What is the Prairie State Conservation Fund?
In 2024, Prairie State Conservation Coalition (PSCC) was awarded a $47 million grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF) to establish a natural areas grant program to support projects and programs intended to preserve or enhance natural habitats and wildlife areas in Illinois. PSCC’s new grant-making program is called the Prairie State Conservation Fund (PSCF).
From 1999 to 2024, ICECF awarded grants throughout the state of Illinois to fund projects that advanced renewable energy sources and conserved natural habitat and wildlife areas. At inception, the Trustees of ICECF determined they would spend down their grant-making fund and ultimately ceased operations at the end of 2024. Their final grant was to PSCC.
For historical information on ICECF, please visit illinoiscleanenergy.org.
Program Areas
Acquisition of Land or Conservation Easements
Stewardship Challenge Grant Program
Capacity Building (coming soon!)
Contact Brad Hanzel (bhanzel@prairiestateconservation.org) for more information
Grant Committee
Zina Cruse
Chair
Jack McDermott
Kerry Leigh
Chris Benda
Viv Bennett