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$8.25B
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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.
George & Cora Webster Scholarship Endowment Fund
The George and Cora Webster Scholarship Endowment Fund provides scholarships to African American students who are graduates of high schools located within the Community Foundation service area.
George Webster is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Westinghouse High School in Pittsburgh and attended Pennsylvania State University. In 1963, Mr. Webster enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. His service included sixteen months in Vietnam. After serving ten years in the Marine Corp, he joined the United States Navy. From 1979 until 1982, he was a Navy recruiter in Aurora. He served on five different aircraft carriers, and eventually achieved the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. Upon his retirement from the service in 1988, he and his wife Cora Webster moved back to the Aurora Community. George was also an Aurora Election Commission Judge for twenty-one years and a member of the Aurora Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association for many years.
Cora Webster was born in Eudora, Arkansas. She worked as a licensed cosmetologist in Texas and was employed by both the May Company and the KMART Corporation in Illinois. Cora (1939-2022) was a member of the Main Street Baptist Church and served as a member of the Nurse’s Aide Ministry.
Mr. and Mrs. Webster were married in December 1969 at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Chicago. They have one son, one granddaughter, two grandsons, and two great-grandsons.
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.
Dorothy K. Witte Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund
This Fund honors the memory of Dorothy K. Witte (1912-2008) who taught in East Aurora School District elementary schools for the bulk of her career. She had previously taught briefly in several Lutheran schools prior to having her three children, Elizabeth, Jonathan, and Robert who all graduated from East Aurora High School. After her husband Paul’s death at age 46, she began teaching in the East Aurora School District 131, at Brady Elementary, to support her young family. Her career in education became her life’s passion which spanned 25 years (1958-1982).
Dorothy’s dedication to helping students who had behavioral and learning difficulties led her to be the “go to” teacher for working with students with educational challenges. Often her students were the only English speakers in their home, so she took Spanish lessons to be able to communicate more effectively with the parents of her students. She occasionally made home visits when families felt uncomfortable attending school conferences. Her dining room table at home was often cluttered with lesson plans, teaching supplies, and papers to grade. She was known to stay in her classroom until well after dark working to prepare for class the next day.
Her daughter Beth (1940-2011) followed her mother into a career in teaching/education. Her sons Jon and Bob initially studied to be teachers, but eventually went into the medical field as physicians. They now establish this scholarship to honor their mother and the teaching profession which has been a consistent thread through their family. The funds awarded are intended for a recipient who seeks to pursue a career as a public school educator, helping those who most need the expertise of a skilled and caring teacher.
Special Education Teacher (SPED) Pathway Program
The Minnesota Department of Education has funding available under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 122A.77, for grants under the Special Education Teacher (SPED) Pathway Program to develop trained and licensed Tier 3 or Tier 4 special education teachers.
Grant recipients must prioritize using grant funds to support participants who are employed by the grant recipient (or any joint applicants) as Tier 1 or Tier 2 licensed special education teachers. If funding is available, the funds may also be used to support other employees who wish to become special education teachers and who demonstrate a willingness to enter the field after completing the program.
Funding
This grant opportunity estimates $9,825,000 available to fund 10-20 grants under Minnesota Statutes 2025, section 122A.77. Most grants will not exceed $750,000 per grant request; however, there is no maximum grant award.
For larger applicants (including joint applicants), funding needs may exceed the suggested $750,000 maximum amount. For smaller applicants (less than 1,000 students) funding needs are generally under less than $250,000.
Beyond the Classroom (BTC) Grant
Out of School Time (OST) programming is vital for the well-being and development of children in our region, providing safety, academic support, and social connections while addressing critical community needs. Despite the importance of OST programs, many face significant challenges, including funding gaps, staffing shortages, transportation barriers, and limited access to resources. Addressing these issues is essential to ensure access to equitable opportunities for students and families.
Beyond the Classroom (BTC) features a rolling application process, with regular review and award cycles to ensure timely support. Rapid Response grants allow OST providers to act quickly and effectively, enhancing their ability to serve families and adapt to changing circumstances.
The purpose of Beyond the Classroom grant funding is to alleviate unexpected needs. It is not intended to enhance or expand current programming. Examples may include facility emergencies, such as equipment failure due to age or usage, a sudden increase in demand for services due to a natural disaster, community trauma, or local emergency, or other unanticipated organizational need.
Out of School Time (OST) program (before or after school or summer program) qualifies for BTC funding.
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.
United Punjabis of America Excellence in Community Service Scholarship Fund
This scholarship in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded annually to two eligible applicants. This scholarship is a one-year award and is non-renewable.
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.
Trembacki & Hultgren Families Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund provides scholarships to students graduating from East Aurora or West Aurora High School who will be entering the field of teaching.
Raymond Trembacki (1925-2000) was a teacher in the West Aurora School System from 1952 to 1959.
He then moved to East Aurora High School to develop the photography curriculum. In 1983, he continued his teaching career at the College of DuPage.
Janice Trembacki (1927-1997) was an English teacher in the West Aurora School System. She taught at Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson Junior High Schools. She retired in 1990.
Mr. and Mrs. Trembacki were graduates of Illinois State University (BA) and Colorado State College (MA).
Dale and Rae Jean Hultgren also had long and distinguished careers as educators for the Aurora schools.
In 1953, Dale Hultgren joined his sister Janice Trembacki in the West Aurora School System. He taught at Freeman Elementary School and later he taught science at Thomas Jefferson Junior High School.
Mr. Hultgren is a graduate of Illinois State University (BS) and the University of Colorado (MS).
Rae Jean Hultgren (1935-2008) taught in the Business Education Department at West Aurora High School, where she later became the department chairperson.
She also taught at East Aurora High School in the Business Education Department until her retirement in 2000. Mrs. Hultgren is a graduate of the University of Iowa (BBA and MA).
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.
Thorium Action Group/Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund provides scholarships to graduating high school seniors who reside within West Chicago Community High School District 94 in the State of Illinois.
It is a living legacy that symbolizes the joint effort of the Thorium Action Group, the people of the City of West Chicago, Illinois, their elected representatives, and the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation to remove the radioactive thorium contamination from the community.
This fund was established on September 17, 1997 with a generous donation from the Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation. Kerr-McGee made the donation in the name of the Thorium Action Group because of the group’s fight to clean up the city.
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.
Thomas P. Sperry Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund was established by the family and friends of Dr. Thomas P. Sperry.
Thomas Sperry (1948-1998) practiced Orthodontics in the Aurora area for twenty years.
He was a graduate of the University of Illinois College of Dentistry and had served as an associate professor in the Department of Orthodontics at the University of Illinois in Chicago.
In addition to his numerous professional affiliations, Dr. Sperry was an avid historian, writer and mountain climber.
Scholarships from this fund are reserved for students pursuing studies in the liberal arts curriculum with preference to those students majoring in history.
Created in 1998, the fund was established as an endowment in 1999.
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.
Simons-Minkler Scholarship Endowment Fund
This endowment was created upon receipt of a bequest from Katharyn Simons.
Miss Simons (1885-1969) lived her early years in Yorkville. Upon graduation from Beloit College, she taught at Morton High School in Cicero for thirty-six years.
After her retirement, she returned to Yorkville. Her maternal grandfather was an early settler of Kendall County and developed the famous “Minkler Apple.”
Simons bequeathed a large portion of her estate to the Foundation in honor of her family.
The Simons-Minkler Fund provides income for scholarships to graduates of East Aurora, West Aurora or Yorkville High School.
Created in 1970, the fund was established as an endowment in 1989.
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.
Ruth H. & B.R. Skaggs Endowment Fund
This fund provides scholarships to students graduating from a high school in the Foundation’s service area with preference to students pursuing a vocation related to the field of Christian Service.
Ruth H. Skaggs (1912-2006) served as the Community Foundation’s Scholarship Secretary for eighteen years, retiring in 1988. She previously had been secretary to the president of Lyon Metal Products. She also served as a director of the Bank of Boulder Hill until it affiliated with Merchants National Bank.
Her husband B.R. “Bev” Skaggs (1912-1996) retired from Lyon Metal Products in 1977 after forty-one years of service. He was a member of the American Society of Safety Engineers and the Lyon Quarter-Century Club. He also served in the United States Navy during WWII.
The Skaggs were active volunteers for Wayside Cross Ministries, the Boulder Hill Civic Association and Bethany of Fox Valley United Methodist Church.
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.
Mildred E. Shambo Scholarship Endowment Fund
Scholarships from this fund are awarded to students at the undergraduate and graduate level of study.
The fund was established upon receipt of a bequest from Mildred Shambo (1907-1992).
Miss Shambo, a lifelong resident of Aurora, taught in the East Aurora School System for thirty-nine years.
She was a philosophy major at the University of Chicago and later earned a master of arts degree from Northwestern.
She maintained memberships in numerous professional and civic organizations.
Miss Shambo provided a bequest to the Community Foundation as her way of giving back to the community which had meant so much to her throughout her lifetime.
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.
Louis Vago Scholarship Fund
This fund was created by Louis N. Vago (1925-2015) to provide scholarships to students in the Fox River Valley Area.
These scholarships are reserved for graduates of Aurora Central Catholic, Aurora Christian, East Aurora, Marmion, Metea Valley, Rosary, Waubonsie Valley or West Aurora High School.
Students must attend Aurora University, DePaul University or Hillsdale College.
Mr. Vago received his law degree from DePaul University.
He was a certified public accountant and an agent for the Internal Revenue Service.
He then founded and was president of General Aluminum Corporation from 1960-1986.
Louis Vago was a director of the Community Foundation for twenty-two years.
He also maintained memberships in numerous professional and civic organizations including the Illinois Bar Association, Kane County Bar Association, Elks Lodge and the Knights of Columbus.
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.
Drs. Sara & Daniel Susmano Scholarship Fund
In 1989 Aurora physicians, Dr. Sara and Dr. Daniel Susmano, created a scholarship fund within the Community Foundation to assist area Hispanic students entering vocational fields of study.
Dr. Daniel Susmano was an urologist at Dreyer Medical Clinic. He is now retired.
Dr. Sara Susmano was a pediatrician and chief of medical staff at Northern Illinois University Health Services. Sara passed away on October 9, 2013.
Students graduating from East Aurora, West Aurora, or Waubonsie Valley High Schools are eligible for these scholarships.
In establishing this award, the Susmanos were primarily interested in encouraging students to enter vocations related to the field of health care.
Examples of such vocations include service and long-term care workers, physical therapists, medical records administrators and technicians, occupational therapists, and radiologists.
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.
Dan and Tracey Stellato Family Scholarship Endowment Fund
Scholarships from this fund are available to residents of the Foundation’s service area.
BEI Holdings is a multi-generational real estate, property management and development firm established in 1959 by the Dempsey Family. BEI Holdings has always remained steadfast in their devotion to communities in the Fox Valley.
Dan and Tracey Stellato have always placed a high level of importance on education for their three sons, Nicholas, Michael and Marc Anthony. The proud parents have watched their sons achieve much success after the boys earned their college diplomas.
The Stellato family would like to help others who look to chart their future with higher education and this scholarship, funded by BEI Holdings, and administered through the Community Foundation, feels like a great way to achieve this important goal.
Grants for BIPOC organizations fund programs aimed at advancing equity, inclusion, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. The following grants support initiatives in education, healthcare, business development, and social justice, driving systemic change and community empowerment.
Find 8,000+ grant opportunities dedicated to BIPOC-led initiatives, with $3.43B in funding available. Instrumentl’s database provides tailored searches, deadline tracking, and insights into funders that prioritize diversity and equity. Join 4,000+ nonprofits leveraging Instrumentl to achieve meaningful impact.
How common are grants in this category?
Quite common — grants in this category are more prevalent than in others.
Over the past year, when are grant deadlines typically due for grants for BIPOC?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
What's the typical grant amount funded for Grants for BIPOC?
Grants are most commonly $34,887.
These grants are usually funded by private foundations and philanthropic organizations, such as the Ford Foundation and the Kellogg Foundation. Government agencies at all levels often provide funding, especially for diversity and inclusion initiatives. Companies with social responsibility programs and community development groups are key funders.
Organizations that qualify for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) grants support ethnic and Indigenous minorities, LGBTQ+ members, refugees, and people who are or were incarcerated. They also assist unhoused individuals, veterans or their families, and people with disabilities. These organizations focus on racial equity, economic justice, and health disparities.
Applicants for BIPOC grants are typically US 501(c)(3) nonprofits, similar international organizations, advocacy groups, or community groups. These organizations are led by and serve BIPOC.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for grants for bipoc grants, deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 29.8% of all submission dates. The slowest period for new grant opportunities in this category falls in Q4, making it a less competitive time for preparation and strategic planning.
Funding for BIPOC grants aims to empower nonprofits that are led by and serve BIPOC communities. These grants support programmes that address systemic inequalities, promote social justice, enhance economic opportunities, and support community development within BIPOC communities. The grants are often directed towards initiatives in education, entrepreneurship, social justice, and healthcare access.
On average, grants in grants for bipoc provide funding between $0 and $188,250,000, with typical awards falling around $34,887 (median) and $655,609 (average). These insights can help nonprofits align their funding requests with what grantmakers typically offer in this space.
To improve success for BIPOC grants, organizations should:
For additional guidance, explore our step-by-step guide to crafting compelling grant proposals.
Instrumentl simplifies the grant application process for BIPOC organizations by matching them with the most relevant funders, saving time and ensuring no opportunity is overlooked. The platform also tracks applications, allowing organizations to stay on top of deadlines without stress. See how Lutheran Braille Workers increased their grant submissions by 150%.