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 4. This program is open to neighborhood-based groups and nonprofit organizations operating in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. 

Field trips to visit grantees don't usually involve working up a sweat, but this week we visited first-time CFNIL Community Grant recipients Rockford Barbell to check out their Youth Weightlifting program. This afterschool training and mentorship initiative seeks to improve the social and emotional well-being of school age kids through physical activity and strength training.

In light of the ongoing disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for our schools and families with school-aged children, CFNIL has extended the deadline for the 2022 CFNIL Scholarship application one week. The new deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8th, 2022.

On behalf of the Club Blue Angels, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is pleased to announce the opening of the Club Blue Grants Program application for the 2022 cycle. The Club Blue Angels are women committed to their families and the community. They are united in their belief that our community's children should be socially, emotionally, and physically healthy and they are dedicated to supporting the organizations that can achieve this goal. 

We were made aware of someone sending Facebook messages claiming they were an "Agent" who could connect people with grants from the Community Foundation if they provide various personal information. These messages are not authorized by CFNIL and appear to be part of an ongoing scam perpetrated via Facebook Messenger and Instagram messages.

CFNIL staff had the privilege of visiting Jeremiah Development and presenting a check for $20,000 which will support Jeremiah HELPS / Small Engine Repair, a new skills training program which will launch this spring. This grant was made through CFNIL's Community Grants program with support from the Barber-Colman Management Fund.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is now accepting applications for the In Youth We Trust (IYWT) youth grant program until 5:00 p.m. on March 1, 2022. 

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is pleased to kick-off the new year by announcing the recipients of Community Grants for the 2021 - 2022 program cycle. In total CFNIL committed over $1.47 million to 69 organizations for 79 projects, programs, and events benefiting the people of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties.

The CFNIL team will be enjoying some time off during the holidays and our office hours will be impacted as outlined below. Need to get in touch with a member of the team?

In Youth We Trust (IYWT), the youth philanthropy program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, has announced the recipients of the Fall 2021 IYWT Adult/Nonprofit Grants cycle. Seven organizations were awarded up to $5,000 each for a total of $19,500. This is the second time IYWT has awarded grants for proposals written by adults/nonprofit organizations, to benefit programs and projects that support youth in northern Illinois.

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!