What is the Habitat Funding?
The Illinois Habitat Fund portion involved in the Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program provides for enhancing game and non-game wildlife habitat. Organized groups of volunteers from appropriate not-for-profit organizations and governmental entities develop projects and submit applications to the Department to help fund their projects. The grants are competitive and are evaluated for their merit.
Applicant Eligibility
- Eligible recipients are limited to managers of land; and
- Eligible projects are limited to those seeking to preserve, protect, acquire or manage habitat in Illinois.
There are now five grantee pre-award requirements statewide per Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA)
State Statute 30 ILCS 708/1. The five pre-award requirements all state grantees must complete are described in more detail. Click Here
Project Evaluation
Grant Ranking Criteria
For best results, prospective grantees should make sure their project scope of work addresses or fully describes the project scope of work in view of the ranking criteria. Grant Ranking Criteria.
How to Apply
STEP 1:
All applicants must be pre-qualified through the State of Illinois Grantee Portal. Additional information on prequalification is available here
STEP 2:
Please READ the Notice of Funding Opportunity for more details on this program including scoring criteria and grant program rules and restrictions. Additional documentation including project location maps, price quotes, and a habitat management plan may be required.
STEP 3:
Please FILL out below Application Materials and submit by the deadline
STEP 4:
Grant applications for funding assistance under this program may be SUBMITTED to:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, Illinois 62702-1271
Attention: Office of Grant Management, Susan Duke
Applications can also be emailed to susan.duke@illinois.gov
Contact: If you have any questions or need assistance with a grant application,
Please contact Susan Duke
Email: susan.duke@illinois.gov
Phone: (217) 785-4416
Note: Applications received after the application deadline, will not be considered. Submission of an incomplete application does not extend the application deadline.
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Visit the CATALOG OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE to learn about future funding opportunities.
