Environment grants for nonprofits in Illinois
475 private foundations reported 935 environment grants to organizations in Illinois on IRS 990-PF returns for tax year 2022 or later, $63.6M in all. 255 of them are based in Illinois.
Foundations475
Grants on record935
Total granted$63.6M
Their typical grant$6,000
Foundations that fund environment in Illinois
20 of the 475: profiles in our foundation directory first, then by the number of environment grants to Illinois organizations on their latest return. Each shows its largest such grants.
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Amazonsmile Foundation
Seattle, WA · latest return: tax year 2023- Friends of Wildlife Prairie Park, Hanna City - General support$803
- Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Dupage County, Wheaton - General support$682
- Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation, Barrington - General support$681
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Hamill Family Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Openlands, Chicago - Nature for AllEndowment$2,400,000
- The Conservation Foundation, Naperville - Unrestricted$1,000,000
- Morton Arboretum, Lisle - Hamill Family FoundationSecond CenturyChallenge$668,000
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Walder Family Foundation
Wilmington, DE · latest return: tax year 2024- Lincoln Park Zoological Society, Chicago - Global expansion of Chicago-led urban biodiversity research and conservation network$482,709
- Morton Arboretum, Lisle - A Chicago Based Hub For Assessment, Planning, And Action For Saving Threatened Trees$388,074
- Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe - Improving ex situ plant conservation: Scaling up zoo pedigree management approaches to critically rare plants…$387,049
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Builders Vision Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Chicago - to support organizations working in support of environmental and climate efforts in Chicago$1,000,000
- Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago - To provide general operating support$450,000
- Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, Chicago - to support legal and regulatory programs on solar energy across the Midwest$350,000
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Gave $52.2M in 2024
The Joyce Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Elevate Energy, Chicago - Environment$500,000
- Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, Chicago - Environment$383,000
- Faith in Place, Chicago - Environment$350,000
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Jpmorgan Chase Foundation
New York, NY · latest return: tax year 2025- Elevate Energy, Chicago - In support of underserved small business expansion$500,000
- Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe - Matching contribution (general operating support)$21,793
- Kindness Campaign, Chicago - Matching contribution (general operating support)$5,000
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Gave $8.9M in 2024
Dr Scholl Foundation
Northbrook, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, Chicago - Programs to protect the Great Lakes in Illinois and across the Midwest$150,000
- Shedd Aquarium Society, Chicago - Conservation research in the Caribbean region$25,000
- Friends of the Forest Preserves, Chicago - Support of the Conservation Corps in Cook County forest preserves$15,000
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Walton Family Foundation Inc
Bentonville, AR · latest return: tax year 2024- Lewis and Clark Community College, Godfrey - To provide the public and decision-makers trusted, reliable data on nutrient and flow trends in the…$325,000
- Saving Tomorrow's Agriculture Resources, Champaign - To support program improvements aimed at fostering growth and better understanding of whether and how STAR…$250,000
- Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, Chicago - to support ELPC's Midwest Water and Wetlands Protection Initiative.$200,000
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John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Openlands, Chicago - In support of its urban forestry program$500,000
- Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund, Springfield - In support of the illinois clean energy program$250,000
- Evergreen Climate Innovations, Chicago - In support of general operations$200,000
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The Bobolink Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Friends of the Forest Preserves, Chicago - Unrestricted Charitable Gift$450,000
- Openlands, Chicago - Unrestricted Charitable Gift$75,000
- Citizens for Conservation, Barrington - Unrestricted Charitable Gift$30,000
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Gave $7.1M in 2024
Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Openlands, Chicago - General operations$85,000
- The Wetlands Initiative, Chicago - General operations$75,500
- The Conservation Foundation, Naperville - General operations$75,000
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Gave $145.9M in 2024
The McKnight Foundation
Minneapolis, MN · latest return: tax year 2024- Global Philanthropy Partnership, Chicago - to transform the transportation sector while centering equity, climate, and people$1,000,000
- Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund, Rockford - for general operating support$250,000
- Elevate Energy, Chicago - to develop a direct pay program that is accessible and scalable to rural municipalities, Tribes, and…$250,000
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Gave $115.2M in 2024
Arie and Ida Crown Memorial
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Elevate Energy, Chicago - General operating$400,000
- Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund, Springfield - General operating$200,000
- Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago - General operating$100,000
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Gave $170M in 2024
The Kresge Foundation
Troy, MI · latest return: tax year 2024- Elevate Energy, Chicago - Project support grant for the electricification of affordable housing in the midwest$275,000
- Elevate Energy, Chicago - Project support grant for the convening of a multisector team developing and operating a network of…$175,000
- National Partnership for New Americans, Chicago - Project support to build the capacity to engage in climate justice.$150,000
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Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Flint, MI · latest return: tax year 2024- Great Lakes Cities Initiative, New Lenox - To support an organization with a mission to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and…$200,000
- Alliance for the Great Lakes, Chicago - To protect and restore the Great Lakes for people and the ecosystem by building public awareness and…$190,000
- Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago - To advance sustainable technical solutions to complex water infrastructure problems in Great Lakes cities.$120,000
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Gave $37M in 2024
Circle of Service Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse, Evanston - Skilled construction trades$50,000
- Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago - Community services$35,000
- Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe - Community services$25,000
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Gave $350M in 2024
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
Los Altos, CA · latest return: tax year 2024- Institute of Food Technologists, Chicago - Environment and Science$600,000
- University of Chicago, Chicago - Environment and Science$588,859
- Northwestern University, Evanston - Environment and Science$175,000
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Gave $24.1M in 2024
Clif Bar Family Foundation
Saint Helena, CA · latest return: tax year 2024- Global Philanthropy Partner, Chicago - Revitalize the Environment$150,000
- Climate Cabinet Education, Elmhurst - Revitalize the Environment$30,000
- Land Connection Foundation, Champaign - Revitalize the Environment$25,000
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Gave $19.3M in 2024
Polk Bros Foundation Inc
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Elevate Energy, Chicago - Strong Communities$65,000
- Chicago Horticultural Society, Glencoe - Strong Communities$48,000
- Healthy Schools Campaign, Chicago - Health$45,000
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Hunter Family Foundation
Chicago, IL · latest return: tax year 2024- Environmental Law & Policy Center Midwest, Chicago - Wetlands public education campaign$150,000
- Brushwood Center at Ryerson Woods, Deerfield - General support$75,000
- The Friends of Highwood Public Library, Highwood - General support$75,000
Search more environment funders giving in Illinois →
Organizations several of these foundations fund
Illinois organizations that received environment grants from two or more of the foundations above, on the same returns.
| Organization | Funders | Grants total |
|---|---|---|
| Openlands Chicago | 10 | $3,292,003 |
| Elevate Energy Chicago | 9 | $2,550,051 |
| Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund Springfield | 8 | $1,419,531 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest Chicago | 8 | $1,050,163 |
| Chicago Horticultural Society Glencoe | 8 | $715,958 |
| Center for Neighborhood Technology Chicago | 7 | $1,090,000 |
| Morton Arboretum Lisle | 6 | $1,474,890 |
| Friends of the Forest Preserves Chicago | 6 | $518,081 |
| Healthy Schools Campaign Chicago | 5 | $490,032 |
| The Wetlands Initiative Chicago | 5 | $101,657 |
How to use this list
A foundation is listed because its own latest tax return itemizes grants to organizations in Illinois that we classify as environment, by the purpose the foundation wrote or by the recipient's IRS activity code. Their typical grant is the middle of the funders' own typical grants across everything they fund. Start with funders whose typical grant is close to what you need and whose past recipients look like your organization, then open the profile for all of its grants and any application instructions.
Of these 475 foundations, 138 describe how to apply on their latest return; many others give only to organizations they already know. A badge such as Gave $1.2M in 2024 repeats what the latest return reports; it does not mean the foundation is accepting proposals now.
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.