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Applications for the following grant opportunities are due Wednesday, March 6, 2024.  

• Ackerman Family Learn to Swim Fund Grants

• Community Arts Grants

• Jean M. Ligon Animal Welfare Grants

• The Arts Mean Business Fund Grants

For more details, including funding amounts, click the “APPLY HERE” button below.

We're proud to administer the scholarship honoring Peoria Fire Captain Vernon "Butch" Gudat, who lost his life courageously battling an apartment fire on January 23, 1983. Congratulations to the 2024 scholarship recipients, Lizzie Short and Montana Sturgis! Lizzie is off to the University of Indianapolis in the fall to study psychology, while Montana will be at SIUE for nursing.

Pictured left to right: Mike Gudat, Montana Sturgis, Lizzie Short, Michele Gudat.

Jean M. Brown graduated from the St. Francis School of Nursing in 1938. During her nursing career, Ms. Brown was employed by Caterpillar as an Industrial Nurse and enjoyed the distinction of being the first individual to hold this position.

Ms. Brown made the provision in her will that allowed for the creation of an endowed nursing scholarship.  Upon her death, the Jean M. Brown Nursing Scholarship was established to award scholarships to nursing students, with a special preference given to those students pursuing a career in Occupational Nursing. This fund awards over $100,000 in scholarships annually.

Community Foundation of Central Illinois is proud of our accreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This accreditation, signified by this Seal, indicates that the Community Foundation of Central Illinois meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence. The 26 national standards establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere and indicates CFCI’s commitment to excellence and accountability. Learn more about the accreditation process at cfstandards.org.