Illinois Park District Habitat Improvement Grant

Illinois Park Districts Invited to Apply for Habitat Improvement Funds.
Application Deadline December 4, 2024, 11:59:59 p.m.

Grant funding is provided by a donation to the Illinois Conservation Foundation
from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation in Skokie.

Illinois Park Districts that are members of the Illinois Association of Park Districts

This program provides grants to park districts to work with students (grades prekindergarten through 12 in Illinois) or with a local youth group to develop pollinator gardens and/or native tree habitats. Grants are provided on a reimbursement basis. Expenses must be incurred and paid and then the grantee will be reimbursed. Each park district may apply for up to $2,000.00 per project type. 

Funding requests will only be considered for purchases of the following items: native plants from a provided list of species; mulch; topsoil or a related soil product; and native tree seedlings or saplings. Items purchased prior to the notification of the grant award winners from this application deadline do not qualify for funding. Only items approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources from the application’s budget qualify for reimbursement.

Projects must emphasize student/youth involvement and increase the wildlife habitat value of the area. The applicant must be prepared to maintain and commit resources to the project for at least five years and submit an online report on the project no later than November 30, 2025. The project must be implemented on the park district property. Admission fees cannot be charged to obtain access to the site. This is a competitive grant program. 

1. The project must take place on park district property and be accessible to the public at no charge.

2. Students from a local school or participants of a local youth group must participate.

3. The project should be completed in April, May, or June 2025.

4. The grant is a reimbursement grant. The park district must pay for the approved expenses, submit verification of payment documents, and then receive reimbursement from the Illinois Conservation Foundation.

5. The park district should maintain the project for a minimum of five years.

Grant funding is provided by a donation to the Illinois Conservation Foundation from the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation in Skokie. The Park District Habitat Improvement Grant is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The maximum annual award is $2,000.00 per project, per applicant. 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 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.

IMPORTANT

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 appliocation.