Scholarships
3 cycles, 127+ scholarships, $500K+ awarded, just one stop.
Learn about the CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2024!
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: | March 1 |
 WINTER/MAIN | December 1 - February 1 | One app, 120+ scholarships. | May 1 |
 SPRING | March 1 - April 15 | Two scholarships, each designed for students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities: | June 1 |
Learn about the CFNIL Scholarship Class of 2024!
View a gallery of pictures from CFNIL Scholarship Award Night 2024
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!
Program Coordinator and IYWT Liaison
Phone: 779-210-8209
Email: Heather Cunningham
