Education Grants in Illinois

1,821 foundations fund education programs in Illinois. See who they are, what they give, and how to reach them.

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These foundations have a track record of funding education work in Illinois, based on IRS 990 grant data. Use the list below to find funders aligned with your mission, then sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits each one.

Open Grant Opportunities

Live programs funding education in Illinois that your nonprofit can apply to now.

Open nowCloses in 20 days (Sep 1, 2026)Award: $10K – $20K

Civic Education

From Lincoln & Therese Filene Foundation Inc #0706176

civic educationcitizenship educationcivic participation+4 more

Who can apply: Organizations with programs that reinforce citizenship values and responsibilities and encourage, engage, and inform citizens.

Open nowCloses Oct 1, 2026Award: $1K – $10K

Cooperative Education Fund (research & small grants)

From Cooperative Development Foundation

cooperative researchcooperative educationscholarships+4 more

Who can apply: Supports education activities of other cooperative sectors, including cooperative research, sponsorship of cooperative education events and scholarships, and development of cooperative education materials and programs.

Open nowCloses Nov 15, 2026May not accept unsolicited proposals

Free Enterprise Education Support (Limited)

From Broyhill Family Foundation

Free enterprise educationEconomic education

Who can apply: Organizations promoting free enterprise education; note that new requests in this area are discouraged.

Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $75K – $350K

Great Lakes Environmental Justice Thriving Communities grantmaking program

From Minneapolis Foundation

environmental justiceenvironmental healthair quality+8 more

Who can apply: Community-based nonprofits and other eligible organizations serving underserved communities in EPA Region 5. The program reserves portions of funding for Indigenous, rural, and urban communities and includes a noncompetitive option for capacity-constrained communities and community-based organizations under Tier 1.

Open nowCloses Dec 1, 2026

Education

From Lloyd A Fry Foundation

Principal developmentTeacher leader developmentProfessional learning+5 more

Who can apply: Priority is given to programs working at the middle school and high school levels and in historically disinvested schools with high percentages of students of color. The Foundation generally does not fund scholarship programs or unsolicited proposals from individual schools.

Open nowRolling / open intakeAward: $5K – $20K

Donaldson Foundation Community Grants

From Donaldson Foundation

educationK-12 educationSTEM+2 more

Who can apply: Must be education focused, have a strong connection to Donaldson communities, demonstrate degree of need for those served, and focus on impactful programs rather than general operating expenses. Applicants must qualify for IRS tax exemption and provide proof of 501(c)(3) status.

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Deadlines and program details come from public sources and can change. Always confirm on the funder's official site before applying.

Largest Education in Illinois Foundations

The Big Ten Conference Inc

Rosemont, IL

Annual Giving

$1.4B

Total Assets

$280.7M

Median Grant

$58.9M

B60Regional
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

BALTIMORE, MD

Annual Giving

$594.1M

Total Assets

$25.3B

Median Grant

$120K

B430National
THE ANDREW W MELLON FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$475.8M

Total Assets

$7.8B

Median Grant

$500K

B82National
THE OJC FUND

BROOKLYN, NY

Annual Giving

$448.3M

Total Assets

$58.5M

Median Grant

$29K

B90Local
University of Illinois Foundation

Champaign, IL

Annual Giving

$312.3M

Total Assets

$3.7B

Median Grant

$144K

B110Regional
US COMMITTEE FOR REFUGEES AND IMMIGRANTS INC

ARLINGTON, VA

Annual Giving

$274.5M

Total Assets

$133.9M

Median Grant

$150K

B99National
President and Fellows of Harvard College

CAMBRIDGE, MA

Annual Giving

$273.3M

Total Assets

$79.9B

Median Grant

$86K

B500National
THE ANNENBERG FOUNDATION

CONSHOHOCKEN, PA

Annual Giving

$258.7M

Total Assets

$1.5B

Median Grant

$25K

B82National
Emory University

Atlanta, GA

Annual Giving

$240.2M

Total Assets

$22.2B

Median Grant

$75K

B430National
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO FOUNDATION

DENVER, CO

Annual Giving

$230.6M

Total Assets

$3.5B

Median Grant

$73K

B110Local
THE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$208.3M

Total Assets

$26B

Median Grant

$69K

B430National
JOHN S AND JAMES L KNIGHT FOUNDATION

MIAMI, FL

Annual Giving

$198.6M

Total Assets

$2.5B

Median Grant

$107K

B82National
THE SCHMIDT FAMILY FOUNDATION

PALO ALTO, CA

Annual Giving

$195.5M

Total Assets

$2B

Median Grant

$100K

B82National
THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA FOUNDATION

ATHENS, GA

Annual Giving

$193.2M

Total Assets

$2.4B

Median Grant

$589K

B110Regional
THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK CITY INC

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$189.7M

Total Assets

$171.8M

Median Grant

$56K

B99National
CARNEGIE CORPORATION OF NEW YORK

New York, NY

Annual Giving

$180.9M

Total Assets

$4.8B

Median Grant

$188K

B124National
Yale University

New Haven, CT

Annual Giving

$168.2M

Total Assets

$58.9B

Median Grant

$110K

B430National
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

PITTSBURGH, PA

Annual Giving

$149.1M

Total Assets

$10.9B

Median Grant

$84K

B99National
DRUCKENMILLER FOUNDATION

NEW YORK, NY

Annual Giving

$135.7M

Total Assets

$1.8B

Median Grant

$25K

B82Regional
Cornell University

ITHACA, NY

Annual Giving

$126.7M

Total Assets

$19.8B

Median Grant

$88K

B430National
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY

SAINT LOUIS, MO

Annual Giving

$120.7M

Total Assets

$22.3B

Median Grant

$54K

B430National
Ascendium Education Solutions Inc

MADISON, WI

Annual Giving

$117.5M

Total Assets

$222.6M

Median Grant

$89K

B82ZNational
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY

BOSTON, MA

Annual Giving

$109.8M

Total Assets

$9.3B

Median Grant

$110K

B43National
ECMC GROUP INC

MINNEAPOLIS, MN

Annual Giving

$105.6M

Total Assets

$5.7B

Median Grant

$21K

B02Regional
INDIAN PAINTBRUSH FOUNDATION

WASHINGTON, DC

Annual Giving

$102.9M

Total Assets

$1.9B

Median Grant

$138K

B82INational

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