Parks & Recreation

Illinois Recycling Grants Program 

The Illinois Recycling Grants Program helps communities, businesses, and not-for-profit organizations collect and process materials for recycling through both, technical and financial assistance. Periodically, the program will issue requests-for-applications to fund traditional (fiber, metal, glass, and plastic) recycling efforts. The program will also periodically issue requests-for-applications to fund other items, with a recent focus on computer and electronics recycling. To learn more about these opportunities, please contact the program staff person listed below. Please be aware that the program is currently soliciting projects and the deadline for applications is December 19, 2007. To learn more about this opportunity please click here or contact program staff listed below.

Traditional Recycling
David Ross
217-782-7887
David.Ross@illinois.gov

Electronic Recycling
Sam Al-Basha
217-557-5662
Sam.Al-Basha@illinois.gov

NRC and Coca-Cola Announce New Bin Grant Program 

Coca-Cola and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) announced a new recycling bin grant program designed to promote and support community recycling in the U.S. Through this innovative grant, recipients will have the benefit of both the donated recycle bins and the expertise on how to set up recycling programs from the National Recycling Coalition. Grants will be provided for recycle bins at sporting events, music venues, schools and commercial locations. The grant program is part of Coca-Cola's $60 million investment in recycling programs and initiatives in the U.S.

The grant program is open to city, government and school organizations as well as non-profit groups and for-profit companies. Interested parties may apply for the grant at NRC's website: www.bingrant.org. Eligible grant activities include establishing a recycling program at schools, universities, sporting or recreation venues, parks, cultural events or business and commercial locations. Grant recipients will be selected and awarded recycling bins throughout 2008.

Illinois Access to Recreation Community Foundation Grant

To provide up to $1.5 million in grants to support community foundations in Illinois in convening partnerships around the issues related to creating universal, barrier free access to recreation environments and opportunities in the community, assisting community partners in undertaking and completing recreation accessibility projects, and establishing a permanent endowment fund to support ongoing access to recreation work. Partnerships must include recreation providers and individuals with disabilities. Recreation projects can include any type of recreation opportunity that the community determines to be needed or desired. The Access to Recreation grants are intended to fund unique and creative ways of providing access to all kinds of recreation environments and opportunities.

 the applicant for the grant is the community foundation
 the parks and recreation agencies are the partners who will help develop the project plan
 agencies should contact their community foundation and express their interest in partnering

 RFP Documentation
 Grant Application
 For more information, please contact Sheila Leahy.

Georgia-Pacific Foundation

The Foundation's environmental investment priorities include: resource conservation (recycling, tree planting, and fish and wildlife habitat preservation); parks/nature trails/recreation areas; and, environmental education.

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation was established in December 1999 as an independent foundation with a $225 million endowment provided by Commonwealth Edison. Illinois Clean Energy provides financial support for projects that advance specific program priorities related to increasing energy efficiency, expanding the use of renewable energy resources, and preserving and enhancing natural areas and wildlife habitats throughout Illinois. The Foundation distributes financial support by making grants through competitive application cycles, by partnering with local or state government agencies to support various projects and through its own direct initiatives.

Meijer Corporate Giving Program

The Meijer Guest Services Desk in each store has Donation Request forms. Please note that donation requests take 30 days to process. Applicants will receive a written response when a decision has been made.

Pulte Homes Charitable Giving Program

Pulte Homes cares about protecting and improving our environment to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy our nation's natural resources. We seek out projects that conserve resources by improving the energy efficiency of homes or reducing material usage. We will also focus on major projects that improve community environments or enhance outdoor recreational activities.

Safeco Community Grants

We fund programs and organizations that play a role in: Helping neighborhoods flourish and thrive, specifically neighborhood festivals that attract diverse audiences, community clean-ups and neighborhood beautification projects the creation or enhancement of pocket parks and gathering spaces.

DuPage Community Foundation

Grant applications may be submitted for projects and programs that:

• Promote conservation and restoration of natural areas, habitats and green spaces
• Educate children and adults on environmental issues
• Improve quality of the environment through reduced pollution and waste
• Protect wildlife and endangered species

• Non-profit 501(c) (3) public charities
• Some government agencies including: Public Schools, Park Districts, Forest Preserve District and Public Libraries

NikeGO Grant Opportunity

Who can apply?
NikeGO grants are available for youth sport organizations working with under-served communities in the Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City areas.

What do we get?
NikeGO grant recipients receive funding to bring PCA training to their coaches, parents, and leaders. Each training session lasts two hours and can be presented in either English or Spanish.

When can we start receiving the workshops?
As soon as you submit the grant application and have it accepted (usually a 2-4 week process), workshops can begin immediately.

How can we apply?
For specific contact information by geographic area, please click here

When do we find out if we received the grant?
Grants will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, so the sooner you turn in the application, the sooner you will get a response. Most grant applicants get a response within 2-4 weeks of submitting their application.

Are the workshops available in Spanish?
Yes! PCA workshops are available in both Spanish and English.

Whom can I contact with specific questions?
For specific contact information by geographic area, please click here

Nike Let Me Play

Let Me Play is Nike’s new global community effort to unleash human potential through sport. The focus of the grant program will be to get young people, ages 12-25, who have typically been left on the sidelines, into sports and on to a better life. Grants of $2500 each will be rewarded, one per NikeFactory Store community.

Women’s Sports Foundation: GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards

The GoGirlGo! Ambassador Team Awards program, administered by the Women’s Sports Foundation, recognizes teams throughout the U.S. that demonstrate leadership in their communities by inspiring girls to get involved in sports and physical activity. A total of $50,000 in grants will be awarded in recognition of the outstanding efforts of 20 teams around the country. School, amateur, community, and/or nonprofit affiliated teams whose members are female, enrolled in 9th-12th grade, and residents of the United States, its territories, or protectorates are eligible to apply. The application deadline is February 16, 2007. Visit the website listed above for application guidelines and forms.

Tiger Woods Foundation

The mission of the Tiger Woods Foundation is to empower young people to reach their highest potential by initiating and supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education, and welfare of America's children. The Foundation focuses on providing educational opportunities, including mentoring and tutoring programs, to underserved youth, ages 5-17. The Foundation primarily funds organizations and programs that are based in urban American cities. Applications are reviewed quarterly.

General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids

The goal of the General Mills Champions for Healthy Kids initiative, a partnership of the General Mills Foundation, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Challenge, is to encourage communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people. The Initiative will award 50 grants of $10,000 each to nonprofit organizations and agencies with innovative programs that help youth, ages 2-20, develop good nutrition and fitness habits. Local organizations that work with children are encouraged to apply, including park districts, health departments, government agencies, Native American tribes, municipal organizations, churches, schools, YMCA’s, Boys & Girls clubs, etc. The application deadline for 2008 is January 15, 2008. Visit the website listed above for more information.

Natural Resources

Grand Victoria Foundation

Grand Victoria Foundation is committed to educating the public about the importance of preserving the land, water and air. We support organizations that: reduce and prevent pollution; preserve, restore, expand and connect natural lands and waterways; implement best land use practices; and increase public awareness of and participation in these issues.