In Youth We Trust - Adult/Nonprofit Grants

To be eligible to apply for funding from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ IYWT Grant, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OR a religious organization, unit of government, or public university/college. 

Up to $20,000 will be awarded. The maximum that an organization can request is $5,000.

Who we fund:

• Nonprofit organizations providing services or programming to youth within Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, or Stephenson counties. 

We look for proposals that:

• Help youth recognize the important role they play within their communities,
• Provide solutions to community issues facing youth,
• Have a clear and practical plan for implementation,
• Have a realistic budget, and
• Have measurable and meaningful results.

IYWT will not fund:

• Individuals
• For-profit organizations
• Projects and programs that promote a religion or require participation in religious activities as a condition for receiving services. Grants may be made to faith-based organizations for other purposes.
• Projects or organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national/ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran’s status, disability, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.

The application for the IYWT Grant has seven sections: 

1. Project Information: Asks for basic information about your proposal.
2. Results: Asks  about your anticipated results, and how you intend to measure and track your results.
3. Impact: Ask about the population you intend to serve and your organizational impact. 
4. Promotion: Asks about how you plan to promote your charitable activity and your IYWT Grant.
5. Budget: Asks for a detailed proposal budget and narrative.
6. Other Information: Asks if there is anything else you would like the Council to know about your proposal.
7. Certification: States the terms and conditions for applying for and administering a grant from CFNIL’s In Youth We Trust Program.

View a PDF version of the IYWT Nonprofit/Adult Grant Application

Applications must be submitted through CFNIL’s Web Portal (same portal used for the Community Grants program) by 5 p.m. on March 1, 2025. To learn how to register and apply using the Web Portal, visit cfnil.org/grant-resources. Funds for awarded grants will be available by the beginning of May. If you are awarded the grant, there will be a grant reception held in early May 2025 to honor and promote recipients. Contact Heather Cunningham at iywt@cfnil.org with questions. 
 

All proposals should  be charitable activities that serve youth directly:

• Project – The duration of the charitable activity described in the proposal has a beginning and ending date, and lasts between one week and three years. Example: Care packages to homeless youth.
• Program – The duration of the charitable activity described in the proposal is ongoing. Example: Safe centers for study during and after school hours.
• Capital/Commodity – If you are purchasing equipment, a commodity, or making a minor capital improvement that will allow you to serve or further your ability to serve youth. If a capital/commodity purchase is not the primary expense of a charitable activity, choose Project/Program as appropriate. Examples: Providing sanitary supplies such as clean masks, sanitary wipes, hand sanitizers, etc.

It is important to solidify a plan on how you will measure your results and the tools you will use. Examples: surveys, how many participants attended, or receipt for item purchased.  

You are expected to submit a final report by the following October to tell us the outcome of the charitable activity using the methods of measurements you stated in your application. If you do not submit a final report you will not be eligible for funding in the future.