Higher Education Grant Funders in Illinois
1887 foundations with a documented higher education focus have made grants to Illinois nonprofits in recent years, together directing $1.9B to organizations across the state. Below are the most active — every funder links to a public funder overview, and Bespoke Grants will match all 1887 against your nonprofit's specific mission. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
Most active higher education funders in Illinois
| # | Funder | Based in | Total Illinois giving | Grants | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Illinois Foundation | Illinois | $1.1B | 12 | 2023 |
| 2 | The Chicago Community Trust | Illinois | $59.7M | 216 | 2023 |
| 3 | Northern Illinois University Foundation | Illinois | $33.0M | 7 | 2025 |
| 4 | Crown Family Foundation | Illinois | $32.6M | 3 | 2024 |
| 5 | Fulk Family Foundation Inc | Illinois | $27.3M | 30 | 2025 |
| 6 | Robert R Mccormick Foundation | Illinois | $21.7M | 36 | 2024 |
| 7 | The Andrew W Mellon Foundation | New York | $14.3M | 23 | 2024 |
| 8 | Sigma Chi Foundation | Illinois | $13.5M | 7 | 2023 |
| 9 | Illinois State University Foundation | Illinois | $13.4M | 2 | 2023 |
| 10 | Srcco | North Carolina | $12.7M | 2 | 2024 |
| 11 | Aileen S Andrew Foundation | Illinois | $9.1M | 3 | 2024 |
| 12 | Deloitte Foundation | Connecticut | $8.7M | 6 | 2025 |
| 13 | College of Lake County Foundation | Illinois | $8.7M | 5 | 2023 |
| 14 | Walter Family Foundation Inc | Illinois | $8.3M | 13 | 2024 |
| 15 | Friends of Mchenry County College | Illinois | $8.2M | 18 | 2024 |
This list is ranked by size. Yours should be ranked by fit.
The funders above are the biggest higher education funders in Illinois — not necessarily the right ones for you. Bespoke Grants ranks all 1887 against your nonprofit's actual mission, service area, and budget, and shows you why each one matches. One lifetime free search includes up to three sourced matches; further searches and the full workflow are $19/month. No credit card is needed for the preview.
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