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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.
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.
Higher Education Coordinating Commission
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is a State of Oregon agency and Commission working to improve equitable access to and success in higher education and workforce training for Oregonians statewide. We coordinate funding and policy, and convene partners across the public and private higher education and workforce landscape.
Oregon Promise Grant
The Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED® test completion.
Higher Education Coordinating Commission
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) is a State of Oregon agency and Commission working to improve equitable access to and success in higher education and workforce training for Oregonians statewide. We coordinate funding and policy, and convene partners across the public and private higher education and workforce landscape.
Oregon Promise Grant
The Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED® test completion.
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 Southern New Mexico
Mission: The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico serves as a community resource, connects donors to needs, and supports charitable organizations in their work.
Scholarships
CFSNM offers scholarships that support students from all walks and stages of life in pursuing various avenues of their educational and professional journeys.
Applicants must be pursuing any avenue of higher education and/or professional certifications. This includes undergraduate, post-grad, vocational and more! Applicants must be actively enrolled as a student. Applicants in high school must be a graduating senior.
Catherine Joyce Webb Endowed Scholarship Fund
To make awards to one or more (undergraduate/graduate) students attending NMSU Alamogordo campus
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 Southern New Mexico
Mission: The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico serves as a community resource, connects donors to needs, and supports charitable organizations in their work.
Scholarships
CFSNM offers scholarships that support students from all walks and stages of life in pursuing various avenues of their educational and professional journeys.
Applicants must be pursuing any avenue of higher education and/or professional certifications. This includes undergraduate, post-grad, vocational and more! Applicants must be actively enrolled as a student. Applicants in high school must be a graduating senior.
Carol Troeller Second Chance Scholarship Fund
To support students with emergency financial needs with a preference for a female student in business fields of study
Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico
Mission: The Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico serves as a community resource, connects donors to needs, and supports charitable organizations in their work.
Scholarships
CFSNM offers scholarships that support students from all walks and stages of life in pursuing various avenues of their educational and professional journeys.
Applicants must be pursuing any avenue of higher education and/or professional certifications. This includes undergraduate, post-grad, vocational and more! Applicants must be actively enrolled as a student. Applicants in high school must be a graduating senior.
Alfred P. Corral Endowment Fund
Scholarships for Hispanic students, with a preference for students from Mexico with a preference for students enrolled at DACC
AGC Education and Research Foundation
Thanks to visionary volunteer leadership of AGC industry leaders, the AGC Education and Research Foundation, founded in 1968, has for 50 years made good on its commitment to support the future of our industry through its robust scholarship program and innovative projects.
Research Initiatives
The AGC Education and Research Foundation directly responded to needs identified by AGC members and our partners at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) and American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). The Robert L. Bowen Industry Residency Fund and the Klinger Case Study Fund provide construction faculty nationwide with the resources necessary to support tomorrow's constructors in the classroom.
James L. Allhands Student Essay Competition
The James L. Allhands Essay was established by the late James L. Allhands, one of the founding members of AGC and a prolific writer of construction related works. The award recognizes a student essay on a specific topic that is deemed to be beneficial to the advancement of technological, educational, or vocational expertise in the construction industry.
The competition is open to any senior–level student in a four or five–year ABET or ACCE–accredited university construction management or construction–related engineering program.
Both the recipient and sponsor are invited as guests of the Foundation to the AGC Annual Convention. The topic for the 2027 Allhands Essay Competition is: "Promoting Effective Collaboration during Preconstruction ".
AGC Education and Research Foundation
Thanks to visionary volunteer leadership of AGC industry leaders, the AGC Education and Research Foundation, founded in 1968, has for 50 years made good on its commitment to support the future of our industry through its robust scholarship program and innovative projects.
Research Initiatives
The AGC Education and Research Foundation directly responded to needs identified by AGC members and our partners at the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) and American Council for Construction Education (ACCE). The Robert L. Bowen Industry Residency Fund and the Klinger Case Study Fund provide construction faculty nationwide with the resources necessary to support tomorrow's constructors in the classroom.
Robert L. Bowen Industry Residency Program
Industry residencies are created through partnerships between an educational institution, an AGC contractor, and the AGC Education and Research Foundation. In total, 65 industry residents have been sponsored by the foundation since 2011.
Each educator spends several weeks on site with a construction company with the intent of gaining field experience to bring back to their students. All educators are supported equally by the AGC Education and Research Foundation, their host AGC member company, and their institution.
On the application, the faculty member must: identify the specific skills and knowledge to be gained during the residency; identify an AGC construction firm or affiliated organization that has agreed to provide the requested professional work experience and financial support; and obtain support from the faculty member's institution. The selected faculty member(s) will document the residency experience in a post-residency report describing the experiences, learning outcomes and the value the residency will bring to his/her classroom.
Participating in this program is an investment in the future of the construction industry, providing valuable current professional experience that can be shared in the classroom. Professional residencies also benefit the host company by providing quality help on projects and if desired, feedback on management processes.
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 V. and Carol E. Winkle Scholarship Foundation Endowment Fund
The John V. and Carol E. Winkle Scholarship Foundation Endowment Fund was created to provide scholarships to high school graduates located within the Community Foundation’s service area. Graduates of Hinckley-Big Rock High School and home-schooled students are also eligible for these awards if they reside within the Community Foundation’s service area.
John (1938-2010) and Carol (Crishal) Winkle (1937-2023) of Batavia and then Aurora were born in Youngstown, Ohio. They were graduates of Ursuline High School and Youngstown State University.
In 1969, the Winkles moved to Illinois where John joined and would later acquire the Weldstar Company in Aurora.
“Wink” and Carol touched many lives through their philanthropic endeavors and in their service to various organizations, including the Association for Individual Development, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Hesed House, Tri-City Family Services, area schools, and their churches (Holy Cross Parish and then Annunciation BVM).
Scholarships from their foundation will continue their belief in the potential of every human being and their sense of commitment to one’s community.
NACO Scholarship
NACO began its scholarship program in 1999 when it presented six high school seniors with $500 awards each to be used toward their post-secondary educations. Since 2004, NACO has presented twelve high school seniors with $1000 awards each to be used toward their post-secondary educations.
To be considered, students must complete the required application form, submit a seven-semester transcript from an accredited Nebraska high school and prepare a written essay on the importance of county government.
Scholarship recipients must plan to attend a post-secondary educational institution within the state of Nebraska and may use the NACO scholarship for any costs associated with their continuing education. Scholarships are available for one year and are non-renewable.
Operating grants for nonprofits provide essential funding to support day-to-day operations, staff salaries, and infrastructure. The following grants help organizations build capacity, maintain sustainability, and focus on achieving their mission-driven goals.
Explore 8,000+ funding opportunities for operational support, with $3.84B in resources. Instrumentl helps nonprofits secure essential funding by offering grant discovery tools, deadline tracking, and strategic funder analysis to ensure long-term success.
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 Operating grants for Nonprofits?
Most grants are due in the first quarter.
Nonprofits of all types can apply for operating grants, but they are especially useful for organizations needing flexible funding to support the core work of their mission. Operating grants are ideal for nonprofits involved in general population well-being. Specific sectors include healthcare, education, social services, and the arts. Unlike project-based grants that fund specific initiatives, operating grants help with essential costs like staff salaries, rent, and general admin costs. Funders often look for groups with a clear mission who serve a meaningful purpose and have potential for long-term impact.
Based on Instrumentl’s live grant database for operating, grant deadlines are most common in Q1, accounting for 28.0% 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.
Operating grants exist to help nonprofits function smoothly and grow effectively. The goal is to give organizations the financial means they need to focus on their mission, serve their communities, and support long-term stability. These grants allow nonprofits to improve everyday operations, invest in staff development, and expand programs. Funders want to see nonprofits thrive, not just survive, and providing operational support is a key element to making that happen.
Funding for operating grants varies widely, with award amounts ranging from a minimum of $0 to a maximum of $188,250,000. Based on Instrumentl’s data, the median grant amount for this category is $37,500, while the average grant awarded is $734,409. Understanding these funding trends can help nonprofits set realistic expectations when applying.
Operating grants are often funded by private foundations like the popular Ford Foundation. Some government agencies offer grants to strengthen nonprofit infrastructure, especially in sectors like health, education, and social services. Corporate giving programs may also support nonprofits that align with their values and create lasting impact.
To improve the chances of getting operating grants, nonprofits should:
For more advice on finding and winning operating grants, check out our step-by-step guide to general operating grants.
Instrumentl simplifies the process of applying for operating grants by offering an intuitive platform that helps nonprofits discover relevant funding opportunities, track deadlines, and analyze funder-giving patterns. The platform's automated alerts ensure users never miss a deadline, while detailed funder insights help organizations tailor their applications to align with grantor priorities.
Check out how Habitat for Humanity delivered over 200% ROI within just a few weeks.