Illinois Public Radio and Television
🏛 Illinois Arts Council Agency
✓ Free, no account · Source: Illinois GATA Catalog (CSFA) · Last verified Aug 1, 2026
Can you apply?
This grant is for public radio and television stations in Illinois. Only Illinois-licensed, locally operated public broadcasting stations are eligible. The station must use funds for operating and maintaining broadcast services, not for real property purchases, depreciation, or parent organization overhead. Funds cannot supplant other revenue sources.
⚖️ Cost sharing / matching required — applicants must contribute their own funds.
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Program description
IAC grant funds enable the people of Illinois to have access to locally operated Public Radio and Television stations that provide unique services to their communities, including local productions, arts programming, educational outreach and local and regional news. Enable the people of Illinois to have access to locally operated public radio and television stations that provide unique services to their communities. The use of grant funds by an Illinois Public Broadcasting Station is not restricted to a specific purpose. The station, however must comply with the statutory provisions which require that the funds received from the State of Illinois do not supplant or cause to be reduced any other sources of funding for the station. The funds are to be used solely for the benefit of a public broadcasting station and are not for general institutional overhead or parent organization expenses. Generally, the funds should be used for the cost of operating and maintaining a public broadcasting station. Funds cannot be used for long-term investments or purchases of real property such as land or buildings or related depreciation expenses.
Operating cost cannot include the costs of acquiring real property, depreciation on real property, production costs underwritten by public broadcasting entities, costs attributable to instructional activities of the educational institution, whether on closed circuit or not, costs of operating a commercial (profit-making) business enterprise, including a for-profit subsidiary, and all in-kind expenses related to the above. Beneficiaries: State of Illinois residents Administered by the Illinois Arts Council Agency via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 503-00-0892).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
How to apply
Application links
Key dates & requirements
Required documents
- Application form (via Illinois GATA portal)
- Operating budget and budget narrative
- Documentation of current revenue sources
- Station organizational information
- Description of local programming and community services
Program contact
- 👤 Sandra Velazquez
- 📧 sandra.velazquez@illinois.gov
Funding history
Annual funding for this program — Illinois state appropriations. How funding has trended year over year.
| 2020 | $1,507,100 | |
| 2021 | $1,507,100 | |
| 2022 | $1,507,100 | |
| 2023 | $1,507,100 | |
| 2024 | $1,657,800 | |
| 2025 | $1,657,800 | |
| 2026 | $1,657,800 | |
| 2027 | $1,657,800 |
FAQ
Who can apply for this grant?
Only Illinois-licensed public radio and television stations can apply. Commercial broadcasters and for-profit enterprises are ineligible.
What can the funding be used for?
Funds support operating costs, local production, educational outreach, and regional news. They cannot be used for real property purchases, depreciation, or parent organization expenses.
Can funds replace other revenue sources?
No. Grant funds must supplement—not reduce—other funding sources for the station.
Is there a deadline?
The program uses rolling acceptance. Check with the Illinois Arts Council Agency for specific submission windows.
What is the funding range?
Awards typically range from $9,000 to $43,000, depending on station size and need.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Document all current revenue sources to prove funds will supplement, not replace, existing support.
- Focus your narrative on local productions, educational programming, and community service.
- Include a detailed operating budget showing how grant funds will be allocated.
- Avoid including real property, depreciation, or parent organization costs in your proposal.
- Contact the Illinois Arts Council Agency early to confirm rolling deadline windows for your submission.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Proposing to use funds for real property purchases or depreciation. Failing to document that funds supplement rather than replace existing revenue. Including parent organization overhead or general institutional costs.
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