Scholarships

The CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2023 has been announced!

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

100+ Unique Scholarships, Just ONE Application!

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

Thinking about starting a scholarship? Contact Ciara!

Ciara Stahly Staff Headshot
Ciara Stahly
Assistant Development Director
Phone: 779-210-8203
Email: Ciara Stahly
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Pay It Forward Scholarship image

Pay It Forward Scholarship

Type: N/A

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

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

Deadline: February 1

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Phyllis Howard photo

Phyllis Howard Memorial Scholarship

Type: Academics | Current College Student | Financial Need | Fire Science | Firefighter | GED Recipient

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship

R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship

Type: Current College Student | Non-Traditional | Nursing

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Photo of Regina Potts

Regina Potts Memorial Scholarship

Type: Education | Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate | Non-Traditional | Teaching

Region: N/A

Schools: Rockford East High School

Deadline: February 1

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Richard Dopp

Richard Dopp Memorial Scholarship

Type: Academics | Accounting | Community Service | Graduating High School Senior | Medical Sciences

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Richard L. Bernardi

Richard L. Bernardi Memorial Scholarship

Type: Current College Student | Financial Need | GED Recipient | Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate

Region: N/A

Schools: Rock Valley College

Deadline: February 1

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Black and white picture of a young man in a suit, Rod Bennett, smiling at the camera. Logo for Bennett Construction inc. and the tagline "When Quality Makes a Difference"

Rod Bennett Memorial Scholarship

Type: Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate | Non-Traditional | STEM | Trade Union | Vocational Studies

Region: Winnebago Co.

Schools: Pecatonica HS | Durand HS | Dakota HS | Winnebago High School

Deadline: February 1

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Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship image

Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship

Type: Academics | Community Service | Financial Need | Graduating High School Senior | Music

Region: Boone Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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