Volunteer with CFNIL
Community Investment, Community Driven.
Volunteers are an essential part of CFNIL's work. Scholarship Reviewers read applications and recommend recipients for every CFNIL scholarship. Grant Reviewers read grant proposals and make recommendations for awards from CFNIL's Community Grants Program.
All prospective reviewers participate in an informational session to learn more about the Community Foundation and their role. They may select from an in-person or virtual session led by CFNIL staff or view a pre-recorded video during an independent session. While much of the work of a reviewer is completed at home, all reviewers also participate in in-person committee meetings to discuss and compare the applications they have reviewed. As a result of these requirements and the need for familiarity with the communities of Northern Illinois, all reviewers must be current residents of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago County. Occasional exceptions may be made at staff discretion for non-resident scholarship fund representatives.
Scholarship Reviewers recommend recipients for scholarship funds by reading and scoring applications based on a set of criteria established by the fund’s donor. Scholarship Reviewers typically commit 15-20 hours to the scholarship process in the spring.
PROCESS:
- Volunteer prospects participate in an informational session (in-person or virtual session led by CFNIL staff or viewing a prerecorded video independently) to learn about CFNIL and their role as volunteers.
- Volunteers participate in training (offered annually) to learn (or relearn!) the application review process.
- Volunteers review and score a batch of applications online.
- Volunteers attend one in-person meeting with a small committee that reviewed the same batch of applications to discuss scores and recommend recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHOLARSHIP REVIEWERS
- Main/Winter Scholarship Application Closes: February 1
- Scholarship Reviewer Trainings: Mid-February
- Spring Scholarship Application Opens: March 1
- Scholarship Selection Committee Meetings: March - April
- Spring Scholarship Application Closes: April 15
- Scholarship Recipients Announced: May 1
- Scholarship Award Night: June 17, 2025
- Fall Scholarship Application Opens: November 1
- Main/Winter Scholarship Application Opens: December 1
- Community Scholarship Fair: December 2, 2025
Grant Reviewers read and assess grant requests and recommend grant awards for proposals submitted through the Community Grants Program. Grant Reviewers typically commit 15-20 hours to the grant review process in the Fall.
PROCESS:
- Volunteer prospects participate in an informational session (in-person or virtual session led by CFNIL staff or viewing a prerecorded video independently) to learn about CFNIL and their role as volunteers. Subsequently, they inform CFNIL staff which Focus Areas are of interest.
- CFNIL staff assign volunteers to Focus Area committees.
- Volunteers participate in training (offered annually) to learn (or relearn!) the application review process.
- Volunteers review and score a batch of applications online.
- Volunteers attend one in-person meeting with a small committee that reviewed the same batch of applications to discuss scores and recommend recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR GRANT REVIEWERS
- Community Grant Application Opens: June 26, 2025
- Community Grant Application Closes: August 14, 2025
- Grant Reviewer Trainings: Mid-September
- Applications Open for Review: September
- Grant Review Committee Meetings: October
- CFNIL Board of Trustees Approves Recommendations: November 19, 2025
- Grant Recipients Notified: Week of November 25, 2025
Ready to sign up to volunteer as a CFNIL Scholarship or Grant Reviewer?
Complete the Volunteer Interest Form!
Questions about being a Scholarship or Grant Reviewer? Contact Lisa!
