Submit Nominations for Opportunity Zones: 

• Opportunity Zones 
  • Description: “The State of Illinois is undertaking a comprehensive approach to reviewing and selecting the next census tracts for recommendations for federal "Opportunity Zone" designation. An important part of this decision-making process will be the insights and recommendations provided by those most familiar with their communities. We welcome you to provide through the form linked below as much detail and information as possible to help inform Illinois' next Opportunity Zones.”
  • Deadline: April 24, 2026
    • Submit a nomination 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: April 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM (extended) 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: April 30, 2026 at 5:00 PM (extended) 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: (this was updated in the NOFO in March 2, 2026)

• City of Chicago Neighborhoods 
  • Far Southeast Side (Chatham, Avalon Park, South Deering, Hegewisch, Riverdale, West Pullman, Roseland, Burnside, Calumet Heights, South Chicago)
• Cook County Municipalities 
  • Elgin
• Counties 
  • Grundy and Kankakee
• 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

• Illinois Department of Employment Security - Request for Proposal: RESEA Training 26-427DES-BUSSR-B-48855
  • Description: “The Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) seeks to procure the services of a consultant team to help accomplish two objectives related to this goal: first, to work with the IDES Employment Services (ES) management team to develop and deliver new professional development training for IDES staff delivering services to individuals assigned to the RESEA program; and second, to provide train-the-trainer services to the ES management team to improve their skills in delivering professional development training for IDES staff delivering services in the RESEA program.”
  • Deadline: April 21, 2026 at 2:00pm

• Capital Development Board: Art-in-Architecture Program of the Capital Development Board (request for qualifications) 
  • Description: “…professional artists to create permanent original public art for the Illinois Department of Transportation Coalfield Rest Areas in Waggoner, Illinois.” 
  • Deadline: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 3:00pm 

• 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

• Chicago of Chicago: Arrigo Park Cabrini Monument - Request For Qualifications (RFQ)
  • Description: “The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), in partnership with the Chicago Park District, invites artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for a significant public art commission honoring a significant figure of Italian American Heritage at Arrigo Park: Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. The budget for this permanent artwork is $500,000, inclusive of all costs and fees associated with design, engineering, fabrication, site preparation, installation, and related expenses.”
  • Deadline: April 10, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

• 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 

• City of Chicago Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) Program
  • Description: “The Commercial Corridor Storefront Activation (CCSA) program is helping to revitalize 12 South and West Side business corridors through targeted improvements to underutilized and vacant commercial spaces.” 
  • Award Range: “…grants that fund up to 75% of eligible project costs for qualifying small businesses and property owners”
  • Deadline: May 15, 2026 at 5:00pm 

• 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.)

• 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 

• Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP)
  • Description: “SomerCor helps small businesses purchase owner-occupied commercial real estate through the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 financing. With SomerCor’s new Down Payment Assistance Program (DPAP), eligible businesses in Cook County can receive a grant to reduce upfront costs when purchasing their first building.”
  • Award Range: up to $25,000

• American Heart Association Ventures – Social Impact Funds
  • Description: “The Social Impact Funds support community-led transformation by strategically deploying capital to social entrepreneurs who are using their lived experience to tackle three vital social drivers of health [health care access & quality, food security and economic empowerment]”. “…currently accepting applications for projects in Chicago, Florida, Los Angeles, Minnesota, New York City, Philadelphia, Toledo and West Virginia. Both for-profit and nonprofit organizations are eligible to apply for funding from the Social Impact Funds.”
  • Award Range: $150,000 – $500,000

• Menlo Anthology Fund
  • Description: “The Anthology Fund is a $100M initiative between Menlo Ventures and Anthropic to fund the next generation of AI startups. We invest in Seed and Series A startups with check sizes starting at $100K”. 
  • Award Range: several but includes “$30,000 in free Anthropic credits”
  • Deadline: rolling 

• 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”

• Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant
  • Description: Open nationwide to those who identify as a Mom business owner, have at least 1 year in business, have 2-100 employees, and business annual revenue does not exceed $5M. 
  • Award Range: $1,000 and program access
  • Deadline: April 14, 2026

• RFP: Resilient Chicago Fund – Open Call
  • Description: “In Chicago and Cook County, organizations providing basic human needs—including food, shelter, healthcare and safety—are facing federal policy and funding uncertainty, rising demand for services, and increasingly complex rules. Nonprofit organizations and public agencies are doing heroic work to continue delivering essential benefits and services while adapting to a changing landscape.” “This RFP is designed for organizations or partnerships that want to rethink, redesign or test new ways of delivering essential benefits and services within food, shelter, healthcare or safety systems.” 
  • Award Range: generally range from $100,000 to $300,000
  • Deadline: April 17, 2026, 11:59 p.m. CT

• Sweet Home South Chicago Pitch Competition
  • Description: Flyer attached. Open to “businesses in or rooted in South Chicago;” “early stage small businesses ready to scale;” and “believe tech can help strengthen your business”. 
  • Award Range: $25,000
  • Deadline: April 22, 2026

• L'Oréal Inclusive Beauty Fund 2026
  • Description: “L’Oréal’s Inclusive Beauty Fund and Hispanic Federation are partnering to award 6 one-time grants of $25,000 each to expand economic inclusion and empower beauty entrepreneurs across the United States.” “Beauty businesses, salon owners, estheticians, barbers, and stylists, from all corners of the nation are invited to apply for the Inclusive Beauty Fund and be part of a transformative movement in the industry.”
  • Award Range: $25,000
  • Deadline: April 23, 2026 at 10:59 PM

• NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants
  • Description: “Comcast NBCUniversal, NBC and Telemundo-owned television stations will fund organizations that are doing work in three specific areas: Youth Education and Empowerment, Next Generation Storytellers and Community Engagement.” Open to the 11 markets that NBCUniversal is in including Chicagoland area (click here to see zip codes), must be a nonprofit, 501(c)3, “organization’s total expenses must be between $100,000 and $1,000,000,” must have a revenue of more than $100,000, been operating for at least 1 year, etc. 
  • Award Range: $100,000 to $1,000,000
  • Deadline: April 24, 2026 at 6:59pm 

• Fund for Investigative Journalism
  • Description: “The Fund provides grants to journalists for investigative stories that break new ground – which means they uncover wrongdoing in the public and private sectors and reveal information that was previously unknown or hidden, and they shed light on accountability for wrongdoing.”
  • Award Range: depends on grant you are applying for but from $1,000 - $10,000
  • Deadline: April 27, 2026 at 10:59pm 

• Enthuse Foundation’s Grant Program
  • Description: Open nationwide to women entrepreneurs who are US citizens. They have several grant opportunities each assisting with something different insurance, business tools, etc. One winner for each grant opportunity. 
  • Award Range: $2,500 for different things
  • Deadline: April 27, 2026

• The BOTOX® Cosmetic Confidence Collective: Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Boost Camp & Grant Program
  • Description: Open nationwide to businesses that meet the eligibility including making at least $25,000 in 2025 and not operate in excluded industries. 
  • Award Range: $20,000 and boot camp program 
  • Deadline: April 29, 2026, at 5 p.m.

• 2026 Vilcek Foundation Grants
  • Description: “The Vilcek Foundation invites applications from eligible nonprofit organizations whose mission or programs focus on supporting immigrant contributions in the arts, sciences, culture, and society.” Open nationwide to 501(c)3 nonprofits. 
  • Award Range: $5,000 to $20,000
  • Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 10:59pm 

• Target Community Engagement Funds
  • Description: “Community Engagement Funds (CEF) is a community grant program that empowers Target stores and distribution center leaders to make meaningful, localized giving decisions that meet the needs of the communities where our team members and guests live, work, and thrive.” Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits, K-12 schools, colleges and universities that meet the criteria. 
  • Award Range: $1,000 - $15,000
  • Deadline: May 6, 2026

• 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 

• Safety First Grant
  • Description: Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits or government entities that operate in Norfolk Southern’s 22 state network (this includes Illinois), project must be 30 minutes from Norfolk Southern main line and be in alignment with one of Norfolk Southern’s focus areas. 
  • Award Range: $1,000 to $15,000
  • Deadline: August 3, 2026

• Thriving Communities Grant
  • Description: Open to 501(c)3 nonprofits that operate in Norfolk Southern’s 22 state network (this includes Illinois), project must be 30 minutes from Norfolk Southern main line and be in alignment with one of Norfolk Southern’s focus areas. 
  • Award Range: $1,000 to $50,0000
  • Deadline: August 3, 2026