Community Grants Program
CFNIL's Community Grants fund projects in Northern Illinois that deliver measurable, inclusive impact across eight community focus areas, emphasizing local engagement and sustainable results.
Funder: Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Due Dates: August 14, 2025 (Community Grants application) | August 27, 2025 (School District Pre-Authorization Form) | August 20, 2026 (Community Grants application)
Funding Amounts: Typical awards $2,000–$80,000; average grant ~$18,000; total annual funding ~$1.7M; funding period up to 14 months.
Summary: Supports nonprofits and public entities in Northern Illinois to address community needs in eight focus areas, with an emphasis on measurable impact.
Key Information: Maximum two proposals per organization; multi-year funding suspended; indirect costs up to 15% encouraged.
Description
The Community Grants Program from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) is the region's largest and most inclusive grantmaking initiative, designed to address current and future needs in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties. Grants support a broad spectrum of charitable activities across eight focus areas: Arts & Humanities, Basic Needs & Compassionate Support, Career Pathways, Complementary Education, Dignity & Respect, Health, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families. The program encourages proposals that demonstrate measurable results, community impact, and promote inclusion, with a strong emphasis on supporting organizations embedded in the local community.
