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Playground Grants in Illinois

Active grant programs that fund playgrounds, parks, and recreation projects in Illinois. We re-check the source portal weekly so the list stays current. Source: Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Washington & Jane Smith Community Orland Park
Washington & Jane Smith Community Orland Park — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE L220). Located in Orland Park, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Ywca Metropolitan Chicago
Ywca Metropolitan Chicago — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P270). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Childrens Home Association Of Illinois
Childrens Home Association Of Illinois — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P73Z). Located in Peoria, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Marklund Childrens Home
Marklund Childrens Home — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P73Z). Located in Geneva, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Snowmobile Grant Program
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Boston Ways Mentoring And After School Program Inc
Boston Ways Mentoring And After School Program Inc — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE B01). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Recreational Trails Program
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Inspired Minds Before And After School Care
Inspired Minds Before And After School Care — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P20). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Gibson City Community After School Programs
Gibson City Community After School Programs — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P30). Located in Gibson City, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Ymca Of Metropolitan Chicago
Ymca Of Metropolitan Chicago — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P270). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Gilman Old Boys & Girls Association
Gilman Old Boys & Girls Association — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE S20). Located in Gilman, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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North Park University
North Park University — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE B430). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program
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Illinois Department of Natural Resources
2026 - 2027 Illinois Historic Sites Field Trip Grant
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Lincoln Park Foundation
Lincoln Park Foundation — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE N32). Located in Mt Vernon, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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After School Activities Foundation
After School Activities Foundation — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE O50). Located in Lombard, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Jacksonville Park Foundation
Jacksonville Park Foundation — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE N123). Located in Jacksonville, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Boys & Girls Club Of Decatur
Boys & Girls Club Of Decatur — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE O23Z). Located in Decatur, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Paytons Place Community Playground And Garden
Paytons Place Community Playground And Garden — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE C99). Located in Harvey, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Operation Playground Inc
Operation Playground Inc — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE N20). Located in Frankfort, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Childrens Home & Aid Society Of Illinois
Childrens Home & Aid Society Of Illinois — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P200). Located in Chicago, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Gramercy Park Foundation
Gramercy Park Foundation — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE N32Z). Located in East Dubuque, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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Congerville Eureka Goodfield Community Youth Recreation Associa
Congerville Eureka Goodfield Community Youth Recreation Associa — Foundation Grant Opportunity
Foundation surfaced via ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer NTEE-classification sweep (NTEE P20). Located in Eureka, IL. Auto-promoted: organization name matches playground/parks/youth/recreation keywords.
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76 more grants available — use the matcher to filter by your project type and budget.

Frequently asked questions about Illinois playground grants

Who can apply for playground grants in Illinois?

Most Illinois grants are open to public agencies (school districts, parks departments, municipalities), 501(c)(3) nonprofits, and tribal entities. A handful are restricted to specific county types or census-designated places. Each grant card above lists eligibility — the matcher narrows the list to programs your specific organization type qualifies for.

How much can I get from a Illinois playground grant?

Illinois programs typically award between $10,000 and $250,000, with a few capital programs going higher. Most require a 1:1 local match, though some allow in-kind contributions to count. Click into any grant above to see its specific award range and match requirements.

What's the difference between state and federal playground grants?

State grants like the ones above tend to have shorter application windows, smaller award ranges, and stricter geographic eligibility (you must be in Illinois). Federal grants — Land & Water Conservation Fund, CDBG, etc. — award more but have longer review cycles and more competitive applicant pools. We surface both in the grant matcher.

Do you help with the Illinois grant application?

Yes. When you're applying for a grant that includes our equipment, we provide a Grant-Ready Documentation Package free of charge: formatted equipment quote, ADA compliance notes, site layout sketch, and a validity letter on our letterhead that grant reviewers expect. Submit a quote request to start.

Already applying for a Illinois grant?

We'll send you a free Grant-Ready Documentation Package — formatted quote, ADA compliance notes, site layout sketch, and validity letter — within 48 hours. Reviewers expect to see these.

Request Grant Documentation Package