Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Scholarships (Rockford)

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois runs the region's largest private scholarship program: one universal application that matches a student's answers to more than 125 individual funds serving Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago Counties, including Rockford and Belvidere. There are three separate application cycles each year, and the same set of yes/no and background questions sorts each applicant into every fund they qualify for, rather than requiring a fund-by-fund application. Award amounts, GPA expectations, and renewal terms differ by individual fund, and awards are paid directly to the recipient's college.

Eligibility

DemographicsMost funds require residency in or attendance at a high school in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, or Winnebago County (the Rockford/Northern Illinois region); eligibility varies fund by fund.

Applying

125+ scholarship funds available across three annual cycles; the foundation reports $500K+ awarded annually.