Best DeKalb County Grants for Nonprofits in Illinois

NetJets Scholarship

NetJets is the leader in private aviation. We believe that service is everyone’s job and our company mission is “To enhance the life of each owner, one exceptional travel experience at a time.” The NetJets Scholarship was designed to reinforce a love of business aviation and hospitality, reward academic merit and exemplary character, as well as inspire students to consider an exciting and rewarding career with NetJets.

Award Amount:

• Three Scholarships for $25,000 each

National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) CMH

This scholarship was established to assist dependents of an active member of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, Columbus, Ohio Chapter.

Award Amount:

• $1,500

Mary Jo DeVleeschower Scholarship

Mary Jo DeVleeschower was a native of South Bend, Indiana, born January 14th, 1941. She graduated in 1968 from Andrew Jackson High School in South Bend, and graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana in 1972 with a degree in “special education.” Mary Jo taught at the Alexander Graham Bell School beginning in 1972 working with students who were hearing impaired. She attended the University of Southern California (John Tracy Clinic) and received her Master’s degree in 1978 from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. As a teacher at the Alexander Graham Bell School, Mary Jo worked through a grant with Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. for the Wole Language Program for the hearing impaired, publishing a related article in a national magazine. Mary Jo DeVleeschower loved the children with whom she worked, and poured her whole heart into her work. She had a special relationship with her students, demonstrated on the day of her memorial when some shared a tribute to her in American Sign Language. She further demonstrated her love and support for her students through the creation of the scholarship through her will.

Award Amount:

• Minimum $500

Judy Huang Scholarship

The scholarship was established by Judy Huang to support a college education for students who are Asian, in financial need, and demonstrate perseverance and hard work.

Award Amount:

• $5,000 payable over fours years at $1,250 per year.

Jean Griswold Foundation 

The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships. 

Mission

The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.

By offering educational scholarships, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.

The Jean Griswold Foundation is proud to continue the service created by Dr. Jean Griswold, through spearheading this strategic journey of growth and professional development.

Scholarships

The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.  

Summer Scholarship Program

The Jean Griswold Foundation has awarded over $150,000 in scholarships to exceptional Caregivers nationwide since 2022. 

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.

James H. & Ione P. Fitzgerald Scholarship Endowment Fund

James and Ione Fitzgerald bequeathed a portion of their estate to provide scholarships for students graduating from high schools located within the City of Aurora.

James Fitzgerald (1907-1995) was born in Oswego. He attained the rank of lieutenant with the Illinois State Police. Later, he served as the treasurer of Kane County.

He was a member of A. F. & A. M. Masonic Lodge #90, Aurora Moose Lodge #400, the Aurora Elks Club, Phoenix Club and the Elburn Lions Club.

Ione Fitzgerald (1914-2006) was born in Chicago. She was a graduate of East Aurora High School.

From 1939-1944, she was secretary to the director of Mooseheart. She later moved to Elgin where she was a buyer for Ackemann’s Department Store.

Mrs. Fitzgerald was the president of the Elgin Girl Scouts and a member of the Lady Elks.

After the death of their former spouses, James and Ione Fitzgerald were married in 1980.

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.

John “Jack” Harkness Memorial Fund

The John “Jack” Harkness Memorial Fund was established to support activities relating to mathematics and business through the A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools. In addition, an annual scholarship will be granted to a senior scholar athlete planning to major in accounting, business or math.

John “Jack” Harkness was raised in Aurora and graduated in 1946 from East Aurora High School. After high school, John spent two years overseas in the Army with the occupation forces following World War II. Following those two years, he played football at Knox College while serving in the Army Reserves. He graduated from Knox in 1952 with a degree in Accounting. After a final stint in the Army, he was honorably discharged and began his accounting career and focused on raising a family with the love of his life, Mary. Together they raised four children: John (deceased 1972), Mary Ann, Susan, and Karen.

John passed away in June 2018 and is dearly missed by his children and grandchildren. His passion for education was passed on to his daughters, who all became teachers.

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.

Philip B. Elfstrom & Peg Bond Scholarship Endowment Fund

Philip Elfstrom established this fund to provide scholarships to students who are residents of Batavia, Illinois.

Mr. Elfstrom, a Batavia businessman, was named Batavia Citizen of the Year in 1982.

He served as chairman of the Kane County Board from 1971 until 1982, after which he served as president of the Forest Preserve Commission until 1990.

Mr. Elfstrom was instrumental in acquiring many miles of Fox River shoreline for public use and in building the Kane County Trail System. He also brought Minor League Baseball to the Chicago Area.

Peg Bond (1914-1995) was an associate professor of arts. She was named Batavia Citizen of the Year in 1971.

Her civic involvement included the Batavia School Board, Batavia Planning Commission, Kane County Zoning Board and the Illinois Arts Council.

Her primary passion was teaching, through which she shared her talents and zest for learning with generations of students from Batavia Schools and Northern Illinois University.

The Peg Bond Center in Batavia was named in her honor.

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.

Robert C. & Maureen A. Granger Scholarship Endowment Fund

The Robert C. and Maureen A. Granger Scholarship Endowment Fund was created to assist graduates of East Aurora High School or West Aurora High School who are furthering their studies in a four-year college or university, seeking a degree in chemistry or chemical engineering.

This scholarship fund was established by Maureen Granger to help aspiring chemists earn a degree in the profession that her husband loved.

Robert (Bob) Granger was a graduate of East Aurora High School where he developed a lifelong interest in chemistry. He graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in chemistry.

He worked for the Burlington Railroad as a chemist/chief chemist for fourteen years. He then took a position with Sears Roebuck in Chicago as a chemist/product engineer until he passed away in 1990 at the age of sixty-one.

He and his wife Maureen were married for forty-one years before his passing. They raised their four children in Aurora.

The intent of this scholarship fund is to assist East Aurora and West Aurora High School graduates pursue a professional career in the field of chemistry.

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.

Robert L. & Joyce A. Golz Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund was created to support scholarships for graduates of high schools in the City of Aurora or the City of Oswego.

Robert Golz (1934-2003) was born and raised in Aurora. He was the son of the late Herbert Golz, the founder of Equipto Electronics in Aurora.

Mr. Golz joined the company in 1960 as vice president of manufacturing. From 1979 to 1999, he served as the chief executive officer and later became the firm’s chairman of the board.

According to Joyce Golz, her husband placed a high value on the lives of his employees. He often changed company policies to accommodate the schedules of working mothers.

He also limited the number of business trips in a year so that salespeople could spend more time with their families.

Joyce Golz joined Equipto Electronics in 1960. As the company grew, she became the sales supervisor and assistant to the sales manager. She retired in 1999.

Mrs. Golz established this fund to honor her husband and the strong principles by which he lived his life.

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.

Ruby M. Frank Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors from St. Charles with preference for those who go on to attend Aurora University or a Lutheran-affiliated college.

Ruby M. Frank (1920-2009) was born in McClusky, North Dakota. She attended Mankato College in Minnesota.

In 1953, Mrs. Frank moved to St. Charles, Illinois with her husband, Bob, whom she married in 1944.

In 1957, she founded Frank’s Employment in St. Charles. She worked in the family business for forty-six years until her retirement in 2003.

Ruby Frank was a director of the Community Foundation for twelve years, serving as chairman for two of those years.

She was a director of Delnor Hospital for thirty-six years and served as president during the merger with Community Hospital.

She also was president of the St. Charles Chamber of Commerce, GSB Women’s Republican Club and LSSI Hotel Baker Living Center.

Other board service included Aurora University, St. Charles Savings and Loan, Kane County Republican Committee, Illinois Association of Personnel Consultants, Kane DuPage Human Resources Association and WFXW-AM 1480.

Mrs. Frank received St. Charles’ highest award, The Charlemagne, in 1980. She also was voted one of the top five persons for service to the community of St. Charles in the 20th Century.

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.

Warren J. & Shirley J. Eggers Scholarship Fund

Warren J. Eggers, an active civic leader in the Aurora area, passed away on February 15, 2010.

To honor his life, Mr. Egger’s family and friends created a scholarship fund to provide assistance to local students with great financial need who wish to further their education upon graduation from high school.

Warren Eggers (1935-2010) was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in River Forest, Illinois.

He was a graduate of Oak Park–River Forest High School and Elmhurst College.

Upon graduation from college, he was employed as a research chemist at the Sherwin-Williams Company.

In 1966, the family moved to the Aurora area where Mr. Eggers continued his work in the paint and adhesive industry.

He and a group of colleagues purchased the former River Valley Coatings. He retired from the company in 1996.

He served as a director of the Waubonsee Community College Foundation, chairman of the Valley Industrial Association, member of the Kane County Bar Foundation and member of the Community Foundation Scholarship Committee.

Shirley Eggers was born and raised in Freeport, Illinois.

She received her R.N. from Rush-Presbyterian-Saint Lukes Hospital in Chicago and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from Northern Illinois University.

Mrs. Eggers retired after fifteen years as a school nurse at East Aurora High School.

Mr. and Mrs. Eggers were active members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Batavia.

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Brian Conner Memorial Scholarship Fund

This scholarship is in memory of Brian Conner, a 1995 graduate of Courtland High School. The fund will provide scholarships to graduating seniors of Spotsylvania High Schools who have lettered in cross country or long distance track, who have exhibited leadership abilities, and who have demonstrated a desire to exceed expectations in all endeavors. Brian loved long distance running and received 12 Varsity letters for cross-country, indoor and outdoor track. He also received an academic letter for his high scholastic achievements. Brian is remembered for his motivation and his desire for individual and team success. He encouraged others to excel through his own performance, his compassionate manner and caring smile. He attended Mary Washington College for two years until joining the United States Marine Corps in 1997. The Marines considered him a leader with character. 

The Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region

The Community Foundation is a devoted advocate for the vitality and well-being of the Rappahannock River Region. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that manages and distributes charitable giving in the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline, and the City of Fredericksburg.

Scholarships

One of The Community Foundation’s strategies for preserving and growing the quality of life in our region is supporting higher education for area students. Generous individuals and families, companies and organizations establish endowed scholarship funds and the proceeds from these funds benefit deserving students. Donors work with foundation staff to determine appropriate criteria for each fund. The Community Foundation currently administers more than fifty scholarship funds.

The Brandon Thomas Lawn Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of Brandon Thomas Lawn who attended Colonial Forge High School in Stafford County. Brandon was the victim of a work related summer job accident and passed away on August 12, 2003. He was an active Master Altar Server at St. William of York Catholic Church. Brandon demonstrated a deep love of family and faith in God. He was quick to help and listen to others and will be remembered as an individual who strived to achieve. He held a GPA of 4.3, an SAT score of 1440, and was an active member of the National Honor Society.

Brandon’s favorite sport was wrestling. He received three varsity letters in wrestling, one in cross-country, and three academic letters. He was the Commonwealth District Champion for the 2001-2002 season and placed fifth in AAA State Wrestling Competition in the 2002-2003 season. Brandon volunteered as a coach for younger children in other wrestling programs in the Stafford County community. Brandon dreamed of attending the United States Air Force Academy. Brandon was known to his close friends for “doing the right thing, no matter what anyone else thinks.”