Today, December 1, is opening day for the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) scholarship application! With just one online application students access over 90 unique scholarships awarding more than $350,000 this year alone. The application, accessed at http://cfnil.org/scholarships will close February 1, 2022. 

Rockford Public Library (RPL), the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL), and Rock Valley College Foundation (RVCF) are excited to announce the tenth annual Community Scholarship Fair will take a new, VIRTUAL format on December 7th at www.scholarshipsni.com, Northern Illinois’ one-stop-shop information source for all things scholarships.

Today the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois announces the opening of the Howard D. Colman Scholarship Program application, which seeks to uplift the legacy of local inventor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Barber-Colman Company, Howard D. Colman.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is now accepting applications for In Youth We Trust (IYWT) grants. For the 2021-2022 school year, IYWT will have two grant cycles: one for proposals written by nonprofit organizations (adults) for the purpose of serving youth, and one for proposals written by youth for youth-led, youth-benefiting projects. The first cycle, for proposals written by nonprofit organizations (adults), opens today and closes at 5:00 p.m. on November 19, 2021.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is proud to announced its partnership with Rockford Promise with a $173,000, two-year grant that will fully fund the unmet tuition needs of the 2021 cohort of Rockford Promise Scholars attending Rock Valley College. The grant will also support the wraparound services, such as individual mentorship, academic advising, and non-tuition expenses, that will ensure that Scholars succeed in their college careers and beyond.

In Youth We Trust Council, the youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, is looking for new members to join the Council for its 27th year! Established with a grant from the Ford Foundation in 1994 and endowed by a local donor, this program teaches grantmaking, volunteerism, and leadership skills to today’s youth, preparing them to be the positive change of tomorrow.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is excited to announce that the Community Grants program application is now open for the 2021 grantmaking cycle.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is excited to announce that the Community Grants program application will open for 2021 on Monday, August 2, 2021.

Renowned around the world for rebuilding, empowering and amplifying communities through basketball, the iconic Hoopbus is set to make a visit to Rockford, Illinois, this summer to cap off a community project that will include the renovation of a local outdoor basketball court and free interactive community event.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is proud to announce that Sabrina Meng has been named the 2021 Howard D. Colman Scholar. Sabrina graduated from the Illinois Math and Science Academy in 2020, and recently finished her freshman year at MIT. She is seeking a degree in Electrical and Biomedical Engineering.

Join us for the 2021 CFNIL Scholarship Award Night! This year 140 students from 28 high schools were awarded 175 scholarships totaling over $335,000. Celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of this year's recipients and the generosity of community members who established these scholarships. Hear testimonials from recipients, encouraging words from special guests, and cheer on the scholars in your family or from your school!

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) and NW HomeStart are proud to announce the recipients of the 2021 Neighborhood Grants Program. The grants will be awarded to 12 neighborhood organizations (listed below) working to improve the quality of life in their communities. The grants are worth $22,000. 

Today two unique, off-cycle scholarships open for applications:

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce its 2021 scholarship recipients: 175 scholarships worth up to $335,874 to local students. The scholarships will support the post-secondary educational aspirations of 140 local students from 28 high schools.

In Youth We Trust, the youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, has announced the recipients of the 2021 IYWT Youth Grants cycle. The IYWT Council awarded one adult- and six youth-led projects $18,850 for the benefit of youth in northern Illinois:

The Polo community has another reason to look forward to summer: starting May 22nd the Polo Public Library will host the third-annual Outdoor Concerts at the Polo Library Pavilion series!  This year the Outdoor Concerts will be supported in part thanks to a $3,000 grant awarded by the Community Arts & Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program. Enjoy this Community Grant in action one Saturday each month in May, June, and July. 

The deadline to apply for the 2021 Neighborhood Grants cycle has been extended to Monday, April 19. NW HomeStart and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) are accepting applications for the Neighborhood Grants Program until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 19. This program is open to neighborhood-based groups and nonprofit organizations operating in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. 

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 6, is Election Day! While a ballot filled with hyper-local races may not get the hype of a state or national election, local boards, councils, and commissions have a deep impact on our day-to-day lives. We encourage every registered voter to make a plan to vote tomorrow! Want to do a little homework or take a look at a sample ballot before heading to the polls? Voters in the City of Rockford: http://voterockford.com

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is hiring! We are looking for an Administrative Assistant to provide administrative, operational, and clerical support to the CFNIL team and strong customer service to a wide range of constituents. Love data management and have an eye for details? This may be the job for you! This is a full time, in-person position requiring minimal previous experience. As an organization which seeks to serve all people and communities of northern Illinois, people from underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

Purpose of 815CRT-ART The purpose of the 815CRT-ART COVID-Response Fund is to provide immediate operational relief to arts and culture organizations to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a competitive grant application process and resources are limited. 815CRT-ART has over $70,000 available for awards, with a goal to provide substantive funding to each recipient; the maximum award per organization is $10,000. 

NW HomeStart and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) are accepting applications for the Neighborhood Grants Program until 5 p.m. on Monday, April 5. This program is open to neighborhood-based groups and nonprofit organizations operating in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties.