GRANTS PROGRAM
The Illinois Audubon Society Grants Program was establish to promote scientific research of birds in Illinois. More than 158 grants totaling greater than $190,000 have been awarded.
Congratulations to our 2026 Grants Program Awardees.
Substantial support for the 2026 Grants Program contributed by:
Christine G. Zeman
Elizabeth Crown and Bill Wallace
Bob Andrini Memorials
DuPage Birding Club
Lake-Cook Audubon Chapter
Illinois Audubon Society is committed to continuing this successful program and is seeking donations to help sustain and grow the amount of funds we are able to award each year. Donations of $1,000 or more will be named as sponsors each year.
CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR the Grants Program
The 2007 Grants Award Program will open on February 1, 2027
The program is open to student and professional applicants. Projects must relate to research on birds while they reside in the geographic boundary of Illinois to qualify. Preference will be given to strong proposals that address at least one of the following:
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- The conservation and long-term persistence of declining species, those listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, or those included on the Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Fauna
- Focus on data-deficient species (e.g., hard-to-detect or historically understudied species)
- Investigate important unanswered questions in avian biology
Grant recipients must agree to publish an article in an IAS publication. In addition to funding, awardees will receive a free, one-year membership to Illinois Audubon Society.
APPLICATION SUBMISSION DETAILS
Applicants will be required to submit an online application and upload a project proposal.
WE WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS ON FEBRUARY 1, 2027
Questions? Contact Matt Hayes
2026 Grants Program Awards
Peter Goodspeed
Amount Awarded: 10000
The Wetlands Initiative
Assessing Habitat Variables That Influence Marsh Bird Habitat Preference In A Restored Wetland Along The Illinois River
Annika Abbott
Amount Awarded: 5000
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Identifying High-Quality Migratory Stopover Habitat In Fragmented Landscapes
Marquette Mutchler
Amount Awarded: 4650
University of Chicago & Field Museum of Natural History
Dynamic Genes and Feathered Signals in the Northern Cardinal
Anant Deshwal
Amount Awarded: 4150
Bradley University
Climate Change Induced Shift In The Migration Phenology Of Partial-Migrants
Holly Coates
Amount Awarded: 2500
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Thriving Or Just Surviving? Using Blood Metabolites To Assess Nutritional State Of Forest Bird Communities In Illinois
Mia Larrieu
Amount Awarded: 2500
Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Analyzing Nestling Diet Of Cavity-Nesting Birds Using Fecal DNA Metabarcoding
Olivia Oldham
Amount Awarded: 2500
Illinois State University
Agression And Extra-Pair Ppternity: Do Mean Males Make More Young?
Hannah Grushon
Amount Awarded: 1200
Illinois Natural History Survey; University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Investigating Grassland Bird Nest Predation And Habitat Use Across A Gradient Of Woody Encroachment Intensity