Margaret Mercer Stewart Scholarship Endowment Fund Grant

Margaret Mercer Stewart Scholarship Endowment Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
Last Updated: January 18, 2026

Summary

Overview

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois. We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation. Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community. The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois. Scholarship Program Scholarships are available to local students who will attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America on a full-time basis. Margaret Mercer Stewart Scholarship Endowment Fund This fund was created by Margaret Mercer Stewart to support the education of nursing students. Mrs. Stewart (1912-2005) was born in Aurora, Illinois. She graduated from West Aurora High School and attended North Central College. She was drawn to nursing, graduated from the Evanston Illinois Hospital School of Nursing in 1934 and then served as a school nurse in Evanston. In 1935, she married Thomas Graeme Stewart, a descendent of the pioneer Stewart farming family of Tamarack (now Plainfield) Illinois. The couple resided on and farmed the ancestral land from 1937 until Mr. Stewart’s death in 1970. Since that time, Mrs. Stewart continued to live on the farmstead and rented the land for agricultural purposes. She was able to achieve her wish of living on the farm until her death due in part to the care provided by her home health care aides. Mrs. Stewart was an artist, skilled in several media including pastels, oils and watercolors. She won numerous awards at both local and state levels.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants must complete their high school education during, at the conclusion of, or prior to the current academic year as follows. High School Diploma from a public, private, parochial, or online schoolHome-Schooled High School EducationGeneral Educational Development (GED) certificate or state certificate Applicants must attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America during the upcoming academic year.Applicants must pursue studies (career/technical/vocational, undergraduate, graduate, etc.) on a full-time basis during the upcoming academic year. Applicants must maintain a permanent address located within the Community Foundation Scholarship Program service area.A permanent address is usually a parent’s home or the address listed on a driver’s license, voters registration card, FAFSA, etc. It is most likely NOT a temporary on/off college campus address. The Community Foundation Scholarship Program service area includes the following areas within the State of Illinois (Scholarship elibility is limited to students who reside within the following areas within the State of Illinois): DeKalb County; DuPage County; Grundy County; Kane County; Kendall County; LaSalle County; Will County.