Scholarships

3 cycles, 127+ scholarships, $500K+ awarded, just one stop

CFNIL is the region's largest private scholarship provider, with over 125 unique scholarships to award this year. We have worked hard to make applying for Community Foundation of Northern Illinois scholarships as simple and efficient as possible. There are three cycles, each with their own application and timeline. Each cycle's application is accessed via CFNIL's online application portal.

 CYCLE NAME  APPLICATION WINDOW  CYCLE SPECIFICS AWARD NOTIFICATION

FALL

November 1 - January 1

One app, three scholarships:

  1. Fehr Graham
  2. Gary S. Wilmer/RAMI Music
  3. Howard D. Colman
March 1

WINTER/MAIN

December 1 - February 1One app, 120+ scholarships.May 1

SPRING

March 1 - April 15

Four scholarships:

  1. Ann W. Dooley Advancement
  2. Colleen Maher Inspirational
  3. Diane Thompson-Wells Memorial*
  4. Richard J. Schnell Memorial*
June 1

Need help getting started? Visit our Scholarship Resources page to learn how to apply! Interested in the two new scholarships available for people with intellectual disabilities? Check out these videos!

CFNIL’s scholarship funds were created by donors who 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 needs. 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. Most scholarships are for current college students and graduating high school seniors in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. Scholarships are available based on various 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 with 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. Fall scholarship recipients are announced by March 1, Winter by May 1, and Spring by June 1, and recipients, donors, reviewers, and supporters are invited to an annual Scholarship Award Night ceremony in mid-June. Awards are sent directly to the recipient’s post-secondary institution.

Questions? Need help getting started? Contact Heather!

Heather Cunningham, Program Coordinator, headshot
Heather Cunningham
Program Coordinator and IYWT Liaison
Phone: 779-210-8209
Email: Heather Cunningham

Scholarship Filter Options

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Amanda Reed

Amanda Reed Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Civic Engagement/Community Service

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: N/A

Deadline: February 1

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Anna Schiller

Anna Schiller Scholarship

Primary Focus: Civic Engagement/Community Service

Geography: N/A

Specifications: Rockford Christian High School

Deadline: February 1

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Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship

Elsie Jefko Carlson Scholarship

Primary Focus: Financial Need

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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George Whinna Memorial Scholarship

George Whinna Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Education/Teaching

Geography: Winnebago County

Specifications: Non-Traditional | Rock Valley College | Rockford University

Deadline: February 1

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Howard D. Colman

Howard D. Colman Scholarship

Primary Focus: Manufacturing/STEM

Geography: Boone County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance

Deadline: January 1

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Photo of Willard and Alice Corbett

It's Up To Me Scholarship

Primary Focus: Disabilities

Geography: Boone County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Financial Need

Deadline: February 1

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Jack Lovejoy

Jack Lovejoy Vocational Scholarship

Primary Focus: Non-Traditional | Trades/Vocational Studies

Geography: N/A

Specifications: Hononegah High School | South Beloit High School

Deadline: February 1

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Jan Stringer

Jan Stringer Scholarship

Primary Focus: Dental/Medical

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Picture of Katrina Smith

Katrina Smith Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Non-Traditional

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Keith Maffioli

Keith Maffioli Scholarship

Primary Focus: Financial Need

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need

Deadline: February 1

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Picture of Kristin Wilson

Kristin Wilson Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Civic Engagement/Community Service

Geography: N/A

Specifications: Academic Performance | Non-Traditional | South Beloit High School

Deadline: February 1

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La Voz Latina

La Voz Latina Scholarship

Primary Focus: Other

Geography: Boone County | Jo Daviess County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: N/A

Deadline: Rolling deadline

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Nettie and Jesse Gorov Scholarship

Primary Focus: Financial Need

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Pay It Forward Scholarship image

Pay It Forward Scholarship

Primary Focus: Other

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Phyllis Howard photo

Phyllis Howard Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Firefighter/Fire Science/Police

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship

R.I.S.E. Nursing Scholarship

Primary Focus: Dental/Medical

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Richard Dopp

Richard Dopp Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Business | Dental/Medical

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance

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

Primary Focus: Trades/Vocational Studies

Geography: Winnebago County

Specifications: Dakota High School | Durand High School | Non-Traditional | Pecatonica High School | Winnebago High School

Deadline: February 1

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Senior Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Academic

Geography: N/A

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Rockford Public School District #205

Deadline: February 1

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Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship image

Sorensen Memorial Music Scholarship

Primary Focus: Arts (Performing/Visual)

Geography: Boone County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Renewable

Deadline: February 1

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Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship image

Sorensen Memorial Theater Scholarship

Primary Focus: Arts (Performing/Visual)

Geography: Boone County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Renewable

Deadline: February 1

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Terrance Freeman Sr. photo

Terrance Freeman Sr. Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Firefighter/Fire Science/Police

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Tyler Kinison - photo

Tyler Kinison Memorial Scholarship

Primary Focus: Firefighter/Fire Science/Police

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Financial Need | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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University of Michigan - logo

University of Michigan Scholarship

Primary Focus: Academic

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Academic Performance | Graduate Student | Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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Women of Today's Manufacturing logo

WoTM Scholarship

Primary Focus: Manufacturing/STEM

Geography: Boone County | Ogle County | Rock County | Stephenson County | Winnebago County

Specifications: Non-Traditional

Deadline: February 1

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