The Illinois Nurses Foundation Grant Program is officially open, with a redesigned program and simplified application process to make it easier for nurses to move promising ideas forward.
INF has updated the License Plate Grant Program to create clearer funding pathways for projects at different stages of development. Whether you are testing an early idea, implementing a practice improvement project, developing an educational initiative, or conducting nursing research, there is an opportunity to apply for funding.
What’s New?
The redesigned program includes a simplified application process, three distinct grant categories, and clearer funding options based on the scope and stage of your project.
Seed Grants: Up to $500
Have an idea you want to explore?
Seed Grants support early-stage projects and preliminary work, including pilot projects, feasibility studies, preliminary data collection, small demonstration projects, and the development of ideas that could grow into larger initiatives.
Successful Seed Grant recipients remain eligible to apply for future Small or Large Grants.
Small Grants: Up to $1,500
Ready to put an idea into practice?
Small Grants support projects focused on nursing practice, quality improvement, education, leadership, work environments, and patient care. Eligible applicants include clinicians, APRNs, nurse administrators, nurse educators, and nurses enrolled in RN to BSN, graduate, or doctoral programs.
Large Grants: Up to $5,000
Planning a project with broader impact?
Large Grants support nursing research, quality improvement projects, educational initiatives, leadership development, new approaches to care delivery, collaborative research, interdisciplinary projects, and multi-institutional initiatives.
Who Should Apply?
INF encourages Illinois nurses and nursing students with ideas that advance nursing practice, education, leadership, research, work environments, or patient care to consider applying.
The lead applicant, principal investigator, or project manager must be an Illinois resident. Projects submitted through healthcare or educational organizations must have an organizational presence in Illinois.
Applications are reviewed using standardized criteria through a fair and impartial review process.
Apply for the October Funding Cycle
Applications will be accepted through October 20, 2026.
Grant awards will be finalized by the end of the year.
If you have been waiting for funding to launch a project, collect preliminary data, improve nursing practice, strengthen patient care, or advance nursing research, we encourage you to explore the opportunities available through INF.
Explore grant opportunities, review the requirements, and apply here:
https://www.illinoisnurses.foundation/grant_opportunities/
Your idea has the potential to strengthen nursing across Illinois. We look forward to seeing what Illinois nurses are ready to accomplish.