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. 

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2021 Blanche Martin Mini Grant (BMMG) Awards. The BMMG program was established by the Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society International whose members are women educators from Boone and Winnebago Counties. 

The Winnebago Community Historical Society (WCHS) is proud to announce it has received a $19,950.00 grant for the Town Hall restoration. The grant was awarded by the Community Arts & Humanities Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern  Illinois’ Community Grants Program. 

NW HomeStart and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) invite neighborhood groups and organizations in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties to attend a free webinar to learn more about resources available to support neighborhood-based projects, including up to $25,000 via the Neighborhood Grants Program. 

In Youth We Trust, the youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, has announced the recipients of the 2021 IYWT Adult/Nonprofit Grants cycle. This special cycle, which was added in recognition that COVID-19 may impact the feasibility of youth-led projects, is awarding nearly $20,000 to five organizations which are providing critical services for youth and whose programs have been impacted by the pandemic. The five organizations and project which were awarded are as follows:

The Rockford Register Star featured past Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity Scholarship recipients Tiltyla and Syeria Stone, who also happen to be mother and daughter, in an article about this scholarship this week. View the original article, "Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity offering college scholarships; deadline is Feb.1" 

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is now accepting applications for the In Youth We Trust (IYWT) youth grant program until 5 p.m. on March 8, 2021. 

Community Grant In Action!

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated is the first and oldest sorority for African American females, and today celebrates the 113th anniversary of their founding. This year AKA has even more to celebrate as AKA Sister Kamala Harris is our Vice President Elect!

The Zeta Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma Society is a group of professional women Educators from Boone and Winnebago counties, who financially support quality education. The Zeta Chapter has established the Blanche Martin Mini-Grant Program with the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL), which makes financial awards to qualified Early Childhood through Grade 12 Educators currently teaching in Boone and Winnebago Counties.

As we anxiously await the turn of the calendar to a new year, let's not rush this holiday season! We hope your final days of 2020 will hold good cheer, sweet memories, and lots of laughter. And we look forward to a new year filled with hope and promise of better things to come. From all of us at the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, thank you for your support and partnership. In recognition of this holiday season, CFNIL will be closed Thursday and Friday Dec. 24-25 and Thursday and Friday Dec. 31-Jan. 1.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to announce the recipients of Community Grants for the 2020 - 2021 program cycle. In total CFNIL committed over $1.3 million for 67 projects, programs, and events operated by nonprofit organizations in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties.

Community Grant in action! This summer the Rockford Park District was able to hold Her Time To Play, a program for middle school girls designed to sharpen their athletic abilities and teach discipline in the classroom. Many of these girls will go on to be student athletes. Her Time To Play has WNBA guest speakers, and support from the basketball community. Check out this great highlight video, created by Rockford Park District, for a look at the camp in action and to hear from participants and parents.

It's a week full of good news: Ciara Stahly, CFNIL Program Officer, is a recipient of the Crusader Community Health Spirit of the Future Award! This award, part of Crusader's Spirit of Caring recognition, realizes the future of our community lies within the passion of our younger givers of time, talent, and/or treasure. Individual candidates aged 18 to 40 exhibit unique kindness and the Spirit of Caring for others in our community through leadership and volunteerism outside the scope of their work environment.

We're so excited to finally be able to share the amazing news that Sarah Lambert, CFNIL's Community Investment Director, is this year's Rockford Chamber of Commerce Women-In-Business Awards Emerging Leader of the Year! This award honors a female professional in the early stages of her career who exhibits leadership skills, a commitment to professional growth, and who contributes positively to her team and organization. The recipient is hard-working, passionate, and eager to learn.

Today, December 1, is opening day for the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) scholarship application! With just one application students access over 90 unique scholarships awarding more than $300,000 this year alone. The application will close February 1, 2020.