The Community Foundation is now reviewing applications for the 2016 Marajen Stevick Foundation Grants. Organizations that enhance the quality of life for senior citizens, promote excellence in reading and writing for all levels of education, or add the aesthetic enhancement of the physical environment of Champaign, Urbana and surrounding communities have submitted applications.
Over the next five years, $5 million will be funneled into the community to train youths on how to get ready for the workforce. The federal grant money will be used to develop a program in Champaign-Urbana that aims to help 15- to 24-year-olds strengthen their relationship-building skills, receive career preparation, find work over the [...]
The December 2015 newsletter features Bud and Sandy Leister talking about their new endowment fund with the Community Foundation. The recipients of the 2015 Annual Community Commitment Grant recipients are named and Joan Dixon, President and CEO announces that we have bought our building. To see these stories and other news CLICK HERE
A concept paper to collaboratively develop a model program to improve energy-efficiency and safety for low-income seniors was submitted by Hope Meadows, Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County and Rantoul Township High School. Their proposal was selected as the Foundation’s first Collective Impact Grant project. The Broad-based Problem. Many economically vulnerable seniors live in older [...]
Nearly 50 nonprofit executive directors and board members attended the Good Works CONNECT convening: “Financial Responsibilities of Board Members” on October 7 from 12-2pm at the Champaign Public Library. The Community Foundation sponsored the event. Kelly Duitsman Loschen, CPA and Audit Senior Manager at Martin Hood Friese & Associates, LLC, presented the workshop on [...]
Courage Connection, Urbana Neighborhood Connections Center, and Hope Meadows’ Generations of Hope Community in Rantoul are the first recipients of the Community Foundation’s new Building Better Boards grants. These organizations have signed on to an intensive three-phase process of education and training estimated to take one to two years. The incentives are both to [...]
Applications are open now for the annual Community Commitment Grant cycle. Endowed funds from donors who have left a legacy for the future are the primary source of ongoing funding for these grants. Community Commitment Grants, unlike many other grant opportunities, are awarded each year to nonprofits that serve residents of east central Illinois [...]
Incoming Chair Brooke Didier Starks presented a plaque and special thanks to Past Chair Jeff Davis at the end of his final board meeting as Chair in June. In addition to Brooke Didier Starks as Chair, the board unanimously approved Tom Costello as Vice-Chair, Rebecca McBride as Secretary and Bradley Uken as Treasurer for the 2015-2016 [...]
The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois has distributed $43,200 on behalf of the Marajen Stevick Foundation to four area nonprofit organizations. Marajen Stevick Foundation Grants offer annual funding for nonprofit organizations that provide services in the three areas of enhancing the lives of senior citizens, beautification of the Champaign-Urbana area, and promoting excellence in [...]
Most people agree that the very best healthcare experiences are delivered by healthcare workers who are both technically skilled and compassionate in their treatment of patients. If you or someone close to you has experienced exemplary care, you know it and remember it. The Gloria Valenti Compassionate Care Award was established in honor of Gloria [...]