Illinois DNR Awards Nearly $1 Million in Stewardship Grants Statewide

The Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program is an exciting initiative from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) that helps conservation land trusts take care of some of the state’s most precious natural areas. This year the Illinois DNR is set to award over $996,000 as part of this grant program, which support activities like managing invasive species, restoring natural habitats, and performing prescribed burns, all with the goal of preserving Illinois' diverse ecosystems for future generations.

What is the Grant Program?

In a nutshell, the program offers from $20,000 up to $100,000 in grant funding to conservation land trusts that are focused on protecting and maintaining land and water areas. The lands eligible for these projects include Illinois Nature Preserves, Land and Water Reserves, and their dedicated buffers. These grants help ensure that Illinois' wild spaces, especially those home to endangered or threatened species, remain healthy, well maintained, and protected.

Get our free mobile app

How Does it Work?

If you're part of a land trust interested in applying for the grant, here’s how it works. First, your project must focus on specific stewardship activities—like removing invasive species or conducting controlled burns to maintain the ecosystem’s health. You'll also need to use the funds responsibly, such as hiring contractors for the work or buying the necessary equipment. The catch is that projects must be carried out on eligible lands—either ones owned by the trust or under a partnership agreement. The IDNR makes it straightforward, even requiring only a 5% match, making it accessible to a wide range of organizations.

How to Apply

Interested applicants had to submit their proposals by June 14th of this year. For anyone interested in the process, you'll need to register with the Illinois Grantee Portal (a must for all state grant programs). After that, just make sure your project meets the guidelines, gather the necessary documents like the management plan for your land, and submit your application. Grants are awarded within about 180 days after the deadline, and you don't even have to worry about paying an application fee.

Here’s a quick look at who received funding this year and what they’ll use it for:

• Clifftop - Conserving Lands in Farm, Forest, Talus, or Prairie (Monroe County): $72,275 for invasive species removal and firebreak installation at White Rock Nature Preserve.
• Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (Cook County): $58,761 for equipment purchases and ecological restoration at Morton Grove Prairie and other sites.
• Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (McHenry County): $98,907 for volunteer recruitment and restoration at Kishwaukee Fen and Gladstone Fen Nature Preserves.
• Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves (Will and Grundy counties): $99,439 for staff and equipment to support restoration at Short Pioneer Cemetery Prairie and Pilcher Park Nature Preserves.
• Friends of Sangamon Valley (Mason County): $92,047 for purchasing a tractor and ecological restoration at Walden West Land and Water Reserve.
• Great Rivers Land Trust (Madison and Jersey counties): $68,700 for restoration at Palisades Nature Preserve and other sites.
• Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (Jo Daviess County): $67,900 for ecological restoration and archaeological surveys at Casper Bluff and Rutherford Refuge.
• Lake Bluff Open Lands Association (Lake County): $71,760 for prescribed fire and invasive species removal at Skokie River Prairie.
• Natural Land Institute (Winnebago, Ogle, Whiteside counties): $21,624 to purchase a utility vehicle for restoration efforts.
• Natural Land Institute (Whiteside County): $20,000 for invasive species removal at Lyndon Prairie Nature Preserve.
• ParkLands Foundation (Woodford and McLean counties): $84,855 for equipment purchases to support restoration.
• Prairie Hills Resource Conservation and Development (McDonough County): $60,276 for fire implementation and invasive species removal at various reserves.
• The Nature Conservancy (Lee and Ogle counties): $100,000 for a track loader to support restoration at Nachusa Grasslands.
• The Nature Conservancy (Cook County): $80,000 for ecological restoration at Paintbrush Prairie and other sites.

This grant program plays a vital role in preserving Illinois’ natural heritage, and it’s easier to apply for than you might think! Find all the details and start your journey to the stewardship of our natural resources today.