The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is pleased announce its Fall 2023 Community Grants cycle.
Donor Name: Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
State: Illinois
County: Boone County (IL), Ogle County (IL), Stephenson County (IL), and Winnebago County (IL)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/15/2023
Size of the Grant: $5,001 to $50,000
Details:
Focus Areas
CFNIL accepts proposals in seven focus areas. CFNIL’s strategic focus is Career Pathways and Complementary Education, which are funded at a greater level. Remaining funds are allocated to Arts & Humanities, Health, Human Services, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families.
- Arts & Humanities
- Increase the availability of and access to artistic and cultural experiences, especially those that represent the community’s diverse culture
- Celebrate the region’s history and preserve historical integrity
- Career Pathways
- Define the region’s workforce needs in terms of skills and competencies
- Increase student access to and engagement with career information and their related academic pathways
- Foster collaboration among regional educators, employers, and workforce/economic development entities
- Complementary Education
- Provide more learning hours, reinforce classroom instruction, and advance student development through school-approved programs
- Increase the capacity, coordination, outreach, and transportation infrastructure of school and school approved programs
- Support before- and after-school, summer school, and enrichment programs
- Health
- Improve the quality of and access to health services. Support community wellness
- Conduct research to promote the health and well-being of the community
- Human Services
- Serve the basic needs of individuals and families
- Provide services to persons with developmental disabilities, especially activities that promote inclusion
- Promote the equitable treatment of others
- Sustainable Communities
- Promote neighborhood and economic development
- Support efforts to ensure public safety and access to quality, affordable, and permanent housing
- Preserve the natural environment, especially activities that increase the region’s understanding and appreciation of the environment
- Youth and Families
- Provide pathways to self-sufficiency
- Strengthen families
- Support intellectual, emotional, physical and social development.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible to apply for funding from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, a religious organization, a unit of government, or a public university/college
- The proposals must describe charitable activities that primarily, but not exclusively, benefit the residents of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago Counties. The more you request, the greater scrutiny your proposal will receive. CFNIL uses a tiered application format based on the request amount. Applicants requesting over $50,000 will submit a full application with audited financials. Applicants requesting $5,001 to $50,000 will submit a streamlined application with just the most recent 990. Applicants requesting less than $5,000 will have the shortest application and no organizational financials are required. CFNIL reserves the right to request additional financial information during the grant cycle if needed.
Ineligibility
CFNIL does not fund charitable activities that promote a religion or require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services. Grants may be made to faith-based organizations for non-religious purposes. CFNIL will fund:
- Expenses that are directly related to the design and implementation of a proposal. Revenue and expenses related to the proposal must be itemized using the integrated budget form in the application.
- The purchase and installation of capital assets (i.e., assets that have a useful life greater than one year and which will be depreciated on the applicant’s books)
- Wages for staff or contractors to the extent that the request is appropriate to the proposal’s scope and implementation. Indirect costs that do not exceed 15% of the amount being requested in the proposal
- Indirect costs are defined as expenses that cannot be easily attributed to the funded charitable activity but are essential to the operation of the grantee. Examples include utilities, insurance, general administrative support, and the portion of a building that is used to support the general operations of the organization.
For more information, visit CFNIL.
