News & Insights

The Lumpkin Family Foundation’s Nature-Based Climate Action Program (NBCA), recently awarded 13 new and responsive grants in the East Central Illinois area, totaling $361,000.

Among those, the Urbana Park District was awarded a project grant to support the restoration of the McCullough Creek stream corridor in Meadowbrook Park in Urbana. The park district will remove invasive species and plant native trees and shrubs to improve the stream water quality, improve the wildlife habitat, and create additional nature education opportunities for the community.

Please visit our grantee database for a list of 2025 recipients.

Through the Nature-Based Climate Action (NBCA) program, LFF seeks measurable environmental impact in the form of carbon drawdown and habitat restoration. We welcome applications that increase community engagement and support for action to combat climate change, promote policy change, contribute to climate science, or model action for other organizations and communities.

Successful proposals may include the following actions:

• Purchases of targeted land tracts for restoration or preservation of high plant diversity that may greatly increase carbon capture;
• Large-scale carbon farming demonstrations using trees, prairie or wetlands that monitor drawdown and contribute to climate science;
• Projects that activate communities, stimulate media coverage, and encourage greater understanding of climate change by the public;
• Tree planting projects in small cities and towns;
• Large-scale demonstrations of regenerative agriculture directed at advancing policy or supporting market-based change like the creation of a viable carbon market.

(Photo: Grand Prairie Friends)