Scholarships

100+ Unique Scholarships, Just ONE Application!

The CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2023 has been announced!

Learn more about the 185 students awarded nearly $430,000 >>

 

Applying for scholarships from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is easier than ever! 
There is just one application and one deadline: the application opens on December 1st and closes February 1st, every year. 

Access the CFNIL Scholarship Application Portal

Need help getting started? Visit our Scholarship Resources page to learn how to apply!

CFNIL’s scholarship funds were created by donors that recognize the importance of helping students achieve their educational goals, now and in perpetuity. The funds’ creators selected the criteria based on their interests and the community’s need. Many of CFNIL’s scholarships are memorials, which celebrate the life and passions of individuals.

The diversity of scholarship offerings reflects the diversity of CFNIL’s donors and the communities it serves. The majority of scholarships are for current college students and graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties. Scholarships are available based on a variety of factors: community engagement; academic achievement; financial need; athletic participation; field of study; and many more. There are scholarships for non-traditional, minority, and first-generation college students. Nearly two dozen scholarships are available for students who have a high school diploma OR a GED — learn more on the Scholarship Resource page.

The applications are read and scored by committees of volunteers who use a “blind” review process and make recommendations to CFNIL’s Board of Trustees. Scholarship recipients are announced in late April. Awards are sent directly to the recipient’s post-secondary institution.

While the majority of the scholarship funds CFNIL administers are included in the application for the main scholarship cycle (open Dec. 1 – Feb 1 each year), several additional scholarships run on a different timeline or are administered by outside organizations. Each scholarship listed below indicates whether it is "Open" or "Closed" for applications; click on the scholarship name to learn more about the criteria and other eligibility details. 

Questions? Need help getting started? Contact Heather!

Heather Rapp - Program Coordinator - headshot
Heather Rapp
Program Coordinator
Phone: 779-210-8209
Email: Heather Rapp
graduation cap icon
Scholarship Image
Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship

Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship

Type: Financial Need

Region: Boone Co. | Ogle Co. | Stephenson Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: Any post-secondary | Any public or private high school

Deadline: February 1

See More
graduation cap icon
Scholarship Image
Fred Peterson, Jr.

Fred Peterson, Jr. Memorial Scholarship

Type: Academics | Civic Engagement | Community Service | Current College Student | Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate | Non-Traditional

Region: N/A

Schools: Hononegah HS

Deadline: February 1

See More
graduation cap icon
Scholarship Image
Geoffrey R. Laird

Geoffrey R. Laird Memorial Scholarship

Type: Academics | Current College Student | Financial Need | GED Recipient | Graduating High School Senior | Mathematics | Sciences

Region: Winnebago Co.

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

See More
graduation cap icon
Scholarship Image
Howard D. Colman

Howard D. Colman Scholarship

Type: Academics | Computer Science | Engineering | Graduating High School Senior | Technology

Region: Boone Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: N/A

Deadline: January 2

See More
graduation cap icon

It's Up To Me Scholarship

Type: Financial Need | Graduating High School Senior | Students With Disabilities

Region: Boone Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

See More
graduation cap icon
Scholarship Image
Jan Stringer

Jan Stringer Scholarship

Type: Financial Need | Medical | Medical Sciences | Nursing | STEM

Region: Boone Co. | Ogle Co. | Stephenson Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: Any post-secondary | Any public or private high school

Deadline: February 1

See More
graduation cap icon

Joan Stonecipher Scholarship

Type: Current College Student | Dance | Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate | Non-Traditional

Region: Greater Rockford

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

See More