2024 Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program is open!
Applications are now being accepted
Prairie State Conservation Coalition wrote the original bill that passed in 2017 with the help of the Illinois Environmental Council and many supporting partners.
The goal of this grant program is to increase stewardship on dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and registered land and water reserves, and to increase stewardship within conservation land trusts. Stewardship needs throughout the state have continued to outpace the ability to deliver these services by individuals, volunteers, organizations, and government agencies. The program is designed to fund projects that immediately address this deficiency and begin to expand on the stewardship capacity of Conservation Land Trusts through grants that will expand their staff and equipment for these activities.
Eligible costs may include contractual services, staff time related to the project, equipment, and materials necessary to complete stewardship projects such as tools, safety items, herbicide, construction materials, and indirect costs. Benefit costs are not eligible. Matching funds are required on all projects. Here are the details:
- Application deadline: Friday, June 14, 2024
- Grant Funds Available: $1 million
- Grant Amount: Up to $100,000
- Match: 5% or $1000, whichever is less
- Eligible Applicants: Conservation Land Trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and include in its purposes the restoration and stewardship of land for conservation purposes
- Application Fees: No application fee
- Prequalification: ALL applicants must be registered on the State of Illinois Grantee Portal prior to the appllicaiton deadline date. Click for more information on GATA prequalification.
- Award Announcement: Awards are generally announced within 180 days following the application deadline
Funding for this grant program is derived from a portion of the Illinois Natural Areas Acquisition Fund and must be used by the IDNR for the acquisition, protection, and stewardship of natural areas, including habitats for endangered and threatened species (Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Act, 525 ILCS 35/14). You can view the Notice of Funding Opportunity for IDNR programs or to browse all state of Illinois grant opportunities HERE.
Any questions regarding the necessary forms or anything else can be directed to Susan.Duke@illinois.gov.
