Community Opportunities Grants

_NOTE: Organizations interested in applying for a Community Opportunities grant must contact the Program Director to discuss the proposal._

Grantmaking at CFNIL

CFNIL has been building endowments and honoring donor intent through grantmaking in the Rockford region since 1953. Early grants responded to community needs by funding the distribution of the polio vaccine and creating safe places for children to play. Since its founding, CFNIL has granted more than $71,000,000 for the benefit of the region. This has been made possible through the generosity of CFNIL’s donors—individuals, families and organizations committed to improving the region’s quality of life. Endowed gifts create reliable funding for current needs and future opportunities. That’s the power of endowment!

Community Opportunities Grant Program

The Community Opportunities Grant Program was created by CFNIL’s Board of Trustees to provide the Foundation with flexible funding to respond to emerging opportunities and unforeseen crises. Typically $30,000 is allocated per fiscal year for this program and funds are available until depleted. Because the funds available are limited, the criteria are very specific.

Program Criteria:

• Address an emergency that immediately impacts an organization’s ability to serve their clients.
• Funding, either alone or with other secured funds, must solve the crisis.
• Funds are not intended to be used for standard operating expenses.
• An unforeseen, time-sensitive opportunity that will benefit a broad constituency beyond the applying organization and its clients.
• An opportunity to leverage matching grant dollars for a charitable activity.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Organizations can receive one Community Opportunities grant per year and may not submit an application in two consecutive years
• All applications are subject to CFNIL’s Community Grant Eligibility and Requirements guidelines
• To be eligible to apply for funding from the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, an applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization OR a religious organization, unit of government, or public university/college.

Ineligibility

• CFNIL does not fund charitable activities that promote a religion or require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services. However, grants may be made to faith-based organizations for non-religious purposes.
• CFNIL will fund:
• Expenses that are directly related to the design and implementation of a proposal. Income and expenses related to the proposal must be itemized using CFNIL’s Budget Template.
• The purchase and installation of capital assets (i.e., assets that have a useful life greater than one year and which will be depreciated on the applicant’s books).
• Wages for staff or contractors to the extent that the request is appropriate to the proposal’s scope and implementation.
• Indirect costs that do not exceed 15% of the amount being requested in the proposal. Indirect costs are defined as expenses that cannot be easily attributed to the funded charitable activity but are essential to the operation of the grantee.
• Examples include utilities, insurance, general administrative support, and the portion of a building that is used to support the general operations of the organization.