IFB Rural Development Grant Program FAQs
Q: How much funding is available?
A: Illinois Farm Bureau (IFB) will award a TOTAL of $120,000 for rural development grants. To be clear, this is $120,000 in TOTAL to be spread across multiple grant awards.
Q: Is there a minimum or maximum funding amount I can apply for?
A: No. However, IFB’s intent is to award multiple grants, not just one or a few large ones. Last year, grant awards ranged from $1,300 to $10,000. Amounts may vary but we want to emphasize that we will have multiple grantees again this year.
Q: Will you continue to allocate grant dollars specifically for emergency services projects?
A: Yes. While the largest amount of grant dollars will support rural community and economic development projects, we know the importance of farmers and rural communities having access to emergency services as well as for emergency service providers to have the appropriate equipment necessary for situations they may encounter in agricultural areas. Having access to emergency services when needed improves the quality of life for all residents and we will once again allocate 20 percent of the grant funding to support emergency services projects.
Q: When does the grant application open and close?
A: We will accept grant applications from October 1 – December 1, 2025.
Q: When will I know if I am selected as a grant recipient?
A: We anticipate being able to notify all applicants of their status by no later than February 20, 2026.
Q: How will the funding be disbursed to grant recipients?
A: Grant funding will flow to the county Farm Bureau (CFB) making or supporting the application and they can then disburse it to the partner(s) leading the project as appropriate.
Q: Do I need to work with my CFB in order to apply?
A: Yes. A CFB can choose to apply directly but all other applicants should contact their local CFB to speak with them about the project and to request the JotForm link to the grant application. We encourage CFBs to be involved and engaged with funded projects in the county. Please note that we will not fund any projects the CFB is not aware of or does not endorse. Once we receive an application, we do verify with the local CFB that the applicant has been in touch with them and that the CFB is supportive of the proposed project.
Q: What if my project will impact multiple counties?
A: In situations like this, please contact the CFB in the county in which you are located first. However, if you plan to reference other CFBs on your application, we ask that you contact them as well to inform them of the project and seek their endorsement. Keep in mind that CFBs outside of your county may have applicants from their county that they are also interested in endorsing. However, CFBs can choose to endorse multiple projects.
Q: What is considered rural?
A: There are many definitions of rural, including multiple ones used at the federal and state levels. Generally, if your community, county or project meets any of these definitions, you are eligible for this grant.
Q: Who is eligible to apply?
A: Generally, the rural development grants are open to county Farm Bureaus, units of local government, economic development organizations, non-profits and/or community groups, and small businesses. These are the most common applicants, although others may be considered based on the proposed project.
Q: Are entities based/headquartered outside of Illinois eligible to apply if the project will be done in Illinois?
A: No, you must be located in Illinois in order to apply for a grant through this program.
Q: What types of projects are eligible for this grant?
A: We continue to take a broad approach on project types as we do not want to stifle new and innovative ideas. Ultimately, we are looking for projects that will meet a need in a community, county or rural area. Examples could include projects focused on attracting businesses, fostering entrepreneurship, providing access to fresh foods, improving infrastructure, increasing healthcare access, expanding recreational opportunities, expanding available housing, developing tourism, enhancing emergency services support (such as fire, EMS, police, etc.) or other projects that positively impact farmers and residents.
Q: Do you have examples of the projects that were funded last year?
A: Yes. There are links to news articles about last year’s rural development grants on the grant webpage, which can be found here: Rural Development Grant Program | Illinois Farm Bureau (ilfb.org). However, please remember that we are open to other types of projects as noted in the previous question.
Q: What else should a potential applicant keep in mind before/when applying?
A: We will be putting more emphasis on projects that are ready to move forward and are not overly dependent on other external factors outside of the applicant’s control. If your project is still more than a year out from moving forward, you may want to wait until a future grant cycle to apply. If your project is dependent on other funding besides this grant, it will be important to explain on the application the likelihood and timeline for receiving those funds. In addition, we generally do not fund annual operating expenses as these do not make a long-term, ongoing impact and this grant program is not designed to fund them year after year. If your project will require ongoing funding beyond this grant, it will be important to explain on the application how you plan to sustain the project in future years.
Q: Are matching funds required?
A: No. This grant can be used without matching funds to support a project, or it can be combined with other funding sources for projects that are larger in scope. However, if you are able to use this grant to leverage or generate matching funds, that is great. If county Farm Bureaus want to also provide financial support, they have the option to do so but it is not required for the grant.
Q: Will you accept a multi-year project?
A: We are unable to commit to multi-year funding. However, you can apply for funding each grant cycle for an ongoing and/or multi-year project.
Q: What if my community or county wants to create a strategic plan and needs financial resources to do so?
A: We will consider grant applications for funding to support the development of a strategic plan. In addition, while this is not the only option, we encourage you to contact the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University to learn more about their MAPPING the Future of Your Community Program. This program focuses on “strategic visioning, planning and doing” while utilizing the community’s strengths and building community support. Learn more at MAPPING the Future – Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (iira.org).
Q: What will be required for the grant impact reporting?
A: The impact report will ask for a summary of the completed project and the impact it is having to date. It will also ask you to confirm or update the details outlined in the application such as the participants, engagement, and other relevant information. In addition, there is an option to provide feedback on the grant program. Lastly, there is an opportunity to provide pictures of the project, copies of any media coverage, etc. as this is helpful for us to have available to share when needed.
Q: When is the grant impact report due?
A: Grant impact reports will be due within 30 days of the project being completed or by December 15, 2026. Please see the next question for additional information.
Q: What if my project is one that needs a longer period of time to be completed due to the size or complexity of the project?
A: If the project is going to extend beyond the grant impact reporting due date, please be sure to indicate the specific timeline and planned steps as requested in the application. In place of a grant impact report, we will request a project status update be submitted by December 15, 2026, followed by a full grant impact report within 30 days of the project being completed.
Q. Who should I contact if I have additional questions?
A: Your local county Farm Bureau is the first point of contact, and a directory can be found here: Directory | Illinois Farm Bureau (ilfb.org). For additional assistance, you may also email RDgrants@ilfb.org.