Illinois Small Business Grants & Funding Programs
Illinois supports small businesses through the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), Intersect Illinois, and numerous local programs. Chicago and other major cities offer additional grant opportunities for entrepreneurs.
DCEO Programs
The Illinois DCEO offers various grant programs including the Advantage Illinois program, Small Business Development Loan program, and industry-specific incentives for manufacturing and technology companies.
Chicago Business Grants
Chicago offers numerous small business programs including the Chicago Small Business Resiliency Fund, Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, and various TIF district incentives for qualifying businesses.
Regional Programs
Illinois regions outside Chicago have their own economic development programs. Intersect Illinois can connect businesses with regional grants, tax incentives, and workforce training funds.
Illinois Business Grants
120 grants found
Biological Oceanography
The U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support biological oceanography research.
NSF Dynamic Language Infrastructure - NEH Documenting Endangered Languages
The U.S. National Science Foundation is accepting applications for grants to support language infrastructure and documentation.
Rauschenberg Medical Emergency Grant
Provides up to $5,000 in funding to artists experiencing recent, unexpected medical, dental, or mental health emergencies.
Zoom Solopreneur 50
A national recognition program supporting independent entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of work.
Intuit QuickBooks x Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program
The Intuit QuickBooks and Mailchimp Small Business Hero Program awards $20,000 grants to U.S. small businesses with owners aged 18 or older that show courage, perseverance, and integrity.
Dare To Post Challenge
The Dare To Post Challenge offers a $100,000 prize pool split evenly among eligible creators who complete a 30-day daily posting challenge on Instagram.
Cultivate Small Business
Santander's Cultivate Small Business program is a free, 12-week virtual training initiative designed to support early-stage food entrepreneurs, with a focus on underserved founders in low- to moderate-income communities.
The UPS Store Small Biz Challenge
The 2026 UPS Store Small Biz Challenge offers entrepreneurs the chance to win a grand prize, including a cash award from the $35,000 prize pool and a spotlight in Inc. magazine.
The Mott Million Dollar Challenge
The Mott Million Dollar Challenge is a national pitch competition offering a share of $1 million in prizes to support innovative, real-world problem-solving ideas created by students in grades K–12.
Skip's $10,000 2026 Kickoff Grants
The Skip's $10,000 2026 Kickoff Grants offer funding to support U.S.-based entrepreneurs and small business owners.
AAUW Career Development Grants
The AAUW Career Development Grants offer up to $8,000 to help women take the next step in their STEM careers.
The Kitty Fund
The Kitty Fund will award a total of $20,000 to 20 small business owners who identify as mothers through the Kitty Fund Mompreneur Business Grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about business grants in Illinois