislate with members of the General Assembly for new laws; and
• Litigate to ensure state laws are followed and respected.
• The Attorney General provides services that cover a broad range of issues, reaching every corner of Illinois.

Crime Victims Compensation Program

A violent crime can have a lasting impact and can bring changes that one might not expect. The Office of the Attorney General led the way for legislation that created the Crime Victims Compensation Act. This law reserved resources to help those who lives were interrupted by a violent crime. This financial assistance could include offsetting costs related to:

• Accessibility and Usability of Property
• Crime-Scene Clean Up
• Funeral/Burial Expenses
• Loss of Earnings
• Medical, Hospital and Dental Expenses
• Mental Health Counseling Expenses
• Relocation Costs
• Replacement Costs
• Tuition Expenses

Our Story

Uncover IDOT’s mission and vision, showcasing our passion and commitment for creating a safe and efficient multimodal transportation system for everyone.

Our Mission

It is our mission to provide safe, cost-effective transportation for Illinois in ways that enhance quality of life, promote economic prosperity and demonstrate respect for our environment.

Historical Overview

IDOT's roots can be traced back more than a century. For as long as there have been cars, highways and air traffic, there has been an Illinois transportation agency. The rich history of our department spreads across the entire state. From massive bridges spanning the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to winding roads carved into limestone bluffs. From two-lane roads tracing through rural corn and soybean fields to dirt and grass landing strips to the steel and concrete jungle of O’Hare International Airport, and on every mile of interstate and railroad that made Illinois what it is today, the mark of an Illinois transportation agency can be seen and felt.

Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP)

The goal of the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program is to allocate resources to well planned smaller scale, but critically important projects that provide and support connected  alternate modes of transportation that are safe for all users, enhance the transportation  system through preservation of visual and cultural resources, and improve the quality of life for members of the communities impacted. ITEP requires sponsors to coordinate efforts to  develop and build safe, equitable, valuable, and functional facilities in a timely manner.

Residential substance abuse treatment programs provide individual and group treatment activities for offenders in residential facilities that are operated by state and local correctional agencies. RSAT funding is intended to enhance the capabilities of states and units of local government to provide substance use disorder treatment services for justice-involved individuals. Funded programs should support evidence-based treatment, recovery, and reentry services that prepare participants for successful community reintegration through reentry planning, continuity of care, and access to community-based treatment and recovery support services. The program is designed to reduce substance use and recidivism by increasing access to treatment, strengthening recovery supports, and improving long-term outcomes for participants.

The Workforce Training Support Program aims to assist Illinois manufacturers by providing financial support for workforce training. This initiative addresses the challenges of training and retaining skilled workers in the manufacturing sector. By covering up to 50% of training costs, the program encourages employers to enhance their employees' skills, ensuring a safe and productive work environment. This program supplements existing initiatives, ultimately strengthening the Illinois workforce and supporting local businesses.

Ryan White Part B Lead Agents NOFO

Estimated Total Program Funding

• $20,238,382

Single Award Range 

• $996189 - $10129837

The Ryan White Part B Lead Agent Grant is a one-year competitive grant award beginning on April 1st, 2026, and funded by Ryan White Part B (RWPB) funds, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds, and IL General Revenue funds.

Ryan White Lead Agents safeguard the provision of necessary medical, support, and core Ryan White Part B services to people in Illinois living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Furthermore, Lead Agents increase the number of minority and disproportionately affected people living with HIV infected individuals receiving medical care and improve partnerships and community engagement at the local level. Ryan White Lead Agents are responsible for sustaining medical benefit initiatives that assist RWPB-eligible clients in obtaining an appropriate insurance coverage to reduce costs of services referred to above.

Ryan White Lead Agents use Housing Opportunities for People with AIDS (HOPWA) funds to secure stable housing for the PLWHA community. Additionally, Lead Agents provide necessary housing and support services to low income, uninsured, and underinsured PLWHA in Illinois.

Ryan White Lead Agents are key partners in the Community Re-entry Project (CRP), a coordinated multistakeholder re-entry project that includes public health, corrections, medical and behavioral health, and human services providers; as well as additional stakeholders invested in the health and well-being of reentry populations, their families, and communities. The CRP has developed and refined a model re-entry program for people living with HIV and those at highest risk for HIV using Corrections Case Managers (CCMs) who provide services through a coordinated region-wide case management system. CRP provides or leverages a host of other services through the partner organizations which include outreach, health education, family reunification, substance abuse treatment, ID procurement, primary medical care, and training and technical assistance. 

The Adult Volunteer Literacy Grant Program

The Adult Volunteer Literacy Grant Program provides funding for educational agencies to provide Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English language instruction to qualified individuals using trained unpaid volunteer tutors.

The grant applications are being offered in advance of the provision of the state budget. The Illinois State Library makes these grant applications available so that award notification may be released when legislative and gubernatorial approval of the appropriation is made. Obligations to fund this grant program will cease immediately without penalty or further payment being required if the Illinois General Assembly or the federal funding source fails to appropriate or otherwise make available sufficient funds. 

Funding

Public funds awarded under this grant range up to $105,000 with first year awards being modest until the project is securely established. Only one grant is allowed per agency.

The Andrew and Alice Fischer Charitable Trust, administered by First American Bank in Dundee, IL, focuses on funding education for individuals with various challenges, as well as programs for children, seniors, and U.S. veterans. Grants are primarily awarded to organizations in the greater Chicago metropolitan area that face difficulties in securing funding from other sources. This trust aims to support those in need and enhance community welfare.

The Guy A. and N. Kay Arboit Charitable Trust Grant, administered by First American Bank, focuses on supporting education for underprivileged individuals, funding cardiac and cancer research, and endorsing religious activities, especially those tied to the Catholic Church. Grants are primarily available to organizations in the greater Chicago area that face challenges in accessing other funding sources, ensuring targeted assistance where it is most needed.

The 125 Pretrial Success Program, funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, aims to provide case management for eligible participants charged with a criminal offense and granted pretrial release. This program engages court stakeholders to identify participants for voluntary services that assess and link them to necessary resources. With its focus on ongoing communication and collaboration, the initiative strives to support individuals in navigating their legal challenges and achieving self-sufficiency.

Illinois Department of Human Services

The Illinois Department of Human Services was created in 1997 to provide our state's residents with streamlined access to integrated services, especially those who are striving for economic independence, and others who face multiple challenges to self-sufficiency.

Our Mission: We respond to the needs of all people in Illinois so they can lead healthy, safe, and enriched lives.

470 Peer Support Warm Line

Executive Summary

The Illinois Peer Support Warm Line (PSWL) program will operate a free, confidential, peer-staffed phone support line for individuals located in Illinois who need emotional support to prevent a potential crisis or to support their wellness between or in lieu of formal treatment services. This program seeks to increase access to peer-based support for Illinoisians as an evidence-based practice and as a mechanism to address gaps in behavioral health service access due to the behavioral health workforce shortage. The PSWL will provide empathetic listening and peer support to individuals who may be experiencing distress or loneliness or those seeking validation from a peer with lived experience who identifies with their concerns and can offer a confidential and non-judgmental space for connection and self-directed exploration of possible solutions and/or alternatives.