Community Foundation of East Central Illinois

OVERVIEW: The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois supports arts and humanities, environment, education, health, human services, urban affairs and youth activities in Illinois.

IP TAKE: This community funder has broad interests and supports nonprofits with staff and board members training opportunities. Unsolicited applications are accepted for some programs. Guidelines and due dates vary by program.

PROFILE: Established in 1972, the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois (CFECI) is a community foundation based in Champaign, Illinois. It supports and serves donors by managing and administering endowed funds, and it is run by an independent governing body of 15 volunteer trustees. The foundation aims to "be a leader and major catalyst for long-term philanthropic assistance to the residents of East Central Illinois.” It funds local efforts for arts and humanities, environment, education, health, human services, urban affairs and youth activities.

The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois has an annual unrestricted grant cycle to support organizations with capital items and financial support to better serve the region. CFECI also provides micro-grants to fund professional meetings and trainings for staff and board members. CFECI has a Building Better Boards program to increase the capacity of nonprofits, while collective impact grants fund collaborations. Marajen Stevick Foundation grants help improve the lives of seniors and fund beautification projects and reading and writing programs. In addition to grants, CFECI holds numerous scholarship funds and makes scholarship opportunities available to public high school counselors, who share information with their students. The funder provides program-related investments to fill gaps between state funding and organizational expenses as well.

Grants range between about $1,000 and $10,000. Micro-grants are for $1,500 or less. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on the East Central Illinois counties of Iroquois, Ford, Piatt, Champaign, Vermilion, Moultrie, Douglas, Coles and Edgar. Past local grantees include Boys & Girls Club of Danville, Champaign County Farm Bureau and Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits for some programs. Each opportunity has its own unique set of guidelines and deadlines. The annual community grant applications, for example, are accepted during the month of August. Direct general questions to the staff at info@cfeci.org or 217-359-0125.

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