| Community Foundation of Northern IL

Support the causes you care about the most.
Through the power of endowment, your gift makes a deep impact -- forever!

Ways to Give

If you’re a nonprofit seeking a grant for your project
or a student looking for educational support,
you’re in the right place.

Grant & Scholarship Opportunities

Donate

Whether you donate to an existing endowment or create your own, be assured that your passion is our purpose.

Ways to Give

Grants

Support for charitable activities that benefit the people and places of northern Illinois. Over $1.4M is distributed each year through the Community Grants Program alone!

View CFNIL Grant Programs

Scholarships

90+ Unique Scholarships, nearly $300K in awards, just ONE Application! Application open December 1 - February 1.

View CFNIL Scholarships

News

Check out what's new and coming soon at CFNIL!

Read What's Happening

MembersAlliance Community Impact Fund; A New Corporate Giving Program

Today MembersAlliance launched their new corporate giving program called - MembersAlliance Community Impact Fund.

Learn More and Give

Give to Support Connor's Second Chance

Today the family of Connor Creighton White established an endowment named "Connor's Second Chance" to honor Connor's legacy of love.

Learn More and Give

background of bright lego blocks. Text reads: Building our Future: 2022 CFNIL Scholarship Class

Announcing the 2022 CFNIL Scholarship Recipients

The 2022 CFNIL Scholarship awards have been announced! 180 awards worth over $370,000 to local students. Learn more about the 2022 CFNIL Scholars.

Learn more about the 2022 CFNIL Scholars

Background of blue and yellow signifying the flag of Ukraine. Text reads: Brovary, Ukraine Relief Fund: Support for the people of Rockford's sister city

Support Our Sister City

Responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine by supporting the needs of the people of Brovary, Ukraine, sister city to Rockford.

Learn More

Endowment: The Power of Perseverence

“We’re focused on endowment because we’re long term thinkers. Some of the seeds we plant are not going to come up for eight years, so it was not a struggle for us to imagine that we should start planning now for what the needs might be in ten or twenty years.” -- Bernie Buchholz, Friends of Nachusa Grasslands, which established an Agency Endowment Fund with CFNIL in 2014

Learn more about how CFNIL works