Agriculture & Food Grants in Illinois

Explore verified institutional foundations, typical award distributions, and active grantmakers supporting food & agriculture programs across Illinois.

Total Capital Deployed
$610.5M

Across 7,974 verified foundation awards

Typical Grant Size
$76,564

Median award for food & agriculture in Illinois

Open to New Applicants
53%

Of active food & agriculture foundations accept unsolicited proposals

Agriculture & Food Grant Funding Landscape in Illinois

Nonprofits focused on Agriculture & Food in Illinois received $610.5M across 7,974 verified foundation grants over recent tax filings. The typical (median) food & agriculture grant in Illinois is $76,564, though awards range from smaller $5,000–$25,000 community programming grants up to multi-million-dollar institutional and endowment commitments.

Major Illinois funders actively supporting food & agriculture initiatives include The Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors INC, The Rockefeller Foundation, alongside national foundations funding Illinois organizations, youth initiatives, and community programs. Of the active institutional grantmakers funding food & agriculture in Illinois, 53% accept unsolicited grant proposals from new applicants, offering immediate funding opportunities for growing 501(c)(3) organizations.

Top Funded Cities in IllinoisBy Total Capital
Chicago85,183 grants awarded
$5.58B
Decatur1,200 grants awarded
$1.98B
Various115 grants awarded
$368.4M
See Attached39 grants awarded
$238.3M
Evanston4,249 grants awarded
$230.5M
Grant Size Distribution TiersBy Grant Count
Grassroots & Seed (<$25,000)77%
Ideal for emerging nonprofits, project pilots, and local programming
Mid-Tier & Capacity ($25K – $100K)15%
Core operational funding, staff expansion, and multi-year programs
Major Endowments ($100,000+)8%
Capital campaigns, statewide initiatives, and major institutional grants
Top Institutional Foundations Funding Agriculture & Food in IllinoisRanked by annual charitable capital distribution • Form 990-PF & Community Foundations
FoundationHeadquartersAnnual GivingTypical GrantApplication StatusAction
The Ford Foundation
EIN: 131684331
New York, NY$844.7M$100KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors INC
EIN: 133615533
New York, NY$275M$100KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
The Rockefeller Foundation
EIN: 131659629
New York, NY$233.2M$171KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Boston Foundation INC
EIN: 042104021
Boston, MA$228.4M$25KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Fjc
EIN: 133848582
New York, NY$41.7M$17KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Fairfield County's Community Foundation
EIN: 061083893
Norwalk, CT$25.7M$24KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
The Argosy Foundation
EIN: 046752868
Milwaukee, WI$16.8M$30KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Ahold Delhaize USA Family Foundation INC
EIN: 061454250
Carlisle, PA$11M$13KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Leon Lowenstein Foundation INC
EIN: 136015951
New Haven, CT$8M$25KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Illinois Children's Healthcare
EIN: 030503425
Oak Brook, IL$6.1M$125KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Food Allergy Research & Education INC
EIN: 133905508
McLean, VA$4.3M$171KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Comic Relief INC
EIN: 010885377
New York, NY$3.7M$510KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Avangrid Foundation INC
EIN: 134200689
Orange, CT$3.2M$20KInvitation OnlyView Profile →
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Foundation
EIN: 113642571
Tampa, FL$1.4M$20KAccepts New ApplicantsView Profile →
Walton Family Foundation INC
EIN: 133441466
Bentonville, AR$1K$650Invitation OnlyView Profile →
Showing verified grantmakers • Commercial DAFs & university endowments excludedView all in Illinois directory →

Frequently Asked Questions About Agriculture & Food Grants in Illinois

How much grant funding is available for food & agriculture in Illinois?

Over $610.5M has been deployed across 7,974 verified foundation grants in Illinois according to recent Form 990-PF and 990 filings.

What is the typical food & agriculture grant size in Illinois?

The median grant award is approximately $76,564. However, local grassroots initiatives often receive $5,000–$25,000, while regional endowments can exceed $250,000+.

Which foundations in Illinois accept unsolicited proposals?

Approximately 53% of verified institutional grantmakers funding food & agriculture in Illinois accept unsolicited applications without a pre-existing relationship.

How can my nonprofit find foundations that match our mission?

Use NPO Grant to analyze peer award ledgers in Illinois, identify foundations with active giving history in your city, and contact verified program officers directly.