Grant Ratings
Grants are rated by the level of difficulty and the applicant's required expertise.
- Limited Grant Experience = L
- Moderate Grant Experience = M
- Expert Grant Experience = E
About the Guide
This list was last updated on November 25, 2025. Please note that not all grants are available to all types of organizations and farms in all locations. Make sure to do your research before applying. Programs supported by federal funds are also subject to change.
Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant (E)
Illinois Specialty Crop Block Grant (E): The Illinois Department of Agriculture receives Specialty Crop Block Grant funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for the Specialty Crop Block Grant - Farm Bill. A portion of those grant funds will be used to fund the Illinois Specialty Crop Grant Program. Through this program Illinois specialty crop projects can apply for grant funds to help increase the competitiveness of the Illinois specialty crop industry. 2024 Awardees Announced.
Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant (E)
Illinois Local Food Infrastructure Grant (E): The Local Food Infrastructure Grant Program will invest in critical infrastructure to scale up the processing, aggregation, and distribution of local food to meet the needs of Illinois communities. The Illinois Department of Agriculture opened the grant for submissions on February 18, 2026 with applications due by March 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM. More information on eligibility, application processes, match requirements and timelines can be found on their website.
Illinois Farm to Food Bank Capacity-Building Grant (E)
Illinois Farm to Food Bank Capacity-Building Grant (E): The Illinois Farm to Food Bank (IL-F2FB) Program, supported by funding from the State of Illinois through the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), provides up to $1.5 million in capacity-building grants to strengthen the infrastructure of Illinois’ local and emergency food systems.
Award range: $1,000 to $100,000 per project
Application opens: February 6, 2026
Application deadline: March 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CST