Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission Grants Program
Fiscal Year 2008
Download the .pdf application here
Abraham Lincoln lived over 30 years of his life in the State of Illinois, leaving his hometown of Springfield to assume the duties as the country’s 16th President. To commemorate the life of Lincoln, the Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will offer grants in celebration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. Illinois possesses a unique collection of historic sites directly related to Abraham Lincoln – sites reflecting his involvement and commitment as a citizen of our State from boyhood to adulthood.
Types of Projects Considered for Funding
The Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission will provide financial assistance to organizations and institutions offering programs that demonstrate Lincoln’s Illinois heritage and gain the maximum impact and outreach. It is the Commission’s priority to support programs developed by, for, or aimed at the Lincoln-related communities and historic sites in Illinois and to assist in creating a positive economic impact on these communities and the State of Illinois.
These grants are available to historical, educational, arts and cultural organizations and institutions, museums, local communities and municipalities, nonprofit institutions and governmental agencies and will focus on Education, Interpretation and Special Events. These are at the core of the statewide bicentennial celebration.
Grants will focus on five initiatives that hold special promise for outreach to the many Lincoln related Illinois communities. Special consideration will be given to proposals with at least one-to-one match of cash or in-kind contributions and also to projects having a lasting impact on their communities and the State of Illinois.
- The Rural Program Initiative – targeting communities of 2,500 or less to assist in programmatic opportunities
- The School Program Initiative – aiming to bring the bicentennial to the schools in Illinois.
- The Public Program Initiative – seeking to support educational programs presented by community organizations, colleges, universities, libraries, museums, and other educational, arts and cultural organizations and institutions in Illinois.
- The Legacy Projects Initiative – intending to create visible public legacies of the bicentennial celebration including enhancements to existing public monuments or sites and to preserve and protect important Lincoln artifacts and sites for future generations.
- The Historic Sites Interpretation Initiative – designed to support the creation and preservation of live interpretative programs at Lincoln-related sites throughout Illinois.
To Apply
Complete the Application for Funds found on this web site. Pay special attention to the quality of the Lincoln presentation, the work to be accomplished and its lasting effect on Lincoln’s heritage, including a clear statement of expected results, the anticipated tourism effect of this project, a clear definition of the audience this project is reaching and a timetable for project implementation and completion. Submit an original application and 6 copies. Include a detailed budget and provide any matching and/or in kind funding sources, if applicable.
Download the .pdf application here
We will begin accepting grant applications immediately. The deadline for receipt of applications is November 15, 2007, and notification of funding will be on or before January 31, 2008. You may discuss a potential proposal with the Coordinator of the Illinois Bicentennial Commission at (217) 558-9025 or by using the ‘Contact Us’ link of this web site.
Applications may be submitted for review by the Project and Grant Review Committee of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission to:
Illinois Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission
112 North Sixth Street
Springfield, Illinois 62701
Fax: (217) 557-4592
