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 are asked to attend an in-person Volunteer Recruitment session to learn more about the Community Foundation and their role. 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:
- Attend an introductory “Volunteer Recruitment” meeting to learn more about CFNIL and the scholarship program.
- Review and score batch of applications online.
- Attend one in-person meeting to discuss scores with a small committee and recommend recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHOLARSHIP REVIEWERS
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | January 25, 2024 |
| Main/Winter Scholarship Application Closes | February 1, 2024 |
| Scholarship Reviewer Trainings | Mid-February 2024 |
| Selection Committee Meetings | March - April 2024 |
| Scholarship Recipients Announced | May 1, 2024 |
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | May 2, 2024 |
| Scholarship Award Night | June 20, 2024 |
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | September 5, 2024 |
| Main/Winter Scholarship Application opens | December 1, 2024 |
| Community Scholarship Fair | December 3, 2024 |
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 grants process in the fall.
PROCESS:
- Attend an introductory “Vounteer Recruitment” meeting to learn more about CFNIL and the Community Grants program.
- Assigned to a grant focus area committee.
- Review and score a batch of applications online.
- Attend one in-person meeting to discuss applications with the focus area committee and recommend recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR GRANT REVIEWERS
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | January 25, 2024 |
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | May 2, 2024 |
| Community Grant Application Opens | June 14, 2024 |
| Community Grant Application Closes | August 15, 2024 |
| Volunteer Recruitment Meeting | September 5, 2024 |
| Grant Reviewer Trainings | Mid-September 2024 |
| Application Open for Review | September 2024 |
| Grant Review Committee Meetings | October 2024 |
| Board Approves Recommendations | November 13, 2024 |
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!
