The Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln acts as a local grantmaker that channels substantial resources to community nonprofits in the Springfield/central Illinois area. Its grants are described generically as financial assistance to community organizations, indicating a focus on strengthening local nonprofit capacity and meeting broad community needs rather than narrow programmatic initiatives. The foundation appears to operate as a pass-through or centralized funder for the region, likely distributing donor-advised or discretionary funds to multiple community partners.
Highly concentrated, few large grants (3 grants totaling $10.66M); appears to award substantial, likely unrestricted funding to community organizations rather than many small grants. Recipient-level details are not disclosed in the summary provided.
A three-year pattern of multimillion-dollar support to Springfield organizations defines Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln Inc. In 2025, the foundation’s largest recent grant was $4,384,655, followed by $3,526,047 in 2024 and $2,750,740 in 2023, all described as assistance to organizations in the community. That steady flow points to a funder built around broad local support rather than a single issue area. The foundation’s current grant programs show that breadth clearly: it makes community foundation grants, competitive grants, scholarship awards, historic preservation awards, and targeted support for recreation access, capacity building, women’s and children’s programs, seniors, and afterschool services. In practice, the foundation functions as a central grantmaker for central Illinois, channeling resources to community organizations and scholarship funds across its service area. Its recent awards also suggest an emphasis on general operating support and flexible funding, with grant descriptions focused on financially assisting local organizations rather than underwriting narrow projects. The result is a grantmaker with a wide civic footprint and a strong emphasis on local nonprofit stability.
The foundation supports education through a scholarship program that administers approximately 50 individual scholarship funds for students from Sangamon, Cass, Christian, Logan, Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, and Morgan counties. It also funds scholarships through its broader community grantmaking process, linking educational support to its wider local philanthropy. Historic preservation is another distinct area: the CFLL Historic Preservation Fund provides grants for preservation projects in Springfield, Illinois, adding a place-based cultural focus to the portfolio. The foundation also backs accessibility and inclusion through the Access to Recreation Endowment Fund, which supports accessible recreation programs for people with disabilities in Sangamon County. For nonprofit infrastructure, the Junior League of Springfield Capacity Building Fund provides grants for professional development and training serving Sangamon, Montgomery, and Christian counties.
$4.4M
$100M
$26.2M
$7.9M
Most grants fall between $3.1M and $4M, with a median of $3.5M.
25th Percentile
$3.1M
Median
$3.5M
75th Percentile
$4M
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Notable grantees: Grant recipients not disclosed in the provided schedule, Local community nonprofits in Sangamon County / Springfield (unnamed), Regional charitable organizations supported via the foundation's pass-through distributions (unnamed)
The recent grant-size profile is concentrated at the multi-million-dollar level, with the 25th percentile at $3,138,394, the median at $3,526,047, and the 75th percentile at $3,955,351. The three largest recent grants each went to the same Springfield recipient listed as “See Attached Schedule Of,” with award years in 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing a recurring pattern rather than isolated one-off awards. The foundation is a community foundation, and its grantmaking includes both competitive programs and designated funds administered through its Grants & Scholarships processes. Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including the historic preservation fund and several county-based funds.
Giving is entirely in Illinois, with 100% of grants landing in the HQ state. The strongest concentration is in Springfield, where recent large awards were made and where several active programs are based. Program geography also reaches Cass County, Christian County, and Logan County, while specific funds extend to Sangamon County and neighboring central Illinois counties. The scholarship program adds students from Macoupin, Menard, Montgomery, and Morgan counties to the service area.
Its grantmaking centers on local nonprofits, community organizations, and scholarship funds. Current programs also show support for historic preservation, accessible recreation for people with disabilities, nonprofit capacity building, women’s and children’s programs, seniors, and afterschool services.
Yes. The three largest recent grants all went to the same Springfield recipient listed as “See Attached Schedule Of,” in 2023, 2024, and 2025. That pattern indicates recurring support rather than only one-time awards.
The grant-size distribution is in the multimillion-dollar range. The 25th percentile is $3,138,394, the median is $3,526,047, and the 75th percentile is $3,955,351.
Some programs accept unsolicited requests, including the CFLL Historic Preservation Fund, Access to Recreation Endowment Fund, Junior League of Springfield Capacity Building Fund, The Women’s Fund, King's Daughters Organization Fund, and Community Grants Program. Other programs, including the 2025 Strategic Response Grant Program - Afterschool Support, do not.
Its grants are entirely in Illinois. The top state by grant count is IL, and 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Registered 501(c)(3) charities, faith-based organizations (non-religious service), public/private schools for projects beyond budget, units of government/municipalities. Applicants must be working in Sangamon County and meet the fund-specific purpose.
Deadline: Opens Jan. 2 (annual). Deadline Feb. 6. (Dates published in CFLL Grant Deadlines table.)
Who can apply: Registered 501(c)(3) charities, faith-based organizations (non-religious service), public/private schools for projects beyond budget, units of government/municipalities serving listed counties.
Deadline: Opens Jan. 2 (annual). Deadline Feb. 13. Final report due Dec. 31 (year noted in table).
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE OF | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $4,384,655 | 2025 | TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST ORGS IN COMMUNITY |
| SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE OF | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $3,526,047 | 2024 | TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST ORGS IN COMMUNITY |
| SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE OF | SPRINGFIELD, IL | $2,750,740 | 2023 | TO FINANCIALLY ASSIST ORGS IN COMMUNITY |