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Special Wildlife Funds Illinois Habitat Fund
CSFA Number: 422-20-1090
Agency Name
Department Of Natural Resources (422)
Agency Identification
Department of Natural Resources
Agency Contact
Susan Duke
217-785-4416
susan.duke@illinois.gov
Short Description
The Illinois Habitat Fund provides grants to appropriate not-for-profit organizations and to governmental entities for projects designated exclusively for the stewardship, preservation and maintenance of high-quality habitat lands.
Federal Authorization
Not Applicable. These are state special funds.
Illinois Statue Authorization
520 ILCS 25/15
Illinois Administrative Rules Authorization
TITLE 17: CONSERVATION CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCHAPTER g: GRANTS PART 3060 SPECIAL WILDLIFE FUNDS GRANT PROGRAM SECTION 3060.30 ILLINOIS HABITAT FUND GRANT PROGRAM https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/017/017030600000300R.html
Objective
Grant funding through this Fund supports activities and programs undertaken by land managers to preserve, protect, acquire, manage, and maintain high quality habitat.
Prime Recipient
Yes
UGA Program Terms
Grant funding through this Fund supports activities and programs undertaken by land managers to preserve, protect, acquire, manage, and maintain high quality habitat for future generations. Goals include improving habitat quality and connectivity. Habitat can be characterized by such parameters as type, native diversity, size, structure, scarcity, and location. Connectivity is defined as linkage with neighboring habitat, whether existing or potential. Illinois’ habitat includes all wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, and agricultural lands, natural or altered, that support or have the potential to support populations of wild animals in any or all phases of their life cycles.
Eligible Applicants
Government Organizations; Education Organizations; Nonprofit Organizations;
Applicant Eligibility
1) Eligible recipients are limited to managers of land. 2) Eligible projects are limited to those seeking to preserve, protect, acquire or manage habitat in Illinois.
Beneficiary Eligibility
1) Eligible recipients are limited to managers of land. 2) Eligible projects are limited to those seeking to preserve, protect, acquire or manage habitat in Illinois.
Types of Assistance
Project Grants
Subject / Service Area
Quality of Natural, Cultural, and Environmental Resources
Credentials / Documentation
Applicant must be registered in the GATA portal.
Preapplication Coordination
The Illinois Habitat Advisory Committee (520 ILCS 25/30) shall review and recommend all allocation of funds from the State Habitat Fund, with the exception of revenue derived from the sale of Sportsmen Series license plates. Guided by Administrative Rule (17 Ill. Adm. Code, Chapter I, Sec. 3060) Special Wildlife Funds Grant Program.
Application Procedures
Apply Online https://il.amplifund.com/Public/Opportunities/Details/fa8503eb-c564-4ff4-96a2-b56a4f67988b
Criteria Selecting Proposals
The Illinois Habitat Fund Advisory Committee shall evaluate each application presented to it according to criteria such as: past grant performance of the applicant, eligibility, feasibility, adverse impacts, quality of the proposed habitat, priority of the Department, the applicant's cost-share match and the applicant's plan for general public access to and/or use of the proposed habitat development or equipment purchase. The Committee shall provide to the Director all eligible applications and a prioritized list of recommended projects deemed to be consistent with the purposes of the Illinois Habitat Fund.
Award Procedures
This is a reimbursement based grant.
Deadlines
Must apply from July 1 thru August 1 per admin rules.
Range of Approval or Disapproval Time
This grant award usually takes three to six months after application until the awarded grantees have a signed grant agreement in hand.
Appeals
Merit-Based Review Appeals Process In compliance with GATA, applicants have the right to appeal the evaluation process but not the evaluation score. More information is available at: http://ilga.gov/commission/JCAR/admincode/044/044070000D03500R.html
Renewals
Grant time extensions must be requested 30 days prior to the ending of the grant agreement.
Formula Matching Requirements
Match is not required, but does make a grant application more competitive in the proposal selection process.
Uses and Restrictions
Projects are limited to those seeking to preserve, protect, acquire or manage habitat in IL. Kinds of Projects Ineligible for Grants include education projects and the purchase or lease of a vehicle such as a truck. UTVs and side by sides will be considered for funding as equipment. Food plots are not funded as standalone projects.
Reports
There are required quarterly reports and a completion final report. Grantee required to report on annual use of equipment (with value of $500 or more) purchased with grant funds for 5 years following completion of grant.
Audits
If the grantee has an annual audit it must be uploaded into the GATA portal.
Records
The grantee shall keep adequate records relating to its administration of a project, particularly relating to all incurred costs. All assets acquired through Special Wildlife Funds shall be accounted for. These records shall be available for audit by appropriate personnel of the Department and the State Auditor General. All records shall be retained in accordance with State laws.
Account Identification
Paid from the Illinois Habitat Fund, a special fund whose revenue source is the sale of Habitat Stamps to outdoors people seeking hunting or fishing permits.
Obligations
All grants are obligated at the Comptroller's Office.
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$10,000 to $300,000
Program Accomplishments
https://dnr.illinois.gov/grants/special-wildlife-funds-grant-program.html
Regulations, Guidelines, and Literature
TITLE 17: CONSERVATION CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCHAPTER g: GRANTS PART 3060 SPECIAL WILDLIFE FUNDS GRANT PROGRAM SECTION 3060.30 ILLINOIS HABITAT FUND GRANT PROGRAM https://www.ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/017/017030600000300R.html
Regional or Local Assistance Location
n/a
Headquarters Office
One Natural Resources Way, Springfield Illinois 62702
Program Website
https://dnr.illinois.gov/grants/habitat-funding-opportunity.html
Example Projects
FY23 Awards https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/documents/directors-habitat-stamp-memo-fy23.pdf FY22 Awards https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/documents/directors-habitat-stamp-memo-fy22.pdf FY21 Awards https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/documents/directors-habitat-stamp-memo-fy21.pdf
Published Date
7/1/2023
Funding By Fiscal Year
FY 2015 : $285,555
FY 2019 : $4,000,000
FY 2020 : $1,000,000
FY 2021 : $1,000,000
FY 2022 : $500,000
FY 2023 : $361,000
Federal Funding
None
Notice of Funding Opportunities
Agency IDAward RangeApplication Range
Agency IDGrantee NameStart DateEnd DateAmount
H24023Pheasants Forever, Inc.01/01/202412/31/2025234,565
H25013Shawnee Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc.10/09/202410/08/2026221,722
H25004Pheasants Forever, Inc.11/04/202411/03/2026201,607
H24028Shawnee Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc.11/01/202311/01/2025191,453
Pheasants Forever, Inc.01/01/202308/31/2025180,451