Foundations that fund environmental groups in Illinois
These 25 foundations made grants to environmental groups in Illinois in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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The Joyce Foundation
- $500,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: Environment
- $383,000 to Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Chicago: Environment
- $205,000 to Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago: Environment
How to apply: See attachment
Restrictions: See attachment
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
- $400,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: General operating
- $200,000 to Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund, Springfield: General operating
- $100,000 to Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago: General operating
How to apply: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org to apply online
Deadlines: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
Restrictions: Visit https://www.crownfamilyphilanthropies.org for more information
The Kresge Foundation
- $275,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: Project support grant for the electricification of affordable housing in the midwest
- $175,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: Project support grant for the convening of a multisector team developing and operating a...
- $100,000 to Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago: Project support grant for the expansion of transforming chicago schoolyards into shared...
How to apply: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Deadlines: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
Restrictions: See www.kresge.org or email grantsmanagement@kresge.org
The Mcknight Foundation
- $250,000 to Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, Rockford: for general operating support
- $250,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: to develop a direct pay program that is accessible and scalable to rural municipalities,...
- $200,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: to support equitable building electrification in the Midwest and to provide comprehensive...
How to apply: Please see the end of the return for the additional attachments containing the information for Lines 2b - 2d.
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
- $75,500 to The Wetlands Initiative, Chicago: General operations
- $75,000 to The Conservation Foundation, Naperville: General operations
- $50,000 to Friends of the Forest Preserves, Chicago: General operations
How to apply: Organizations apply for grants using an online system linked from the gaylord and dorothy donnelley foundation's website (www.gddf.org).
Deadlines: 11:59pm et on the deadlines posted on the foundation's website.
Restrictions: See website for more information.
Polk Bros Foundation Inc
- $65,000 to Elevate Energy, Chicago: Strong Communities
- $60,000 to Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe: Strong Communities
- $45,000 to Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago: Health
How to apply: Application form available from foundation office and website
Deadlines: Continuous
Restrictions: Must be organization exempt under sec 501(c)(3)
Grand Victoria Foundation
- $85,000 to Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation, Elizabeth: General Operating Support
- $70,000 to Heartlands Conservancy, Belleville: General Operating Support
- $2,000 to Neighbors for Environmental Justice Inc, Chicago: General Operating Support
How to apply: Please see attachment.
Deadlines: Please see attachment.
Restrictions: Please see attachment.
Butler Family Foundation
- $35,000 to Urban Rivers Inc, Chicago: General charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization
- $13,000 to Lake Forest Open Lands Association, Lake Forest: General charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization
- $10,000 to Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods: General charitable, religious, educational or scientific purpose of the donee organization
How to apply: There are no standard application forms. A letter requesting a contribution is sufficient.
Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines.
Restrictions: Organizations must be educational, religious, or charitable as defined under irc section 170(c).
The Allstate Foundation
- $5,000 to Green Era Educational Nfp, Chicago: 2024 pro bono project grant
- $5,000 to The Recyclery Collective, Chicago: Helping hands group grants
- $1,000 to The Recyclery Collective, Chicago: Employee helping hands
How to apply: Letter of proposal
Deadlines: Proposal reviewed as received
Restrictions: Must be within the united states
David F & Margaret T Grohne Family Foundation
- $250,000 to Wetlands Initiative, Chicago: Charitable
- $50,000 to Illinois Conservation Foundation, Springfield: Charitable
How to apply: No formal forms
Deadlines: No submission deadlines
Restrictions: No restrictions except the organizations must be qualified 501(c)(3) organizations.
Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust
- $250,000 to Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Chicago: Support the emg children's
- $10,000 to Urban Rivers Inc, Chicago: Support general operating
How to apply: See attached guidelines
Restrictions: See attached guidelines
The Schmidt Family Foundation
- $113,000 to Urban Rivers, Chicago: Ocean stewardship and research
- $90,000 to Southeast Environmental Task Force, Chicago: Fostering youth development and leadership
How to apply: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. Https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Restrictions: Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/
Ranch Spur Charitable Trust
- $74,561 to The Conservation Foundation, Naperville: Unrestricted
- $12,500 to The Morton Arboretum, Lisle: Unrestricted
How to apply: Written
Frederick Henry Prince Trust Dated 7947
- $25,000 to Southeast Environmental Task Force, Chicago: general operating support
- $25,000 to Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe: for Windy City Harvest
How to apply: Information and materials that should be submitted along with an application include: written proposals, irs letter of determination under section 509(a), current budget, audited financial statements, and descriptive literature. The application is available online at the...
Deadlines: Applications are received throughout the year. Deadlines are usually in jan, may and june.
Union Pacific Foundation
- $20,000 to Forest Preserve Foundation, Chicago: Protection/ preservation of air, water, or land
- $15,000 to Mchenry County Conservation Foundation, Richmond: Protection/ preservation of air, water, or land
How to apply: Grant application available online during specific periods.
Deadlines: May 31, 2025 for 2025 applications.
Restrictions: The foundation administers the philanthropic program of union pacific corporation and union pacific railroad company. Grants are awarded to nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations located in union pacific communities that best align with the...
Friedlander Family Fund
- $16,667 to Morton Arboretum, Chicago: General fund
- $10,000 to Morton Arboretum, Chicago: General fund
How to apply: A simple one page letter is most effective
Restrictions: Mostly greater cincinnati area prefer human services
Guy Reno Family Foundation
- $10,000 to Natural Land Institute, Rockford: Operations
- $5,000 to Rockford Park District Foundation, Rockford: Operations
How to apply: Written application with proof of tax exempt status
Jocarno Fund C/O Ms Lauren Krieg
- $8,000 to Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Chicago: Support general operations
- $2,500 to Friends of the Green Bay Trail, Glencoe: Support general operations
How to apply: Written applications including organization's name, address and exempt purpose.
American Water Charitable Foundationinc
- $2,500 to Conservation Foundation, Naperville: General purpose
- $1,000 to Nature at the Confluence Inc, South Beloit: General purpose
How to apply: See application forms on internal company web site
Deadlines: No set deadlines
Restrictions: Must be 501(c)(3) charitable organization that furthers the charitable purposes of the foundation.
Nicholas Family Foundation Trust C/O Lynn S Nicholas
- $500,000 to Rockford Park District Foundation, Rockford: Annual endowment. Supports enhancements and programming at the nicholas conservatory and...
How to apply: Type written letter with history and purpose of organization
Restrictions: To 501 (c)(3) exempt organizations
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
- $500,000 to Bronzeville Trail Task Force Inc, Chicago: To support landscape and archival research, and interpretation of the bronzeville trail...
Restrictions: Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the u.s. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations.
Ray & Kay Eckstein Charitable Trust
- $161,000 to Living Lands & Waters, East Moline: Programming support
How to apply: For 2025 the foundation has entered into commitments that have caused all of its available grant funds to be fully utilized. Submit requests for 2026 funding online & include irs determination letter. The required grant application and related materials is listed on the website:...
Deadlines: Application deadlines and other related timelines are posted on the website: www.ecksteincharity.org
Restrictions: Grant requests should support at least one of the following core values: catholic/faith based, human needs, education, families, and vibrant communities.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation
- $130,000 to Alliance for Water Efficiency, Chicago: Environment
How to apply: Electronic - web-based
Restrictions: The awards are granted to 501(c)(3) organizations only
Daniel P Haerther Charitable Trust
- $125,000 to Morton Arboretum, Lisle: General purposes
How to apply: Applications are only received from qualified operating charities and should state the purpose of the grant requested and include documents customary to demonstrate financial responsibility.
Deadlines: Deadlines for submission are not used.
Restrictions: Limitations on awards are determined solely by the trustees.
Julia Harrison Bruce Foundation
- $100,000 to Friends of Crab Orchard Refuge, Marion: General support
How to apply: Informal written or verbal request
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