Grants

Investing in ideas. Empowering impact.

We provide funding to organizations, educators, and innovators driving meaningful STEM change across the Chicago Metro Area.

No grants are open for this year. Applications for the next cycle open in January 2027. Tell us what you are working on now and we will email you when they do.

Get notified when applications open
A team of researchers and educators in discussion around a table

Education grants

Supporting STEM learning and curriculum. Next cycle: $5,000–$50,000.

How to apply

Research grants

Advancing innovation and discovery. Next cycle: $25,000–$150,000.

How to apply

Community grants

Strengthening impact where it matters most. Next cycle: up to $25,000.

How to apply

How a grant moves

From first conversation to funded work takes about twelve weeks. Here is how the 2027 cycle will run.

  1. Discover

    Now through December 2026. Read the guidelines and book a call to check your project is a fit.

  2. Apply

    January 2027. Submit a short proposal, a budget, and one page on the community you serve.

  3. Review

    February to March 2027. Our panel of educators and researchers reads every application.

  4. Award

    April 2027. Funds are released in two instalments, with no restrictions on overheads.

  5. Impact

    We check in twice a year — a conversation, not a compliance exercise.

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Who we fund

Nonprofits, schools, research teams, and community groups working anywhere in Cook, DuPage, Lake, Will, Kane, or McHenry county.

We especially welcome first-time applicants and organizations without a dedicated grants writer. If the paperwork is the barrier, tell us — we will help you through it.

Next cycle

Applications open January 2027. Decisions by April 2027, with funds released shortly after.

Nothing is open before then, including community grants — we would rather say so plainly than have you spend a weekend on a proposal that has nowhere to go.

Ask to join the notification list and you will hear from us first.