Job Opportunities: For a full list, click HERE

Funding Opportunities: 

• DCEO (few highlighted below)

• Regional Site Readiness Program - Capital Ready - Round 2
  • Description: “…to support infrastructure and other capital improvements on sites across the state to advance the readiness of properties with industrial and manufacturing economic development potential.”
  • Eligibility includes: 
    • “Local governments
    • Economic development organizations… 
    • Nonprofit organizations
    • For-profit organizations
    • Private landowner”
  • Award Range: $100,000 - $5,000,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM or until funds are exhausted (applications accepted on rolling basis) 

• Regional Site Readiness Program – Planning – Round 2
  • Description: “…to support planning and due diligence activities for sites across the state to advance early-stage site readiness on properties with industrial and manufacturing economic development potential.”
  • Eligibility includes: 
    • “Local governments
    • Economic development organizations… 
    • Nonprofit organizations
    • For-profit organizations
    • Private landowner”
  • Award Range: $150,000 - $150,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 5:00 PM or until funds are exhausted (applications accepted on rolling basis)

• Manufacturing Training Academies
  • Description: “…to provide capital grants to establish advanced workforce training facilities at downstate community colleges.”
  • Eligibility includes: specific community colleges in central and southern regions, see NOFO for complete list. 
  • Award Range: $3,000,000 - $6,000,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• Small Business Development Centers
  • Description: “…“DCEO” is issuing this Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) to seek qualified host organizations to operate Illinois Small Business Development Centers and provide program services.” “…Illinois SBDCs deliver professional, high-quality, individualized, confidential one-on-one advising and technical assistance to existing small businesses and pre-venture entrepreneurs.”
  • Eligibility includes: 
    • “Fully accredited institutions of higher education such as public and private universities, state, and community colleges. 
    • Private nonprofit organizations engaged in economic development activities. 
    • Local counties or municipalities with established community/economic development departments and/or programs. 
    • Public economic development institutions such as workforce investment boards and economic development corporations. 

“…specifically in the geographical areas noted below. Any areas outside of those listed below will not be considered. 

• This area includes: 
  • City of Chicago Neighborhoods 
    • West Side (Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale, Near West Side) o Far Southeast Side (Chatham, Avalon Park, South Deering, Hegewisch, Riverdale, West Pullman, Roseland, Burnside, Calumet Heights, South Chicago) 
  • Cook County Municipalities 
    • Elgin and Central and Southwest Cook County municipalities including, but not limited to, Forest Park, Oak Park, McCook, Burr Ridge, Maywood, Palos Hills, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Alsip, Homer Glen 
  • Counties 
    • Adams, Bond, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Crawford, Edwards, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jasper, Jersey, Kankakee, Knox, Logan, Macoupin, Madison, McDonough, Menard, Mercer, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Pike, Rock Island, Sangamon, Scott, Schuyler, St. Clair, Wabash, Warren, Washington, Wayne”

• Award Range: $80,000 - $525,000
• Deadline: rolling 

• Innovation Vouchers Program
  • Description: “Innovation Vouchers will provide grants for companies to engage in research projects in partnership with an Illinois institute of higher education. This will facilitate the sharing of technologies, knowledge, facilities, and equipment, and ultimately lead to the production of more Illinois-based goods and services and spur economic growth in the state.”
  • Eligibility includes: “Illinois-based companies with 500 or fewer total employees; Commit to maintain operations in Illinois for duration of project; Businesses that operate in key industries, including agribusiness and agtech; energy; information technology; life sciences and healthcare; manufacturing; and transportation and logistics”
  • Award Range: “…cover up to 75% of the cost of the research engagement (not to exceed $75,000).”

• For a complete list of DCEO grants, please visit our website.

• Additional State Government

• Request for Qualifications for Illinois State University Fine Arts Complex (Normal, IL)
  • Description: “The Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board is pleased to announce a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to Illinois professional artists to create permanent original public art for the Illinois State University (ISU) Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts Complex in Normal, Illinois.” “…open to all professional artists, artisans, or artist-led teams that live and work in the state of Illinois.”
  • Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 3:00pm 

• SERVICE DELIVERY C4 R3 Reentry | Economic Development | Civil Legal Aid
  • Description: “Program funds will be used to reduce gun violence through intervention and prevention, improve re-entry and diversion services for people involved with the criminal justice system, provide access to legal representation and advice, encourage investment and economic growth, and support programs that improve the social determinants of health.” Open to organizations who provide services in R3 designated areas. 
  • Award Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
  • Deadline: March 6, 2026 at 2:00pm

• SERVICE DELIVERY C4 R3 Youth Development | Violence Prevention
  • Description: “Program funds will be used to reduce gun violence through intervention and prevention and support programs that improve the social determinants of health.” Open to organizations who provide services in R3 designated areas.
  • Award Range: $25,000 - $1,000,000
  • Deadline: March 6, 2026 at 2:00pm

• General Operating Support
  • Description: “General Operating Support (GOS) Grants are offered to eligible not-for-profit organizations that provide arts programming to their defined communities in a manner that supports the mission of the organization.” Open to nonprofits 501(c)3 in good standing and branches of government (libraries, municipal county, etc.). Then there is an option for the Youth Employment in the Arts (YEA) grants. 
  • Award Range: “Applicants do not request a specific amount. Awards are determined by a formula that considers IAC’s appropriation, the number of eligible applicants, and the applicant’s expenses.” In addition, the YEA grant is up to $4,500.
  • Deadline: March 18, 2026 at 11:59pm

• Illinois Treasurer – Charitable Trust Grant
  • Description: Open statewide to nonprofits, 501(c)3 who have an operating budget of $1 million or less. This cycle the following two categories are eligible: 1) Food Programs and 2) Workforce & Economic Development 
  • Award Range: up to $20,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026

• Federal Government

• Research Grants in the Arts
  • Description: “Research Grants in the Arts support research studies that investigate the value and/or impact of the arts in American life.” Open to nationwide to nonprofits who are 501(c)3; units of state or local governments or federally recognized tribal communities or tribes”. “…Organizations must have completed at least 5 years of operating history prior to the application deadline.”
  • Award Range: $20,000-$100,000
  • Deadline: Part 1: Grants.gov submission deadline is March 23, 2026 at 10:59pm 

• Local Governments

• City of Chicago: Small Business Improvement Fund 
  • Description: “promotes economic development by providing small businesses and property owners with reimbursement grants for permanent building improvement costs.”
  • Award Range: $75,000 multi-tenant properties, $150,000 commercial properties, and $250,000 industrial properties 
  • Deadline varies

• City of Chicago Community Development Grant
  • Description: “The City of Chicago helps support business and neighborhood vitality through Small, Medium and Large Community Development Grant (CDG) awards.” “Applications are open to business owners, property owners, non-profit organizations, community developers and entrepreneurs.”
  • Award Range: Small: up to $250,000; Medium: $300,001 to $5 million and Large: $5 million and up
  • Deadline: Small and Medium due August 14, 2026 and Large accepted on rolling basis

• City of Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund 
  • Description: “The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) provides capital development grants…for small business and cultural projects located along West, Southwest, and South Side commercial corridors. NOF grants are provided as reimbursement for up to 75% of eligible project expenses…”
  • Award Range: up to $250,000
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 

• Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability’s (DES) free Businesses Reducing Impact on the Environment (BRITE) program
  • Description: Open to businesses in suburban Cook County who have 500 or less employees, were negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, were in operation prior to January 1, 2020 and are in the following industries: 
    • Dry cleaning facility
    • Auto body or auto repair shop
    • Metal finisher
    • Metal fabricator
    • Food and beverage manufacturer 
  • Award Range: up to $300,000 (please note, “To receive a BRITE grant, small businesses must complete the interest survey by DES or must have had a similar environmental assessment conducted by a DES partner or third party.)

• Kane County - Grand Victoria Riverboat Fund Program
  • Description: “Kane County provides Grand Victoria Riverboat funds to non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations and units of local government for eligible projects that benefit Kane County residents” “All projects should address at least one of the following priorities:” education, environment, economic development
  • Award Range: “Applicants may not receive more than $100,000…”
  • Deadline: midnight, Wednesday, March 4, 2026

• Cook County - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG)
  • Description: “CDBG-Capital Improvement: Suburban municipalities and nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities; CDBG-Public Service: Nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities; ESG: Nonprofit organizations serving suburban communities” Open to eligible municipalities and nonprofits in Cook County. 
  • Award Range: Capital Projects: municipal - $500,000 and nonprofit - $150,000; Public Service Projects $125,000; ESG $25,000 - $125,000
  • Deadline: March 20, 2026 by 5:00pm 

• Cook County – Invest in Cook
  • Description: “Eligible applicants include local governments, regional transportation authorities, transit agencies, natural resource or public land agencies as well as any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for transportation or recreational trails within Cook County.”
  • Deadline: March 20, 2026 by 5:00pm 

• Village of Gurnee – Impact Grant
  • Description: “This is a 1:1 matching grant open to a business of any size located within the Village of Gurnee corporate limits, generate sales tax, in good standing with the Village and compliant with all obligations, & a building owner of a qualifying business. No minimum project size with a rolling application period.”
  • Award Range: $10,000 - $20,000

• Private/Community Resources 

• The Community Foundation for McHenry County – Emergency Grants 
  • Description: “The Community Foundation for McHenry County is committed to enhancing county services and expanding financial support to local non-profits.” “The Emergency Grant program supports nonprofits facing unexpected expenses that significantly impact their ability to fulfill their mission or deliver services. This grant is intended to help organizations address unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergencies.” 
  • Award Range: unknown
  • Deadline: “This grant operates on a rolling application cycle”

• Local Data for Equitable Communities
  • Description: “This call for proposals (CFP) invites eligible nonprofit organizations in the U.S. to apply for a grant to collect, analyze, and use data to address inequities in the physical, economic, and social conditions of a place. Improving these conditions is key to achieving health equity…”
  • Award Range: $50,000
  • Deadline: March 03, 2026 2:00 p.m. CT

• 2026 The Arts Mean Business Fund Grant
  • Description: “The Arts Mean Business Fund was established to support the generation of economic growth in the Peoria region through arts tourism, increased successful arts businesses, greater community participation in the arts, and financial support of the arts from local governments and economic development councils.”
  • Award Range: “See application for amount available to award”
  • Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 5:00pm

• 2026 AARP Community Challenge - Open nationwide to eligible: “501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and 501(c)(6) nonprofit organizations recognized by the IRS; Government entities; Other types of organizations considered on a case-by-case basis”

• Title: AARP’s Flagship Community Challenge Grants
• Description: “Eligible projects should benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in at least one of the following categories:
  • Creating vibrant public places (i.e., parks, open spaces, community amenities)

Expanding transportation and mobility options (i.e., walkability, bikeability, transit access)

Increasing housing options (i.e., accessible and affordable choices)

Enhancing digital connections and digital literacy

Strengthening disaster resilience (i.e., disaster preparedness and mitigation)”

• Award Range: up to $15,000
• Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 4:00pm

• Title: Capacity-Building Microgrants

Description: “Eligible projects should benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in at least one of the following categories:” 1) Walk Audits, 2) Bike Audits, 3) HomeFit Modifications, and 4) Disaster Preparedness

• Award Range: up to $2,500 plus webinars, coaching, etc.
• Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 4:00pm 

• Title: Demonstration Grants
• Description: “Eligible projects should benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older — in at least one of the following categories:” 1) Pedestrian Safety, 2) High-Speed Internet and 3) Housing Design Competitions”
• Award Range: up to $25,000
• Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 4:00pm 

• 2026 Community Arts Grants
  • Description: “Available to organizations that offer art programs aligned with their mission. Art programs must fall into one of the following categories: arts education, performing arts, musical and cultural activities, sculpture/visual fine arts for display, or art therapy initiatives.” Open to … organizations with programs serving individuals within a 50-mile radius of the city of Peoria, IL, excluding Knox and McLean County.”
  • Award Range: up to $10,000
  • Deadline: March 4, 2026 at 5:00pm

• Woods Fund Chicago
  • Description: “…provide multiyear, general operating support to ensure grantee partners can sustain their work and operations beyond the scope of a single program.” Open to Chicago metropolitan area (city proper with some consideration of other cities in Cook County), nonprofit (501(c)3)), building power through community organizing and/or public policy advocacy, and use a framework of racial equity and/or justice. 
  • Award Range: up to $35,000
  • Deadline: March 10, 2026

• Sponsorships from Chicago Community Trust
  • Description: “Sponsorships are available for programming events such as meetings, forums, conferences, community and cultural events, and other gatherings. We will also consider sponsorship requests for fundraising events such as galas, luncheons, and walk-a-thons. Event objectives should align with the Trust’s priorities to strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address critical needs in Chicago communities.” Open to nonprofits located in Cook County or primarily serve Cook County. 
  • Award Range: up to $10,000
  • Deadline: March 12, 2026 (please note this opens February 19, 2026)

• ComEd Powering Safe Communities Grant Program
  • Description: Grants for “…for local public safety and clean transportation projects…” Open to ComEd service areas. Must be a nonprofit, municipality township, county, and other local government in ComEd service area. 
  • Award Range: up to $10,000
  • Deadline: March 13, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• ComEd Powering the Arts Program
  • Description: “Through this program, ComEd and the League of Chicago Theatres look to reach audiences that have otherwise been unable to access the richness of cultural offerings throughout the ComEd service area.” “Eligible applicants are nonprofit arts and cultural institutions that are located within ComEd’s service territory and must be in good standing with ComEd related to provision of utilities.”
  • Award Range: $20,000 - $10,000
  • Deadline: March 13, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• The Allstate Foundation College Service Grants
  • Description: “…to empower youth-led, youth-driven service on their campus.” “At this time, only colleges and universities are eligible for this grant.”
  • Award Range: $10,000
  • Deadline: March 16, 2026

• Amplify Your Brand Promotion
  • Description: “The Amplify Your Brand Promotion is built for businesses ready to take their digital presence to the next level.” “Five small business owners will be selected to win a professionally produced content package, designed to elevate your brand and strengthen your digital presence.” Open nationwide to eligible for-profit businesses. You will have to complete three courses on their platform in order to be eligible to apply. 
  • Award Range: “…a content package valued at $17,000* including a custom video, content plan, and….” Etc.
  • Deadline: March 18, 2026

• Sustainable Solutions for Housing Stability – Addressing Critical Needs
  • Description: “Understanding the Chicago region’s formidable homelessness challenges, the Trust is offering this funding opportunity aimed at bolstering direct service organizations that provide housing and homeless prevention services.” Open to nonprofits, 501(c)3 and located within or primarily serving residents of Chicago or Cook County. 
  • Award Range: “These multi-year, general operating grants will span three years. Yearly grant amounts will be between $75,000 and $125,000.”
  • Deadline: March 24, 2026 (letter of intent due) 

• Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership
  • Description: “[They] invite proposals that sustain, support or scale commercial and/or residential shared ownership models working with communities and residents of economically distressed neighborhoods and/or individuals experiencing poverty, as well as efforts that strengthen the broader ecosystem through technical assistance, education and awareness-building.” Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits that are based or primarily serve Chicago residents and who are focused on assisting individuals, families and neighborhoods experiencing high levels of poverty. 
  • Award Range: $75,000 to $200,000
  • Deadline: March 27, 2026 at 5:00pm (LOI due) 

• NFL Foundation Grassroots Program
  • Description: “…provides non-profit, neighborhood-based organizations with financial and technical assistance with the goal of improving the quality, safety, and accessibility of local football fields.” Open nationwide to eligible entities. 
  • Award Range: up to $250,000
  • Deadline: March 30, 2026

• T-Mobile Hometown Grants Program (Spring)
  • Description: “…fund projects that foster local connections, like technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers.” Open nationwide to “Elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, or nonprofit [501(c)3 & 501(c)6] community leaders from small towns with population less than 50,000…”
  • Award Range: up to $50,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026

• Pilot Small Business Growth Fund
  • Description: “…presented in partnership with Hello Alice and Pilot.com, is here to support small businesses as they grow and scale.” Open nationwide to for profit businesses that have generated between $5,000 and $5,000,000 in gross revenue in 2025. 
  • Award Range: $10,000 - $50,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• Midland States Bank Foundation – Spring Awards
  • Description: “…offer grants to non-profit organizations [501(c)3 or 501(c)6 and who are in Midland’s geographic footprint] and initiatives that align with our key focus areas: education, work force development, financial empowerment, housing, small business development and health” & wellness.
  • Award Range: $7,500 - $25,000
  • Deadline: March 31, 2026

• 2026 Small Business Growth Initiative
  • Description: “The Small Business Growth Initiative (SBGI) is a partnership with Allies for Community Business and the Lake County Community Foundation that supports businesses in the Lake County communities of Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion. This program includes one-on-one coaching, cohort-based learning and grant funding designed to strengthen and grow your business.” 
  • Award Range: not disclosed 
  • Deadline: April 3, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• Community Grants – Community Foundation for McHenry County
  • Description: “Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions serving McHenry County and established for at least three years.” Accepting requests for unrestricted operating support, program support, capital projects, and organizational capacity initiatives. 
  • Award Range: not disclosed 
  • Deadline: April 10, 2026 at noon 

• Intuit Quickbooks & Mailchimp: Small Business Hero Program 
  • Description: “Celebrate a small business in your community. Nominate a small business who has shown courage, perseverance and integrity…”. Open nationwide to entities (for profit business or nonprofit – 501(c)3) who have been established for at least one year. 
  • Award Range: $20,000
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 10:59pm