KFF: Challenge Grants & Capacity Building Grants

KFF: Challenge Grants & Capacity Building Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Kjellstrom Family Foundation
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: February 27, 2026

Summary

The Kjellstrom Family Foundation, established in 2004, offers challenge grants and capacity building grants to support local charities in Northern Illinois. With an annual contribution of over $600,000, the foundation focuses on youth, arts, and community services. Grants range from $25,000 to $50,000, depending on the type of funding. KFF prioritizes organizations in Winnebago County and emphasizes partnerships that enhance operational efficiency and governance.

Overview

About the Foundation The Kjellstrom Family Foundation was established in 2004 and sustains Janet's memory and philanthropy. With assets over $10M, the foundation contributes over $600,000 annually to local charities. The Kjellstrom Family Foundation seeks to be flexible for grantees seeking award opportunities. Currently the Foundation will award grants which might be classified as: ProgrammaticCapital expenditures, orGeneral administration or overheadCapacity Building Challenge Grants The Foundation will award challenge grants for endowment or capital expenditures. The Trustees have agreed to allocate no more than one-fourth of the annual grant guideline to fund these opportunities. The organization defines the terms and time frame, with the challenge grant funds being awarded when the match is achieved. (i.e. match ratio of $2 raised to $1 challenge grant, etc.) The Foundation will also consider grants which would serve as matching funds to a challenge grant. (The Foundation will not match funds toward meeting a Community Foundation Carroll H. Starr Endowment Challenge.) Particularly, the Foundation would be inclined to consider a match to challenge grants issued by an out-of-community entity or person. Capacity Building Capacity building grants help leverage other funding, create or sustain better systems or processes, build partnerships or efficiencies and/or enhance knowledge for improved operations or governance. Through KFF's collaborative partner, the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence, capacity building supports can strengthen organizational systems and build competence and professionalism. Examples of fundable capacity building supports include: board and staff development, strategic action planning, fund development planning, mergers, collaborations, technology, marketing/communications, etc. Funding In general, individual grants will not exceed $40,000. Grant awards which match a challenge from an out-of-community entity or person will not exceed $25,000. On the other hand, the Foundation may issue challenge grants for endowment or capital expenditures in an amount not to exceed $50,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Kjellstrom Family Foundation (KFF), in general, accepts grant applications from organizations in Northern Illinois that address community needs within the fields of interest below listed, with special consideration given to youth-serving and arts organizations. Youth organizations and programsPerforming and visual artsMuseumsPeople with disabilitiesHuman servicesLiteracyNatureEducationOrganizational developmentKFF only funds organizations located and serving Winnebago, Boone, Ogle and/or Stephenson counties, with emphasis on charitable organizations in Winnebago County.

Ineligibility

The Foundation will generally not act as an event sponsor. And, the Trustees may not accept tickets to events or even inconsequential, tangential benefits in association with a grant.In general, the Foundation will not award grants to organizations with operating deficits.The Foundation will only award grants to organizations that have been in operation for over 3 years.The Foundation will not make a binding multi-year pledge, but will consider renewable annual grants, subject to review of the impact and consider modification of the terms of future related grant amounts.The Foundation discourages repetitive grants to a single organization for the same purpose.