Best Grants for Teachers Continuing Education in Illinois

Illinois Housing Development Authority

IHDA was created by the state legislature in 1967 pursuant to the Illinois Housing Development Act as a self-supporting agency to finance affordable housing across Illinois. IHDA does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it does administer publicly funded programs on behalf of the state. Since its creation, IHDA has provided more than $27 billion in state, federal, and leveraged financing to make possible the purchase, development, or rehabilitation of more than 327,000 homes and apartments for low- and middle-income households. IHDA accomplishes its mission through a number of funding sources including the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits, the allocation of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and HOME Investment Partnership funds. IHDA is also a bonding authority and independently sells bonds, based on our strong credit rating of A1/AA/AA from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings respectively.

Strong Communities Program

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is pleased to announce its Request for Applications (RFA) for Round 3 of the Strong Communities Program (SCP).

SCP grants funds to municipalities, counties, and land banks to address affordable housing needs and community revitalization efforts. SCP will return vacant residential properties to productive and taxable use through rehabilitation and provide funds for demolition in cases where properties are beyond repair and negatively impacting neighboring residences, preparing them for future development. SCP will increase property values, create jobs, help reduce crime, generate additional tax revenue, and attract further community investment. By enabling greater revitalization opportunities, SCP will preserve existing affordable housing stock that is often in city centers and in proximity to community amenities (schools, parks, medical facilities, shopping, jobs, and transportation).

The Dr. Michael Mugge Scholarship Fund, established by Diane Mugge, aims to support graduating seniors from Murphysboro School District 186 who are pursuing higher education, particularly in music education. If there are not enough applicants in that field, students studying agriculture or education may also qualify. This initiative, under the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, seeks to foster educational growth and community development in southern Illinois.

The FKSI Scholarship Fund, managed by the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, aims to support high school graduates from Southern Illinois with $2,500 scholarships. This initiative focuses on empowering students who have faced significant hardships, such as losing parents or being in the foster care system. The fund encourages those pursuing careers in trades or technical fields and maintains a GPA requirement of 2.0 or higher, promoting educational opportunities for deserving youth.

The Gregory-Rye Scholarship Fund, established by the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, honors the legacy of Elmer Gregory and Leonard Rye. This scholarship aims to support Benton High School students pursuing higher education with awards of $10,000, distributed in four installments. With a minimum GPA of 2.00, this fund seeks to empower students to achieve their educational and career dreams, reflecting the values of philanthropy and community support in southern Illinois.

The EEAI Mini-Grants program supports projects aimed at educating communities about environmental issues and enhancing ecological understanding. With grants of up to $350, successful proposals demonstrate a sustainable impact, such as integrating classroom curricula with experiential learning. Eligible applicants include Illinois educators who are members of the Environmental Education Association of Illinois (EEAI). This competitive grant process encourages innovative approaches to environmental education.

The California Casualty Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grant aims to support public middle and high school sports programs facing funding challenges due to budget cuts. Established by California Casualty, this grant provides financial assistance for purchasing equipment and covering travel costs for competitions. Eligible applicants must be active employees of public schools and members of affiliated education associations. Awards cannot be used for individual student recognition or fundraising projects.

Southern Illinois Community Foundation

Our Vision

To engage the people of southern Illinois in building a tradition of philanthropy. The Southern Illinois Community Foundation is committed to creating an opportunity for donors to participate in local community development efforts to address the changing needs of our community through charitable giving.

Our Scholarships

We represent scholarships all across Southern Illinois with a variety of different missions, goals, and dreams. 

Harry Bertram Reynolds Scholarship Fund

This fund was established in memory of Harry Bertram Reynolds to benefit a graduating senior from a High School in Jefferson County, Illinois.

The James M. Cox Foundation Grant offers support to nonprofit organizations focused on conservation, early childhood education, family empowerment, and health. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt and located in areas where Cox Enterprises operates. Grant applications are accepted year-round, with deadlines before Trustee meetings. Preference is given to organizations with a history of local engagement. This foundation embodies the philanthropic spirit of its founder, James M. Cox, by giving back to the community.

The Joyce Foundation's Democracy Grants aim to enhance participation and representation in the electoral process across the Great Lakes region. With a focus on combating voter suppression, gerrymandering, and disinformation, the Foundation supports policy changes that protect voting rights and ensure fair representation. Through public engagement and litigation, it seeks to empower communities of color and young voters, fostering a more equitable democracy for all residents.

The Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform Grant by The Joyce Foundation aims to create safer communities in the Great Lakes region. It focuses on reducing gun violence, addressing racial disparities in the justice system, and promoting violence intervention strategies. The foundation invites innovative proposals that support these goals, emphasizing research, policy advocacy, and community engagement to effectively address the challenges of gun violence and promote racial equity.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

The primary responsibility of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security (IEMA-OHS) is to better prepare the State of Illinois for natural, manmade or technological disasters, hazards, or acts of terrorism. Our goal is a "better prepared state." IEMA-OHS coordinates the State's disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery programs and activities, functions as the State Emergency Response Commission, and maintains a 24-hour Communication Center and State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). The SEOC acts as lead in crisis/consequence management response and operations to notify, activate, deploy and employ state resources in response to any threat or act of terrorism. IEMA-OHS assists local governments with multi-hazard emergency operations plans and maintains the Illinois Emergency Operations Plan. 

September 11th License Plates

State Award Notices

September 11th Fund as grants to aid victims of terrorism and as grants to local governments to cover the costs of training, equipment, and other items related to public safety initiatives intended to prevent further acts of terrorism or to respond to further acts of terrorism or other disasters or emergency situations in Illinois.

The September 11th Fund is created as a special fund in the State treasury. Subject to appropriation by the General Assembly, the Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency shall pay all moneys in the September 11th Fund as grants to aid victims of terrorism and as grants to local governments to cover the costs of training, equipment, and other items related to public safety initiatives intended to prevent further acts of terrorism or to respond to further acts of terrorism or other disasters or emergency situations in Illinois.

Funding Restrictions: Potential Grantees must be identified in the State of Illinois Homeland Security Strategy.

The CDBG Economic Development Program, managed by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, provides grants to local governments to support private businesses that create or retain jobs for low-to-moderate income workers. Grants can be used for public infrastructure improvements and are awarded based on project feasibility and need, with a ceiling of $1,000,000 per award, ensuring economic growth in eligible communities.

The Dr. Carolyn Ghazal Dental Assistant Scholarships, offered by the Pacific Dental Services Foundation, provide financial aid of up to $5,000 for eligible dental assistant students. Applicants must be over 18, U.S. citizens or legal residents, and enrolled in a qualifying program. The scholarship emphasizes mentorship and training, supporting the next generation of dental assistants. Awards are based on financial need and application quality, with multiple cycles each year to support aspiring professionals.

The Equitable Energy Future Grant Program, launched by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, aims to provide crucial seed and pre-development funding to contractors. This initiative supports renewable energy and energy efficiency projects specifically benefiting historically disadvantaged communities. By addressing capital barriers, the program fosters business and community development, ensuring that these vital projects can thrive. Funding ranges from $250,000 to $1,000,000, encouraging early applications as funds are limited.

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.

Louise G. & Margaret E. Lane Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund provides income to students graduating from Aurora Christian, East Aurora or West Aurora High School for attendance at a college or university located within the State of Illinois.

Margaret Lane (1906-1993) was a graduate of West Aurora High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University.

Her sister Louise Lane (1907-2003) also received her undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and a graduate degree from Northwestern University. She taught in the West Aurora School System at Greenman and Freeman Elementary Schools, as well as West Aurora High School.

Both women maintained memberships in numerous community organizations including the American Association of University Women, the Aurora Area Retired Teacher’s Association and New England Congregational Church.

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund. The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year. Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

The SBIR/STTR Match Program, offered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, provides state funding to support small businesses that have received federal grants through the SBIR and STTR programs. This initiative encourages innovation by facilitating research and development of high-tech products with potential federal interest. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are depleted, ensuring timely support for eligible companies.

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.

Richard E. & Ann R. McWethy Scholarship Endowment Fund

This fund provides scholarships for residents of Kendall County, Illinois.

Ann Riford McWethy (1919-2019) was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1919 to Lulu and Otis Riford. She grew up in Canton, south of Boston.

After four years at prep school at Northfield, Massachusetts, Mrs. McWethy graduated from Green Mountain College in Vermont.

As a youth, she played tennis and taught swimming and canoeing as a counselor at Camp Waukeela in New Hampshire. She enjoyed other sports as well, including downhill and cross-country skiing.

After college she worked as a legal secretary in Boston.

She met her future husband Richard E. McWethy at a naval officers’ dance at Harvard University. He knew that “she was the one” right away. They were married a few months later in January of 1944 in her home.

Richard (Dick) McWethy (1921-2014) was born and raised in Aurora, Illinois. He spent his summers at the family cottage near South Haven on Lake Michigan enjoying swimming, sailing and tennis.

He graduated first in his class from West Aurora High School in 1939. He then enrolled at Caltech in Pasadena, majoring in engineering.

Mr. McWethy was on active duty with the Naval Reserve when school was not in session. He spent one summer aboard the 110-foot schooner “Volador,” sailing patrol one hundred to one hundred-fifty miles offshore watching for Japanese submarines.

After graduation, he was called for active duty in the Navy and was sent to Harvard University for communications training.

Eventually, he served on Attu, at the end of the Aleutian Island chain in Alaska. There he worked in communications with code machines while they launched bombing runs over northern Japan. He noted that the weather reports on Attu ended every day with “wind gusts to 60k.”

The couple had three children – Merrill, Peggy and Lee.

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.

Richard J. & Marilyn J. Michelini Scholarship Endowment Fund

The Richard J. and Marilyn J. Michelini Scholarship Endowment Fund was created to provide scholarships to students who reside within the incorporated area of the Village of Montgomery.

Richard Michelini (1931-2003) graduated from Colorado State University. He served in the United States Army and was regional sales manager for Ciba-Geigy for thirty-three years.

Marilyn Michelini served as the president of the Village of Montgomery. Previously, she served on the Kane County Board and the Village of Montgomery Board of Trustees.

Mrs. Michelini was a member of the DuKane Valley Council, Kendall County Mayors and Managers Association, Metro West Council of Governments, and Fox Valley United Way.

The Michelini’s have five children: Thomas ’72, Marie Lynn ’73, Mark ’77, Lisa ’80, Tina ’90.

Mrs. Michelini created this scholarship fund in 2005 as a celebration of the wonderful education the Michelini children received in Aurora. One of the proudest accomplishments of Richard and Marilyn was that they were fortunate enough to send five children to college.

The fund became an endowment in 2008.

The Native Voices Endowment Grants, managed by the Endangered Language Fund, support the preservation of endangered languages associated with Native American tribes that interacted with the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1803-1806. Grants are available for language documentation, revitalization, and educational projects, fostering cultural heritage through various initiatives. Eligible applicants include tribal members and language programs, ensuring the continuation of linguistic traditions and community involvement in revitalizing native languages.

The Illinois Community College Board has initiated the Digital Instruction for Adult Education grant to enhance technology access and digital skills for adult learners. This initiative aims to support Title II Adult Education and IELCE programs in upgrading their technology infrastructure, ensuring effective integration of technology in classrooms, and improving distance learning options. By fostering innovation through AI and increasing access to educational resources, the grant will empower individuals with foundational skills to transition into postsecondary education and the workforce.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers Adult Literacy Grants to support organizations providing essential literacy services to adults. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for programs in Adult Basic Education, GED preparation, and English language acquisition. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, schools, and libraries located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store. The foundation aims to enhance educational opportunities and foster personal growth through literacy.

The Dollar General School Library Relief Grant Program, managed by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, provides crucial support to K-12 public school libraries that face significant damage due to disasters such as fires or federally recognized acts of terrorism. This grant aims to restore essential library resources, ensuring that affected communities can continue to access vital educational materials and support. Libraries must be within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and meet specific eligibility criteria.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers Family Literacy Grants to nonprofit organizations that support family literacy initiatives. Eligible applicants must provide services such as adult education, children's education, and parent-child engagement activities. Organizations must be located within 15 miles of a Dollar General store and have a valid IRS tax ID. This funding aims to enhance literacy skills for families, empowering individuals to achieve their educational goals.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation offers the DGLF Summer Reading Grants, which support the development and expansion of summer reading programs aimed at Pre-K to 12th grade students, particularly new and below-grade-level readers, including those with learning disabilities. Eligible organizations, such as nonprofits, schools, and libraries within 15 miles of a Dollar General store, can apply for grants up to $3,000 to foster literacy and education initiatives.

The DGLF Youth Literacy Grants, established by the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, aim to enhance literacy among underperforming students in K-12. Organizations such as schools and libraries can apply for funding to implement or expand literacy programs, purchase necessary materials, and acquire technology. With over $159 million awarded to date, the foundation supports efforts that provide equitable education opportunities, ensuring every child has the chance to learn and succeed, regardless of their background.

The Future Energy Jobs Act Multi-Cultural Jobs Program aims to foster job growth in the clean energy sector by providing innovative training that combines education with work-based learning. It focuses on developing a skilled workforce, ensuring inclusive participation from targeted communities, and maximizing benefits through strategic partnerships. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance workforce development in renewable energy and energy efficiency, facilitating self-sustaining employment opportunities.

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.