Illinois Habitat Fund
Forecasted
Illinois Habitat Fund supports nonprofit and public-sector land managers in preserving, acquiring, and managing Illinois wildlife habitat to improve its quality and connectivity for game and non-game species.
Funder: Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates (Anticipated): August 2027 (Application deadline) | August 2027 (Submission close)
Funding Amounts: $10,000–$300,000 per award; $500,000 total program funding (FY27), with grant periods up to two years
Summary: Supports preservation, protection, acquisition, and management of Illinois habitat for game and non-game wildlife.
Key Information: Applicants must be land managers with expertise, equipment, adequate workforce, and landowner permission where applicable.
Description
The Illinois Habitat Fund is a competitive Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) program supporting high-quality wildlife habitat for future generations. Part of the Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program, it is funded through purchases of Illinois Habitat Stamps and supports projects developed by appropriate nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. Eligible habitat includes wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands, natural or altered, that support or could support wildlife throughout their life cycles.
The program seeks to improve habitat quality and connectivity with neighboring habitat. Projects addressing the Forest and Woodland, Farmland and Prairie, or Wetland Campaigns in the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Implementation Guide receive priority through scoring. Feasible methods, reasonable costs, and public access also strengthen project scores. Funding primarily supports hunting habitat for wildlife, while the program covers both game and non-game species.
