Where does one begin the search for grant funding? There is no magic to it—it is plain old research.
One good place to start is Grants.gov—the federal government's website for all federal grants. Grants.gov provides a search engine that lets you enter keywords related to your grant. It presents potential grant programs from various federal agencies that may (or may not) work for your project. It is not perfect, but it is a good start.
Google and other website search engines can help you locate funding sources. Ensure that you include the words "grant" and "higher education" in your searches, along with key subject words.
IRIS is the Illinois state database that includes federal and state programs. The University of Illinois runs it in Urbana-Champaign, and you can access it through Oakton's Library. Also, check the State of Illinois website and the various state agencies at www.illinois.gov. It is not the easiest site to navigate, but persistence can pay off. Directly check the Illinois Community College Board, Illinois Board of Higher Education, and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Private and corporate foundations are another option. If you are familiar with a corporation that you think might have an interest in your project, search on the corporate website for "foundation," "giving," or "community." Corporations and private foundations have strict requirements for what they will fund, and the Grants Office will confirm whether it is likely to be a good fit.