Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant

The 2026 application will be available by March, 2025.

Generous donations from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice
Foundation and others make this program possible.

Below is a recording of a Webex tutorial presented by
the IDNR Division of Education on November 21, 2023.

Teachers, nature center personnel and adults who are youth group leaders (grades prekindergarten through 12) in Illinois may apply.

Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement with planning, development and maintenance and increase the educational and wildlife habitat values of the site. The applicant must be prepared to maintain and commit resources to the project for at least five years. The project must be implemented on school grounds or another public place (for example, a park or nature center/forest preserve district land). Illinois Conservation Foundation sites and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) sites do not qualify for funding. Admission fees cannot be charged to obtain access to the site. Individual student projects will not be funded.

Evaluation judging criteria will include but not limited to: detailed information; student involvement; educational value; and the habitat project management plan.

Option One of this grant may only be used to establish a pollinator garden. It must be developed following the criteria stated in the instructions for this application form. This option is helpful if you are new to native gardening. Click here for additional Option One information. Individual student projects will not be funded.

Option Two is for all other projects. Habitat projects may include, but not be limited to, the following activities: enhance or establish and maintain a schoolyard prairie plot, butterfly garden, rain garden, wetland, native tree arboretum, nesting platform or watering station; design and build a bird feeder or feeding station; or construct and install bat roosting boxes. Vegetable gardens are not eligible for this grant. Individual student projects will not be funded.

The maximum annual award is $2,000.00 per project. Funds are provided on a reimbursement basis. Only purchases approved by the grant committee from the original application will be reimbursed. Purchases occurring before the notification of the grant award winners for this application period do not qualify for funding. Only the school or organization will be reimbursed. Reimbursements are not made to individuals. Original paid receipts for purchases must be submitted. Successful applicants are eligible to apply for additional funding in subsequent years. Generous donations from the Jadel Youth Fund, the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation and others help make this program possible.

Funding requests for Option One grants may only include the following items: plants (not seeds) of the 14 native plant species shown in this application form; and mulch, topsoil or related soil product. No other items will be considered for purchase through this option.Items purchased prior to the notification of the grant award winners from this Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant application deadline do not qualify for funding.

This grant will pay for the purchase of simple gardening tools such as child- and adult-sized gloves, spades, shovels, rakes, trowels and hoes. Tool costs shall not account for more than 25% of the total project cost.

Funding requests should focus on items necessary for enhancement or development of wildlife habitat, such as native plants, seeds, mulch and lumber/hardware for constructing nesting/roosting boxes and platforms. Items purchased prior to the notification of the grant award winners from this Illinois Schoolyard Habitat Action Grant application deadline do not qualify for funding.

This grant will pay for the purchase of simple gardening tools such as child- and adult-sized gloves, spades, shovels, rakes, trowels and hoes. Tool costs shall not account for more than 25% of the total project cost.

Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to: consultant fees, bird seed, bird baths, fuel, equipment, equipment rental, signs, labor, books, Web site development, land acquisition, chemicals (fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, insecticides), certification fees, decorative items.

Reporting Requirements
A Final Report and attachments are required. Instructions will be provided to grant award recipients.

Publicity
Successful grant recipients are required to acknowledge the funding sources in any project publicity or printed materials produced. Details will be provided in the award letter.

Not Transferrable
If a grant award is made, it will be awarded to the Project Leader. This award is not transferable to another person, school/organization or grade level.

Use of Chemicals
According to the Illinois Pesticide Act, a pesticide license is required of anyone applying pesticides in a public space (minimum age to receive a license is 16 years). If you are considering applying any type of pesticide (herbicide, insecticide, fungicide) to your habitat area, please contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 1-800-641-3934 for further information.

To begin the application, you are required to enter your name and email address. Once you complete your portion of the application, you will be required to enter the name and email address of the individual that will be signing off on your application. You will see this box:

You are to put the name and email address of the principal/superintendent that is the signing official for this grant. DO NOT PUT YOUR NAME AS THIS WILL SND THE APPLICAION BACK TO YOU AND NOT SEND IT ON THE THE SIGNER.

You can save the application so you can continue to fill it out at a later date. On the upper left-hand portion of the application page, you will see a drop-down menu button labeled Options. Click this button and you will see where you can save the application. You will need to enter your name and email address. The Abode system will send you an email link that will allow you to continue your application.

Once that is complete and you submit the application, you will be sent a verification email to the address you listed on the application. 

You may save the application and return to it to complete it at any time during the process. However, once the application is completed and signed, it cannot be edited.

You will receive a PDF copy of your application as well as notification that the application has been received by the IDNR Division of Education. The application is due to the Division of Education no later than 11:59:59 p.m. on December 4, 2024.

If you have any problems or have any questions, please contact
IDNR Education at 217-524-4126 or email joe.bauer@illinois.gov.