Effective December 2024, the Illinois Clean Energy
Community Foundation Has Ceased Operations

Grant Programs – Natural Areas

During its existence, exclusive of its final grant, the Foundation distributed 5,082 grants totaling $323.2 million to Illinois schools, municipalities, local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to promote energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural areas and wildlife habitat in Illinois. In 2024, the Foundation awarded its final grant of $47.1 million to Prairie State Conservation Coalition for a Natural Areas Grant Program. Funds distributed to Natural Areas Programs accounted for approximately 35.4% of all funds granted by the Foundation. The remainder of the funds distributed were granted to the Foundation’s Energy Programs.

NATURAL AREAS PROGRAMS

Exclusive of its final grant, the Foundation’s Natural Areas and Wildlife Habitat program:
• Protected 35,000+ acres of natural areas and wildlife habitat
• Co-funded 714 natural areas projects
• Provided 30 grants to support capacity building
• Provided 270 grants for land acquisition
• Funded 21 pollinator meadows

Capacity Building Program
Foundation grants provided organizations with access to external technical experts to assist with land acquisition and other related organizational development and strategic planning. The foundation awarded 30 grants to support capacity building.

Community Stewardship Challenge Grant Program
Through this program, the Foundation awarded grants for organizations that actively engaged volunteers in the management of a publicly accessible natural area. The grants supported cash donation matching, volunteer workers and the purchase of equipment that directly improved the natural habitat.

K-12 Pollinator Schools Program
Through this program, the Foundation awarded grants to support Illinois institutions serving Kindergarten through grade 12 plant and maintain pollinator habitat areas, often grown from seed.

Land Acquisition Program
The Foundation awarded grants to support the purchase of land to protect wildlife habitat at natural areas throughout Illinois. Foundation grants assisted with land acquisition in 51 counties in Illinois. All funded lands were accessible to the public.

Planning for Land Acquisition Program
The Foundation supported projects that included identifying and mapping acquisition priorities as well as developing strategies for achieving specific land acquisition objectives as part of a larger resource improvement effort, such as for watershed improvement plans.

Pollinator Meadows Program
These Foundation grants supported the conversion of turf grass to pollinator meadows at locations in Illinois. It awarded grants for 21 pollinator meadows.

Public Amenities and Events Program
The Foundation awarded grants to support natural habitats with native plants and animals in Illinois areas that are open to the public and cared for by volunteers.

Information updated as of December 2024.