Community Grants Program

Since 1953, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) has provided over $90 million in grants and scholarships, driven by the generosity of individuals, families, and organizations dedicated to enhancing the region's quality of life. CFNIL’s Community Grants Program is its largest and most comprehensive initiative, welcoming proposals annually from nonprofit and public-serving organizations that benefit residents of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. The 2025 cycle continues this tradition, supporting a wide range of charitable activities across eight defined focus areas, including Arts & Humanities, Basic Needs & Compassionate Support, Career Pathways, Complementary Education, Dignity & Respect, Health, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families. Applicants must submit their proposals through CFNIL’s Web Portal, which opened on June 26 and will close at 5 p.m. on August 14, 2025. Grant awards will be announced by the end of November 2025, with funding available after December 1, 2025. Depending on the amount requested, CFNIL employs a tiered application format, with more extensive documentation and financials required for larger funding requests. Proposals over $50,000 require a full application with audited financials; those between $10,001 and $50,000 must include the most recent IRS Form 990; and those under $10,000 follow a streamlined process with no financials unless the applicant hasn’t applied in the past five years. Funding is available for expenses directly tied to proposal implementation, such as wages, capital purchases, and minor facility improvements. CFNIL allows up to 15% of the requested amount to cover indirect costs, including utilities and administrative expenses. Proposals must align with the applicant’s mission and benefit the region’s residents. Faith-based organizations are eligible if services are non-religious and not conditional upon participation in religious activities. CFNIL does not fund general operations, fundraisers, large capital campaigns, or activities involving partisan politics or discrimination. Eligibility is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, religious organizations, units of government, and public universities or colleges, with at least one year of active public service by December 1, 2025. Organizations currently funded by CFNIL must be current on interim or final reporting. Those applying to work with school districts must submit a Pre-Authorization Form embedded within the application. Applicants may submit up to two unique proposals per cycle and must demonstrate partnerships with local organizations if they have not recently operated in the region. The application requires responses to seven key components: a project summary including the selected focus area, a detailed plan, community need explanation, itemized budget, an evaluation plan, organizational background, and agreement to CFNIL’s terms. Proposal types include Events (under one week), Projects (lasting one week to three years), ongoing Programs, and Capital/Commodity acquisitions. All types must clearly define outcomes and community impact. All proposals are reviewed by volunteer committees who make funding recommendations to the CFNIL Board of Trustees. Due to the volume of submissions, CFNIL does not meet with applicants during review unless specifically requested by the review committee. All decisions are final. For assistance or clarification, applicants may contact Lisa DeLang at edelang@cfnil.org (779-210-8210), James Patterson at jpatterson@cfnil.org (779-210-8206), or Sarah Lambert at slambert@cfnil.org (779-210-8207). More information and application resources are available at cfnil.org/grant-resources.

CFNIL recommends including 15% indirect costs and following tiered documentation requirements based on funding amount.