Federal Grant Support Program
🏛 Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Jun 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for Illinois-based organizations seeking to fund the matching share of competitive federal grant applications. Nonprofits, businesses, educational institutions, and government entities can apply. The state match funding must be used to meet federal matching requirements on other federal grants. Projects should align with Illinois economic development goals and priorities.
Organizations must identify a specific federal grant opportunity they are pursuing. The state funding covers the non-federal share (match) required by the federal program. Applicants need strong alignment with state economic development priorities to be competitive.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
Not the right fit? Find grants for your organization in 5 questions →
Program description
The State of Illinois benefits economically when federal funds are invested in Illinois, and receiving an adequate amount of federal funding ensures that Illinois residents and businesses are getting a sufficient return on their federal taxes paid. However, Illinois receives less federal grants per person (or per capita) than the average state as well as states similar in population size . Most federal grant funding is distributed by formula, and major factors that affect federal grant funding include Medicaid status, geography, income and poverty levels, demographics, and population. While the state has limited ability to influence the key factors that affect federal formula-based grants, Illinois can take more proactive measures to increase the competitiveness of Illinois-based stakeholders applying for competitive federal grants. Federal grants typically require a match, which is the non-federal share of the project costs that a grantee must contribute to achieve the purposes of the award. The requirements for the match, such as the match percentage and sources, differ by federal agency and program. For example, some grants may require as little as a 20 percent match from the grantee, although it is not uncommon for grants to require a 50 percent match. In some instances, there is no formal matching requirement, although the percentage of the match provided by the grantee is usually used as a metric for evaluating the competitiveness of an application. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO)’s Federal Grant Support Program will make $22 million available to Illinois-based proposals seeking competitive federal grants. This match program will encourage more applicants to apply for federal grant opportunities, provide critical assistance to meet the minimum match eligibility requirements, increase the competitiveness of applications, and provide the State of Illinois with an opportunity to make a firm commitment and demonstration of support for projects that are well aligned with the State’s economic development goals and priorities. The objectives include: 1) more Illinois applicants will be encouraged to apply for federal awards; 2) more Illinois applicants will be able to meet federal matching requirements; 3) grant recipients will have more competitive federal applications; and 4) the State will be able to support projects that are aligned with its economic goals and priorities. This will be achieved by providing state matching funds for federal grant applications. Grants will be used to fund projects that are aligned with the State’s economic development goals and priorities. Information about the Program Specific Uses and Restrictions can be found within the Notice of Funding Opportunity Beneficiaries: Illinois awardees of federal grant applications Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 420-35-3073).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (specific DCEO form required)
- Description of target federal grant and match requirements
- Project budget with federal and state allocations
- Documentation of alignment with Illinois economic development goals
Program contact
- 👤 Chad Phillips
- 📧 CEO.FedGrantMatch@illinois.gov
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Illinois state appropriations. How funding has trended year over year.
| 2022 | $1 | |
| 2023 | $15,000,000 | |
| 2024 | $15,000,000 | |
| 2026 | $5,000,000 |
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply for this matching funds program?
Illinois-based organizations applying for competitive federal grants can apply. This includes nonprofits, businesses, schools, and government agencies.
What are the funds used for?
These state funds pay the matching share required by federal grant programs. You must be pursuing a specific federal grant opportunity.
What is the typical award range?
Awards range from $10,000 to $2,000,000, depending on your federal grant's match requirements.
How competitive is this program?
Very competitive. Your project must align with Illinois economic development priorities to stand out.
Is there a deadline?
The program operates on a rolling basis with no specific deadline listed. Check with DCEO for current application windows.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Identify your target federal grant first. You must have a specific federal opportunity in mind before applying.
- Clearly document the federal grant requirements and match percentage needed. This shows you understand the funding landscape.
- Demonstrate strong alignment with Illinois economic development goals. Weak connection to state priorities will hurt competitiveness.
- Prepare detailed budget showing federal and state contributions separately. Clarity helps reviewers assess feasibility.
- Start early. Rolling deadlines can close quickly if funding is competitive.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Applications lack clear connection to a specific federal grant opportunity. Weak alignment with Illinois state economic development priorities. Incomplete budget documentation or unclear federal/state cost allocation.
Similar grants
- OPEN SBIR/STTR Match Program — Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- ROLLING Community Development Block Grant Economic Development Program — Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- ROLLING Small Business Development Centers — Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity
- OPEN FY27 Federal Senior Companion Program Grant State Match — Illinois Department on Aging
- ROLLING C-SWG – Competitive State Wildlife Grants (FY25) — Illinois Department of Natural Resources