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Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

Annual Giving
$5.0M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,000,000+ (includes grants and scholarships)
  • Community Grants Program: $1,700,000 annually
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $50,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties, Illinois
  • Total Assets: $140,000,000+

Contact Details

Address: 946 North Second Street, Rockford, IL 61107

Phone: 815-962-2110

Fax: 815-962-2116

Email: info@cfnil.org

Website: https://www.cfnil.org/

Grants Officer: Lisa DeLang, edelang@cfnil.org, 779-210-8210

Overview

Founded in 1953 as the Rockford Community Trust with just $12,351, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) has grown to become one of the region's most significant philanthropic institutions with over $140 million in assets across 400+ individual funds. The foundation serves four counties in northern Illinois (Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago) and distributes over $5 million annually through competitive grant programs and 130+ unique scholarships. CFNIL operates as a public charity with professional staff oversight and a volunteer Board of Trustees. In 2025, James Patterson, a 25-year CFNIL veteran and former Senior Program Director, became President. The foundation received Guidestar's 2024 Platinum Seal of Transparency and has distributed over $80 million in grants since its inception. CFNIL's strategic approach emphasizes building endowments, supporting local causes, and investing in youth leadership while maintaining donor intent in perpetuity.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Grants Program: Variable amounts (recent grants ranged from $6,625 to multi-year commitments)

  • Annual distribution of $1.7+ million through competitive application process
  • Application opens June 26, closes August 14 annually (online portal)
  • Awards announced week of November 17, funds available by end of November
  • Up to two unique proposals per organization allowed

Neighborhood Grants Program: Up to $2,500

  • Rolling application basis (as of April 2025)
  • Supports neighbor-led, neighborhood-level efforts
  • Open to both nonprofits AND informal neighborhood groups

In Youth We Trust (IYWT) Grants: Up to $3,000 per application

  • $40,000 distributed annually across two grant cycles
  • Youth-led, youth-serving projects
  • Applications typically open late October, close early December

Community Opportunities Grants: Up to $5,000

  • Smaller, streamlined application process

Priority Areas

CFNIL makes grants in eight focus areas:

  1. Arts & Humanities - Cultural programming and creative expression
  2. Basic Needs & Compassionate Support - Essential services and dignity-focused programs
  3. Career Pathways - Workforce development and economic mobility
  4. Complementary Education - Educational enrichment beyond traditional schooling
  5. Dignity & Respect - Equity-focused initiatives
  6. Health - Physical and mental wellness programs
  7. Sustainable Communities - Environmental and community development
  8. Youth & Families - Family support and youth development

Recent grantees include Eversight (clinical operations for cornea donors), and the 2024 program cycle supported 88 organizations with $1.73 million.

What They Don't Fund

  • Fundraisers
  • General operations
  • Endowment building
  • Large-scale capital campaigns

Grants must fund activities directly related to charitable work. Indirect costs are allowed up to 15%.

Governance and Leadership

President: James Patterson (assumed leadership in 2025 after 25 years with CFNIL, most recently as Senior Program Director)

Board of Trustees:

  • Kathy Kwiat-Hess, Chair (Retired Licensed Clinical Social Worker)
  • Stephen Schmeling, Vice Chair (Schmeling Construction, Co.)

Key Staff:

  • Lisa DeLang, Program and Administrative Associate/Grants Officer
  • Kate Black, Program and Development Associate and In Youth We Trust Liaison
  • Heather Cunningham, Program and Education Coordinator
  • Kate Ambrose, Portal Support (779-210-8202)

The foundation's staff brings over 75 years of combined experience in the community foundation field. The organization is guided by seven "Grantmaking Philosophies" that inform all review processes.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: All applications must be submitted through CFNIL's online Web Portal by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline date. Registration and application tutorials are available at cfnil.org/grant-resources.

Application Components (seven sections):

  1. Summary - Basic information and Focus Area selection
  2. Proposal Plan - Detailed activity description
  3. Community Need - Why the activity is needed and who it serves
  4. Proposal Budget - Detailed budget and narrative
  5. Evaluation Plan - Anticipated results with quantitative measures
  6. Organizational Background - Organization capacity and experience
  7. Grant Agreement - Terms acceptance

Tiered Application Format:

  • Requests over $50,000: Full application with audited financials
  • Requests $10,001-$50,000: Streamlined application with most recent Form 990
  • Requests under $10,000: Simplified process (Neighborhood/Community Opportunities)

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit, religious organization, government unit, or public university/college
  • Organization must have been in active service to the public for at least one year as of December 1st
  • Must be current on all interim and final reports for previous CFNIL grants
  • Proposals must primarily benefit residents of Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago Counties
  • Neighborhood Grants: Informal groups organized for charitable purposes may apply (501(c)(3) status not required)

Decision Timeline

Community Grants Program:

  • Applications open: June 26
  • Deadline: August 14 (5:00 p.m.)
  • Awards announced: Week of November 17
  • Funds available: End of November
  • Total timeline: ~3-4 months from submission to decision

Neighborhood Grants: Rolling basis with ongoing review

In Youth We Trust: Two cycles per year; applications typically close early November/December with decisions within 2-3 months

Reporting: Final reports due approximately 14 months after approval

Success Rates

In 2024, CFNIL awarded 88 organizations out of submitted applications through the Community Grants Program (specific acceptance rate not publicly disclosed). Since 2015, CFNIL has awarded 963 individual grants totaling $32,822,971.

The In Youth We Trust Council selected 6 organizations for awards totaling $21,691.73 in the 2024-2025 second cycle.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations must be current on all interim and final reports to be eligible to apply. Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented; contact Lisa DeLang for guidance.

Application Success Factors

CFNIL reviewers emphasize the importance of clarity and quantitative measurement. According to official guidance from CFNIL's Resources for Grantseekers:

What Reviewers Look For:

  • Who is applying: Organizational capacity and track record
  • How they will put a plan into action: Clear, feasible implementation strategy
  • What the plan will accomplish: Specific, measurable outcomes

Critical Evaluation Plan Elements: CFNIL explicitly states: "CFNIL reviewers need the clearest possible description of projected quantitative results in order to meaningfully evaluate your application."

Your evaluation plan must include:

  • Result: The specific change or improvement intended - how participants will benefit
  • Indicators of Success: Data to be collected showing evidence of change (outputs and outcomes)
  • Targets: Numerical or percentage goals that define desired achievement (not target population)
  • Measurement Methods: How you will track progress
  • Benchmarks: Standards for comparison

Budget Best Practices:

  • Include only revenue and expenses specific to this proposal
  • Ensure revenue equals or exceeds expenses
  • Group expenses logically
  • Use budget narrative for detailed explanations
  • Indirect costs up to 15% are allowable

Application Tips from CFNIL:

  • "Don't necessarily try to max out character limits" - be concise and clear
  • Save drafts frequently before logging out
  • Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar
  • Combine multiple PDFs if needed for attachments
  • It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure proposals are complete

Review Process: All applications are reviewed by volunteer committees. Reviews are conducted anonymously based on the purpose and specific criteria established by donors and CFNIL's seven Grantmaking Philosophies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Quantify everything: CFNIL explicitly requires "the clearest possible description of projected quantitative results" - vague outcomes will weaken your application
  • Match to focus areas: Align your proposal clearly with one of the eight focus areas (Arts & Humanities, Basic Needs & Compassionate Support, Career Pathways, Complementary Education, Dignity & Respect, Health, Sustainable Communities, Youth & Families)
  • Know the funding tiers: Tailor your application complexity to your request amount - over $50K requires audited financials, $10K-$50K needs Form 990, under $10K has simplified processes
  • Plan for long-term relationships: Organizations must be current on all previous CFNIL reports to apply, signaling the foundation values ongoing partnerships
  • Be geographically specific: Your proposal must primarily benefit residents of the four-county region (Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, Winnebago)
  • Consider Neighborhood Grants for grassroots work: If you're doing neighborhood-level work and don't have 501(c)(3) status, the Neighborhood Grants Program (up to $2,500, rolling basis) offers accessible entry
  • Youth engagement matters: With In Youth We Trust grants and Youth & Families as a focus area, youth-led and youth-serving projects align with strategic priorities

References

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