Rockford – The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is excited to announce that the Community Grants program application will open Aug. 10.

Community Grants proposals will be accepted in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Education, Health, Human Services, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families. Applications will be accepted from 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, religious institutions, units of government, and public universities/colleges. The proposals must describe charitable activities provided for the benefit of residents in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago Counties.  

The Community Grants Program application will be open from Monday, Aug. 10, until 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21. All applications must be submitted through CFNIL’s online grants application portal. To access the portal and learn more about the Community Grants program, interested applicants should visit https://cfnil.org/community. 

To provide more information about the Community Grants Program and answer questions about the application process, CFNIL staff will host five Grantseekers Meetings during the week of Aug. 10, one each weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The meetings will be held virtually, and each session will include the same information as well as provide time for questions and answers. Register to attend at: https://bit.ly/cfnilgrantseekers2020 

 “The Community Grants Program is CFNIL’s largest and broadest grantmaking program, poised to make over $1.4 million in awards this year,” said Dan Ross, CFNIL president. “It is a privilege to support a diverse range of programs and projects that directly impact and improve the lives of thousands of northern Illinois residents every year, and to support the exceptional work of our region’s nonprofits.” 

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve, and grow an endowment for current and future needs of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953 CFNIL has granted more than $73 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s grantmaking and commitment to endowment at cfnil.org.