Announcing the 2023 - 2024 CFNIL Community Grants Program Awards
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is feeling extra thankful as we announce the recipients of Community Grants for the 2023 - 2024 program cycle: $1.74 million granted to 82 organizations in support of projects, programs, and events benefiting the people of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties.
The grants were awarded in six focus areas: Arts & Humanities, Education (Career Pathways and Complementary Education), Health, Human Services, Sustainable Communities, and Youth & Families. From the stage to the classroom, from the doctor’s office to the riverfront, and at all points in between, the projects funded by Community Grants help build a more vibrant region.
The full report on 2023 – 2024 Community Grants Program grantmaking can be found online at https://bit.ly/CFNILCGR2023. This report details each of the 85 awards made this cycle and the work that each grantee will undertake as a result. A summary table of the grants, sorted by focus area, is found below.
“The people of Northern Illinois are exceptionally generous and committed to ensuring future generations will have every opportunity to live healthy, productive, and rewarding lives,” said Dan Ross, CFNIL President. “We are inspired by our nonprofit partners whose work makes that vision possible, not just in the future, but today. This work and its growing, ongoing impact would not be possible without the generosity of thousands of donors, the commitment of hundreds of volunteers, and the exceptional efforts of these grantees.”
The 2023 - 2024 Community Grants Program cycle continues CFNIL’s 70-year commitment to investment in northern Illinois through grantmaking. This work and its growing, ongoing impact would not be possible without the generosity of thousands of donors, the commitment of hundreds of volunteers, and the exceptional efforts of grantees. Learn more about the work of the Community Grants and other grantmaking programs of the Community Foundation at CFNIL's website.
ORGANIZATION | PROPOSAL TITLE | FOCUS AREA | AWARD |
|---|---|---|---|
Artists' Ensemble Theater | Julie & Jane | Arts & Humanities | $5,750.00 |
Cleta’s Stay and Sew | Supplies and Sundries for Community Classes | Arts & Humanities | $5,750.00 |
Ethnic Heritage Museum | Electrifying Heritage Museum Park | Arts & Humanities | $6,773.50 |
Freeport Art Museum | BIPOC Initiative: Increasing diversity and inclusiveness at FAM | Arts & Humanities | $10,000.00 |
Rock and Roll Institute NFP | Public Address Systems | Arts & Humanities | $7,463.64 |
Rockford Area Arts Council | Rockford Region Cultural Plan | Arts & Humanities | $30,250.00 |
Rockford Art Museum | 83rd Annual Young Artist Show | Arts & Humanities | $15,125.00 |
Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Inc. | Ellis Island: The Dream of America | Arts & Humanities | $14,950.00 |
Stateline Boys & Girls Clubs | Art In Action Curriculum | Arts & Humanities | $5,000.00 |
Swedish Historical Society | Erlander Home Museum Foundation Tuckpointing and Waterproofing | Arts & Humanities | $16,700.00 |
The Arc of Winn., Boone & Ogle Counties | Project Art | Arts & Humanities | $17,057.58 |
The Music Academy in Rockford | The Music Academy Leaves the Building | Arts & Humanities | $11,536.19 |
The West Side Show Room | Dontrell, Who Kissed The Sea | Arts & Humanities | $11,500.00 |
Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum | Jessie Tinker Bedroom Restoration Project | Arts & Humanities | $11,500.00 |
Village of Mt. Morris | 2024 Mt. Morris Jamboree Free Concerts | Arts & Humanities | $5,000.00 |
ARTS & HUMANITIES FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $174,355.91 | ||
Comprehensive Community Solutions, Inc. | YouthBuild Rockford | Education - Career Pathways | $36,004.54 |
KFACT | KFACT Scholars | Education - Career Pathways | $57,500.00 |
Kids Around the World, Inc. | Career Development / Welding Pathway 2024 | Education - Career Pathways | $22,176.00 |
Life Decisions | Expanded Training Ground | Education - Career Pathways | $23,000.00 |
Northern Illinois University | Strengthening Regional Work-Based Learning and Launching an Education Research Collaborative | Education - Career Pathways | $55,000.00 |
Northwest Community Center | Empowering Women for Success Program | Education - Career Pathways | $19,030.00 |
Regional Access & Mobilization Project, Inc. | Fast Track Transition Services | Education - Career Pathways | $34,500.00 |
Rock Valley College Foundation | RVC's RAISE Curriculum Development | Education - Career Pathways | $14,630.00 |
Rockford Promise | Promising Careers: Connecting Local Youth with Rewarding Regional Professional Opportunities | Education - Career Pathways | $9,775.00 |
Secondary Success and Beyond | College and Computers | Education - Career Pathways | $5,000.00 |
University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford | Integrated Family Medicine Residency Program (IFMRP) | Education - Career Pathways | $51,750.00 |
| EDUCATION – CAREER PATHWAYS FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $328,365.54 | ||
Alignment Rockford | Ready To Learn Early Childhood Support Expansion | Education - Complementary Education | $80,000.00 |
Children's Hands on Museum | Star Lab for CHOM | Education - Complementary Education | $32,000.00 |
Discovery Center Museum | Destination Space! | Education – Complementary Education | $33,952.49 |
Freeport School District | Greenhouse Lab Furthering Freeport Students' Agriculture & Career Skills | Education - Complementary Education | $82,386.54 |
Patriots Gateway Community Center | Summer Camp Learning Adventure | Education - Complementary Education | $57,500.00 |
Rockford Public Schools #205 | Rev Up STEAM Learning with "Indi Robots" for Gregory Elementary School | Education - Complementary Education | $3,388.63 |
Severson Dells Educational Foundation | Science and Nature Field Trips to Support Student Learning | Education - Complementary Education | $23,304.75 |
YWCA Northwestern Illinois | English As A Second Language Instructor | Education - Complementary Education | $20,930.00 |
EDUCATION FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $333,462.41 | ||
Brooke Road United Methodist Church | AED device for community safety. | Health | $3,127.13 |
Eversight | Support for Sight-Saving Cornea Donation and Transplantation | Health | $5,750.00 |
Family Counseling Service of No. IL. | Expanding the Reach of Experiential Therapy | Health | $15,000.00 |
Guest House | Northern Illinois Comfort Fund | Health | $11,500.00 |
Kendel Sherman Foundation | Community CPR Voucher Program | Health | $9,362.09 |
New Horizons Counseling Center | Mental Health Counseling Program for Homeless People in Freeport IL | Health | $34,500.00 |
Remedies Renewing Lives | New and Improved Tools for Addiction Treatment | Health | $4,508.00 |
Rockford Barbell | Youth Programs | Health | $10,800.00 |
Stepping Stones of Rockford, Inc. | Purchase of AED devices | Health | $11,720.00 |
SwedishAmerican Health Foundation | Mobile Health Unit (MHU) | Health | $48,875.00 |
The HAP Foundation | Pediatric Palliative Care Education | Health | $17,250.00 |
Winnebago County Housing Authority | Telehealth Center for D'Agnolo Gardens Apartments | Health | $3,979.00 |
HEALTH FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $172,749.00 | ||
Belvidere Township Park District | Oasis Room Renovation | Human Services | $6,747.87 |
Carpenter's Place | Dignity through Laundry | Human Services | $9,315.00 |
Circle of Change | Veterans Dog Program | Human Services | $31,712.40 |
Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project | Community Outreach and Education, and Social Services for Low-income Latine Immigrant Workers | Human Services | $11,500.00 |
Freeport Area Church Cooperative | New Shelter Furniture | Human Services | $29,553.00 |
Grace Lutheran Church & Preschool | Rescue Mission Sack Lunch Outreach | Human Services | $5,350.00 |
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois | LSSI's Rockford Children's Services | Human Services | $5,000.00 |
Milestone, Inc. | Age in Place bathroom renovation | Human Services | $15,000.00 |
Nikolas Ritschel Foundation | Fund at least 1 Nik Wish | Human Services | $8,625.00 |
Northern IL Center for Nonprofit Excellence | Equity in Board Representation - Year 2 | Human Services | $20,125.00 |
Northern Illinois Food Bank | Winnebago Community Market | Human Services | $8,975.15 |
Rock River Valley Pantry, Inc. | Nutritious Food for Winnebago County | Human Services | $17,250.00 |
Second First Church | The Overnight Cafe at SecondFirst Church | Human Services | $25,300.00 |
Serenity Hospice and Home | Music Therapy for Terminally Ill Patients | Human Services | $15,000.00 |
The Arc of Winn., Boone & Ogle Counties | Life Skills for People with Disabilities | Human Services | $12,650.00 |
The Liam Foundation | LGBTQIA+ Community Center | Human Services | $23,000.00 |
The Salvation Army of Freeport | Help Fight Food Insecurity | Human Services | $9,200.00 |
Voices of Inspiration | Voices of Inspiration Food Bank | Human Services | $6,990.85 |
Winnebago County CASA | Life in Limbo - Train the Trainer Project | Human Services | $6,492.00 |
HUMAN SERVICES FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $267,768.27 | ||
Environmental Education Association of Illinois | Teaching Climate in Illinois Summit | Sustainable Communities | $10,154.50 |
Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle | Beautify Veterans Memorial Circle | Sustainable Communities | $5,750.00 |
Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County | Ensuring Volunteer Jobsite Safety | Sustainable Communities | $5,750.00 |
Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County | Housing Solutions 2024: Impacting Futures | Sustainable Communities | $32,200.00 |
Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehab & Education Center | Kitchen Renovation Project | Sustainable Communities | $12,000.00 |
Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden | Supporting invasive species management with a UTV | Sustainable Communities | $5,223.47 |
Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity, Inc. | Building Equitable Homeownership Opportunity | Sustainable Communities | $49,753.49 |
Rockford Park District Foundation | West State Street Shines | Sustainable Communities | $11,500.00 |
Severson Dells Educational Foundation | Science Saturdays at Severson Dells Nature Center | Sustainable Communities | $21,666.00 |
Shelter Care Ministries | Homelessness to Hopefulness | Sustainable Communities | $28,750.00 |
SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $182,747.46 | ||
Blackhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of Amer. | Keep the Fire Lit--Camp Kitchen Refresh | Youth & Families | $10,362.45 |
Boys & Girls Club of Rockford | Fairgrounds Unit ADA Restroom Access. | Youth & Families | $35,292.24 |
Brightpoint | Rockford Crisis Nursery Expansion | Youth & Families | $75,000.00 |
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois | Project No More Leaks! | Youth & Families | $28,393.00 |
Ken-Rock Community Center | Ken-Rock daycare access improvements | Youth & Families | $13,020.00 |
Northwest Community Center | NWCC Parking Lot Safety Improvements | Youth & Families | $20,000.00 |
One Body Collaboratives Inc | Getting Ahead Classes | Youth & Families | $34,500.00 |
Rock House Kids | Bus Rentals for Field Trips | Youth & Families | $3,864.00 |
Rockford Rescue Mission | Education and Childcare program for families using the RRM Works! Center | Youth & Families | $36,641.00 |
YMCA of Rock River Valley | Nutrition Program Transportation | Youth & Families | $20,000.00 |
YOUTH & FAMILIES FOCUS AREA TOTAL | $277,072.69 | ||
| |||
COMMUNITY GRANTS PROGRAM 2023 – 2024 TOTAL | $1,740,161.50 | ||