Federal Formula Grant Funding: Preventing Outages and Enhancing the Resilience of the Electric Grid
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Grant Description: Under Section 40101(d) of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Energy is funding state grant programs to enhance electric grid resilience. The Illinois Climate Bank will distribute $8 million annually for five years, prioritizing reliability, innovation, and disadvantaged communities. Funds support microgrids, weatherization, automation, and emission-reducing grid upgrades. Investments focus on equity, cost savings for low-income residents, workforce readiness, and sustainable infrastructure. Awards are based on population, land area, and risk factors to ensure effective mitigation and modernization.

2026 Historical Records Grant Program
Application Deadline: March 13, 2026
Grant Description: The Illinois State Historical Records Advisory Board (ISHRAB), using funding from National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), is offering grants of up to $5,000 to Illinois historical records keepers to develop and/or carry out projects that show commitment to developing and/or implementing projects that will lead to enhanced online access. These projects may include creating online finding aids, digitizing records and placing the digital content online, making an inventory of records, or properly storing the records with the goal of preparing them for future online access, or placing information about the records on a website, blog, wiki page or Facebook.

IL Armed Forces Legal Aid Network Grants
Application Deadline: March 17, 2026
Grant Description: The IEJF awards grants to organizations providing legal assistance and information as part of the Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network (IL-AFLAN). IL-AFLAN is a one-stop shop where veterans, military members, and their dependents can obtain free legal help to access hard-earned benefits, obtain discharge upgrades, solve other urgent problems like family law and housing issues.

Community Health Center Construction Grants
Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
Grant Description: In consultation with the Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Capital Development Board (CDB) is making $50 million available statewide for grants to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) and FQHC Lookalikes. Funds are available to construct, renovate or otherwise improve facilities, for example by purchase or replacement of equipment that meets bondability guidelines, construction of a new or renovation of an existing community health center site, or acquisition of a new physical location for the purpose of providing health care services.

New Leaf Illinois Grants
Application Deadline: April 16, 2026
Grant Description: As part of New Leaf Illinois, the IEJF awards grants to organizations providing legal and community outreach services that help people clear old cannabis convictions, as well as other eligible records. New Leaf Illinois is a statewide network of nonprofit organizations who are committed to equal justice for all those who were previously arrested or convicted for cannabis use, production and sale.

Illinois Climate Pollution Reduction Grants: Small Utility Clean Energy Planning Grant Program
Application Deadline: April 17, 2026
Grant Description: The Small Utility Clean Energy Planning Grant Program will support municipal electric utilities and cooperative electric utilities in aligning power generation planning and procurement with Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA’s) goal of 100% carbon-free power by 2045. The program will provide financial assistance to support the planning and implementation of clean energy strategies, including the transition away from fossil fuels, and to track resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions related to those strategies.

Eviction Help Illinois
Application Deadline: April 20, 2026
Grant Description: IEJF has been charged with distributing grant funding to civil legal aid and mediation organizations to assist Illinois residents facing eviction and housing instability. This fifth year of funding (State of Illinois Fiscal Year 2026) will continue to support the state-wide eviction services created in FY 21 as Eviction Help Illinois for downstate, suburban Cook County, and specialized populations within Cook County communities.

Illinois Climate Pollution Reduction Grants: Stretch Code Adoption Grants
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026
Grant Description: Illinois developed this stretch code as part of its broader efforts to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with the state’s ambitious climate goals. By adopting a stretch energy code, municipalities have the opportunity to exceed the baseline statewide energy efficiency requirements. The Stretch Building Code Grant Program is designed to facilitate the adoption, implementation, and enforcement of the Illinois Stretch Energy Code by supporting units of local governments with the necessary resources to navigate this process. The program will provide financial support for education, community engagement, and technical assistance to ensure that municipalities are well-equipped to integrate the stretch code into their regulatory frameworks.

Civil Legal Aid Grants
Application Deadline: July 24, 2026
Grant Description: With this funding, IEJF supports programs that help people access basic needs, protect victims of domestic violence, recovers funds for seniors victimized by fraud, and help people resolve family crises.

Addressing Emerging Contaminants like PFAs in Small or Disadvantaged Communities
Application Deadline:  Aug. 31, 2026
Grant Description: This funding will help improve public health in SDCs by remediating high levels of PFAS and Manganese in their drinking water. This will fund projects for communities on the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program Emerging Contaminant Intended Funding Lists for FY2025 and FY2026.

Great Lakes TCGM Partnership Grant Program
Application Deadline: Nov. 2026
Grant Description: In partnership with the Midwest Environmental Justice Network, NDN Collective, and RE-AMP Network, the Minneapolis Foundation will award environmental and climate-related grants ranging from $25,000 to $350,000 to organizations working in disadvantaged and underserved communities throughout the Great Lakes region.

Unsewered Communities Planning Grant Program
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until funding has been expended.
Grant Description: Will utilize a portion of the Illinois EPA Water Pollution Control Loan Program Loan Support funds generated from loan repayments.

Residential Sharps Collection Program
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until funding has been expended or March 31, 2026.
Grant Description: Provides funding for conducting household waste collection and disposal programs.

Lead Service Line Inventory Grant Program
Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted until funding has been expended
Grant Description: To assist communities in meeting the lead inventory requirements outlined in the LSLRNA, the IEPA is making $6,570,000 available through the 15% Local Assistance and Other State Program Set-Aside, where no more than 10% of the grant funds may be used on a single program activity.

Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: Provides federal funding for community-based projects. Communities in non-metropolitan areas can apply for Economic Development funding to assist private business in retaining or creating full-time, permanent jobs. Grant funds may also be used for improvements to public infrastructure that directly supports companies in local communities.

CDBG Disaster Response Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: This program is designed for communities experiencing an imminent and urgent threat to public health and safety as indicated by a disaster declaration by the governor.

CDBG Economic Development Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: The program provides Economic Development component funds that are available on an as-needed basis throughout the year to eligible applicants for units of general local governments meeting program component requirements until all funds allocated to this component have been distributed. Only projects that create and/or retain permanent jobs will be funded. Projects should attract sizable private investment, have solid commitments to create or retain permanent jobs and demonstrate financial feasibility and benefit to low-to-moderate income persons.

Energy Efficiency Assessment Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: The EE Assessment Program provides funding to Illinois public housing authorities, local governments, or nonprofit organizations to conduct energy efficiency assessments at properties benefiting residents receiving housing assistance from a state or federal program.

Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Grant Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: The Illinois EPA Office of Energy will award funds for energy efficiency projects at properties benefitting residents receiving housing assistance from local, state and federal programs.

Illinois Returning Residents Clean Jobs Program (CEJA)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: The Returning Residents Program will deliver clean jobs training in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities to individuals within 36 months of their release to prepare them to work in clean energy and related sector jobs upon release. The program will provide classroom instruction and hands-on learning opportunities utilizing a standard Clean Jobs Curriculum Framework, connect program graduates with potential employers in the clean energy industry, and address participant needs.

Federal Grant Support Program
Application Deadline: General announcement open with no specific due dates for applications
Grant Description: DCEO will make $15 million available to Illinois-based businesses and organizations seeking competitive federal grants. This match program will encourage more applicants to apply for federal grant opportunities, provide critical assistance to meet the minimum match eligibility requirements and increase the competitiveness of applications.

Illinois Reproductive Grant Expansion Program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Grant Description: Provides grants for pregnancy centers, which include organizations or facilities with health care employees, volunteers or agents who are licensed health care professionals. Pregnancy-related services include any medical service, or health counseling service, related to the prevention, preservation or termination of pregnancy. Organizations are not to engage in unfair methods or deceptive acts or practices, including the use or employment of any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, or misrepresentation to interfere with or prevent an individual from seeking to gain entry or access.

Illinois Reproductive Health Facilities Capital Grant Program
Application Deadline: Rolling until funds are depleted
Grant Description: This opportunity will support reproductive health care providers in Illinois that are experiencing increased demand for their services. Projects could include improvements and repairs, new construction, security upgrades, and equipment to increase capacity and enhance safety. This includes the purchase of vehicles for mobile care units. Facilities must provide, or plan to provide, abortion care as defined in the Illinois Reproductive Health Act.

Gulf Hypoxia Program
Application Deadline: Jan. 1, 2027 or until all funds are depleted
Grant Description: Provides funding to reduce nitrate pollution in Illinois surface waters by funding nonpoint source edge-of-field control projects as part of the Gulf Hypoxia Program.