NAS - Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program 2027

The Illinois Natural Areas Stewardship Grant Program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to Conservation Land Trusts for stewardship activities on dedicated Illinois Nature Preserves and registered Land and Water Reserves. The program aims to increase stewardship capacity within Conservation Land Trusts and support the restoration and stewardship of land for conservation purposes. Eligible projects include stewardship actions identified in a current, approved management schedule, control of exotic and invasive species, prescribed burns, and restoration/enhancement of native plant communities. • Eligible recipients are Conservation Land Trusts exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. • Eligible lands include those protected by the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission as a dedicated Illinois Nature Preserve, dedicated buffer, or registered as a Land and Water Reserve. • The grant term will be no more than two years, and funding will be provided on a reimbursement basis at the end of the project. • The maximum funding for a project is $100,000, and the minimum project amount is $20,000. • A 5% or $1,000 matching fund requirement applies to each project.