ILRolling
Chicago Creative Worker Assistance Program
Grantor
Grantor not listed
Award Amount
$5,000
Illinois grants
Illinois Small Business Grants 2026
Browse open Illinois grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility.
Forrest Grants
Funding is hiding in plain sight.
From Chicago, Springfield, and Peoria to rural Illinois, Forrest Grants tracks state, county, city, and foundation programs so you can shortlist the ones worth a real application.
🐻
Forrest Grant keeps the list clean, relevant, and pointed at programs worth a real application.
Open grants
223
Average award
$1,330
Top eligibility tags
illinoisbusinessdeveloperwomen
Featured grants
High-intent funding opportunities
Grants in IL
Where to focus first
Browse open Illinois grant programs for small businesses, nonprofits, and founders in 2026, sorted by award size with deadlines and eligibility. Use this page as your shortlist, then jump into the intake wizard so Forrest can narrow the list to the programs you are most likely to win.
ILRolling
Champaign County Chamber Young Entrepreneur Program
Grantor
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
Award Amount
$5,000
youthhigh_school
View GrantILRolling
Engineering Open House Startup Showcase
Grantor
University of Illinois Technology Entrepreneur Center
Award Amount
$5,000
studentuniversity_of_illinois
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Arts Council Agency — Conference Scholarships
Grantor
Illinois Arts Council Agency (IAC)
Award Amount
$1,500
Illinois artistarts professional
View GrantILRolling
National FFA SAE Grants
Grantor
National FFA Organization
Award Amount
$1,000
studentffa
View GrantILRolling
Chicago Hospitality Employee Relief Program
Grantor
Grantor not listed
Award Amount
$1,000
hospitality
View GrantILRolling
BizBuzz Fish Tank Pitch Competition
Grantor
BizBuzz NFP
Award Amount
$750
youthstudents
View GrantILRolling
Independent Sports Club of Central Illinois Youth Sports Grants
Grantor
Independent Sports Club of Central Illinois
Award Amount
$700
central_illinoisyouth_sports
View GrantILRolling
Community Development Grant Large Grants Program
Grantor
City of Chicago
Award Amount
From $5,000,001
businessnonprofit
View GrantILRolling
Bloomington Property Tax Abatement
Grantor
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
businessproperty_owner
View GrantILMay 31, 2028
Bloomington Standardized Housing Incentive Program
Grantor
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
developerproperty_owner
View GrantILRolling
Bloomington-Normal Enterprise Zone Incentives
Grantor
Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council
Award Amount
Varies
businesscommercial_property
View GrantILRolling
Bloomington Tax Increment Financing Assistance
Grantor
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
businessdeveloper
View GrantILRolling
City of Chicago Cook County Property Tax Incentive Application
Grantor
Cook County
Award Amount
Varies
businessproperty_owner
View GrantILRolling
Bloomington Sales Tax Rebate
Grantor
City of Bloomington, Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
businessdeveloper
View GrantILRolling
Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program
Grantor
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
Award Amount
Varies
behavioral healthrural HPSA
View GrantILRolling
Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois Grant Program
Grantor
Women Entrepreneurs of Central Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
womencentral_illinois
View GrantILRolling
Business Enterprise Program (BEP) Certification
Grantor
Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI)
Award Amount
Varies
minority ownedwomen owned
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Business Enterprise Program Certification
Grantor
Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion
Award Amount
Varies
native_americanminority_owned
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Military Service Member and Spouse Professional Licensing Support
Grantor
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Award Amount
Varies
active_militarymilitary_spouse
View GrantILRolling
Chicago LGBTBE Procurement Inclusion
Grantor
City of Chicago and National LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Award Amount
Varies
lgbtq_ownedchicago
View GrantILRolling
City of Chicago Minority-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Grantor
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
Award Amount
Varies
minority_ownedchicago
View GrantILRolling
University of Chicago College New Venture Challenge
Grantor
University of Chicago Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Award Amount
Varies
studentuniversity_of_chicago
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program — Food Service Businesses
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small businessminority owned
View GrantILRolling
Veteran Loan Fund
Grantor
Veteran Loan Fund
Award Amount
Varies
veteran_ownedcdfi
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Tollway Veteran Small Business Program
Grantor
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Award Amount
Varies
veteran_ownedservice_disabled_veteran_owned
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program
Grantor
Illinois DCEO
Award Amount
Varies
small_business
View GrantILRolling
DCEO Federal Grant Support Program — Nonprofit Assistance
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
nonprofit
View GrantILRolling
IDHS Early Childhood Grants — Quality Improvement Funds
Grantor
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS)
Award Amount
Varies
licensed childcare providerCCAP participant
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program for MWVD-Owned Businesses
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
disability_ownedillinois
View GrantILRolling
MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment Cash Grants
Grantor
MidwayUSA Foundation
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisyouth_shooting_sports
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Workforce Success Program for Individuals with Disabilities
Grantor
State of Illinois
Award Amount
Varies
disabilityillinois
View GrantILRolling
IDOT DBE Supportive Services Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Transportation
Award Amount
Varies
womendbe
View GrantILRolling
Illinois National Health Service Corps State Loan Repayment Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
Award Amount
Varies
primary carehealth professional shortage area
View GrantILRolling
Illinois CDFI / Community Lending Layer
Grantor
IFF and partner CDFIs
Award Amount
Varies
nonprofit
View GrantILRolling
Laureus Sport for Good Illinois Grant Opportunity
Grantor
Laureus Sport for Good USA
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisyouth_sports
View GrantILRolling
City of Chicago Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Grantor
City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services
Award Amount
Varies
womenchicago
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
Illinois basedcontractor
View GrantILRolling
How to Finance a Tribal Business
Grantor
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Award Amount
Varies
native_americantribal_business
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Military Spouse Licensing Reimbursement
Grantor
Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
Award Amount
Varies
military_spouseactive_military
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Workforce Empowerment Initiative Manufacturing Training
Grantor
Illinois Community College Board
Award Amount
Varies
illinoismanufacturing_training
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Grantor
Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services
Award Amount
Varies
disabilityillinois
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Tollway Partnering for Growth
Grantor
Illinois State Toll Highway Authority
Award Amount
Varies
womenillinois_tollway
View GrantILRolling
WBDC Women's Business Enterprise Certification
Grantor
Women's Business Development Center and WBENC
Award Amount
Varies
womenwbe_certification
View GrantILRolling
Cook County Women-Owned Business Enterprise Certification
Grantor
Cook County Office of Contract Compliance
Award Amount
Varies
womencook_county
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Community College Cannabis Vocational Training Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
Illinois basednonprofit
View GrantILRolling
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women
Grantor
Goldman Sachs
Award Amount
Varies
womenonline_training
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) — Small and Emerging Business Program
Grantor
Illinois Power Agency (IPA)
Award Amount
Varies
clean energysolar
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small business
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Utility Supplier Diversity Recognition for LGBTBE Certification
Grantor
Illinois Commerce Commission
Award Amount
Varies
lgbtq_ownednglcc
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program (PLP)
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small businessminority owned
View GrantILRolling
IHCC Foundation Microgrant Program
Grantor
Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Award Amount
Varies
hispanic_ownedminority_owned
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Cannabis Social Equity Direct Forgivable Loan Program
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantILRolling
Economic Development for a Growing Economy Tax Credit
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
Award Amount
Varies
illinoisjob_creation
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Assistive Technology Program State Financing
Grantor
Illinois Assistive Technology Program
Award Amount
Varies
disabilityillinois
View GrantILRolling
Advantage Illinois Participation Loan Program — Transportation Businesses
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small businessminority owned
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Senior Community Service Employment Program
Grantor
Illinois Department on Aging
Award Amount
Varies
age_55_pluslow_income
View GrantILRolling
Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) — Restaurant Business Consulting
Grantor
Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO)
Award Amount
Varies
small business
View GrantILRolling
IDOA Cannabis Business Licensing and Registration
Grantor
Illinois Department of Agriculture
Award Amount
Varies
illinoiscannabis
View GrantGrants by business type
- Women-Owned Business Grants
- Nonprofit Grants
- Restaurant Grants
- Daycare Grants
- Veteran-Owned Business Grants
- Minority-Owned Business Grants
- LGBTQ-Owned Business Grants
- Disability-Owned Business Grants
- Native American Business Grants
- Grants for Young Entrepreneurs
- Grants for Active Military and Military Spouses
- Rural Business Grants
- Startup Grants
- Small Business Grants
- Grants for Artists and Creative Businesses
- Manufacturing Grants
- Retail Business Grants
- Agriculture and Farm Grants
- Technology and Innovation Grants
- Arts and Culture Grants
- Healthcare Grants
- Construction and Trades Grants
- Education and Training Grants
- Housing and Real Estate Grants
- Clean Energy and Sustainability Grants
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