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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Scholarship Image
Terrance Freeman Sr. photo

Terrance Freeman Sr. Memorial Scholarship

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

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Scholarship Image
Tyler Kinison - photo

Tyler Kinison Memorial Scholarship

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

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Scholarship Image
University of Michigan - logo

University of Michigan Scholarship

Type: Academics | Current College Student | GED Recipient | Graduating High School Senior | Non-Traditional

Region: N/A

Schools: University of Michigan

Deadline: February 1

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Scholarship Image
Picture of Ruthann Gaston

WoTM Ruthann Gaston Women in Manufacturing Scholarship

Type: Current College Student | Engineering | Female | Graduating High School Senior | Graduating High School Student | High School Graduate | Manufacturing | Non-Traditional

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Scholarship Image
Women of Today's Manufacturing logo

WoTM Scholarship

Type: GED Recipient | Graduating High School Senior | High School Graduate | Manufacturing | Vocational Studies

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

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Zeta Chapter Memorial Award - Delta Kappa Gamma logo

Zeta Chapter Memorial Award

Type: Academics | Female | Graduating High School Senior | Teaching

Region: Boone Co. | Winnebago Co.

Schools: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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