To promote philanthropy in an impartial, unbiased, ethical way, with a commitment to inclusiveness, and to bring together people and resources to identify and address present and emerging community needs.
Community Foundation of East Central Illinois combines endowed community grantmaking with donor-advised and administered funds, and its recent record shows a consistent role as a local convener for East Central Illinois. A major share of support goes to education: the University of Illinois Foundation received the largest recent awards, including $133,590 in 2025, $128,035 in 2024, and $103,308 in 2023. Beyond higher education, the foundation’s grants reach food access, human services, and community organizations, including Eastern Illinois Foodbank, United Way of Champaign County, and Cunningham Children’s Home. The foundation also supports specialized community programs. Its active grant programs include managed scholarship funds, capacity-building grants for nonprofits, a community incubator with microgrants, and annual community commitment grants funded by endowed donor funds. That mix points to a funder that supports both immediate needs and organizational infrastructure, while also maintaining long-term resources for local charities and students. Its stated purpose emphasizes impartial, unbiased, ethical philanthropy, inclusiveness, and bringing together people and resources to address present and emerging community needs.
Education is a visible priority in the foundation’s grant history. The University of Illinois Foundation received $133,590 in 2025, $128,035 in 2024, and $103,308 in 2023, all marked for education. Human services and food access also appear repeatedly. Eastern Illinois Foodbank received $74,750 in 2023 and $68,669 across 2024 and 2025 grants, with food listed as the purpose in later years. The foundation also gives to disability-related services and youth development. Developmental Services Center received $43,432 in 2025 and $36,595 in 2024, both tagged disabilities. Cu One-to-one Mentoring received $32,500 in 2025 for youth. Community development shows up through The Salvation Army of Champaign County, which received $41,600 in 2023. These examples fit a portfolio that crosses education, direct services, and community support.
Typical grants cluster in the five-figure range: the 25th percentile is $7,500, the median is $10,760, and the 75th percentile is $25,000. The recent grant list also includes larger awards reaching into the six figures, showing that the foundation can support both routine operating-scale grants and substantial institutional gifts. The pattern looks recurring rather than one-off: several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Illinois Foundation, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, United Way of Champaign County, The Hope Chest, Friends of Peb Inc, and Developmental Services Center. The foundation is a community foundation with endowed donor funds, and it also administers scholarships, incubator microgrants, and program-related loans.
$1.3M
$39M
$4.3M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $11K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$11K
75th Percentile
$25K
ALLISON B WINTER
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local and concentrated in Illinois. Of the recent grants listed, 91% go to recipients in the headquarters state, and the top state by grant count is Illinois. Recipient cities recur across the region, especially Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy, with additional grants in Pekin and other East Central Illinois locations. Outside Illinois, the recent list includes a grant to Spring Initiative in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and another to Friends of Peb Inc in Thorndale, Pennsylvania.
Its active programs and recent grants show support for nonprofits, scholarship funds, early-stage nonprofit participants, and community-serving organizations. Focus areas include nonprofit capacity building, community development, education and scholarships, youth programs, the arts, and general charitable support across fields of interest.
The distribution is centered in modest grants: p25 is $7,500, median grant size is $10,760, and p75 is $25,000. The recent list also includes larger awards, but most grants cluster below $25,000.
No. The grant list is mostly Illinois-based, but it includes recipients outside the state such as Spring Initiative in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and Friends of Peb Inc in Thorndale, Pennsylvania. Even so, 91% of grants go to recipients in Illinois.
Several recipients show up across more than one year, including the University of Illinois Foundation, Eastern Illinois Foodbank, United Way of Champaign County, The Hope Chest, Friends of Peb Inc, and Developmental Services Center. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than isolated gifts.
Yes. The foundation administers managed scholarship funds, a Community Solutions Incubator cohort microgrant, annual community commitment grants, nonprofit capacity building grants, a Champaign County COVID-19 Relief Fund, and program-related investments in the form of loans.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Community Foundation of East Central Illinois that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofits applying for funding; awards focus on tangible, long-lasting goods rather than subscriptions or consumable items.
Deadline: Applications open August 1 and are due by August 31.
Who can apply: Organizations whose projects align with the Marajen Stevick Foundation's interests: enhancing the lives of senior citizens, promoting reading and writing excellence, or aesthetic enhancements in Champaign-Urbana and nearby communities. CFECI administers the granting process; applicants are typically asked to submit Letters of Intent (LOIs) when calls are made.
Deadline: LOI call begins in early February (annual cycle); specific LOI/application deadlines vary by year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS FOUNDATION | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $133,590 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| THE HOPE CHEST | PEKIN, IL | $61,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| UNITED WAY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY | SAVOY, IL | $60,909 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| FRIENDS OF PEB INC | THORNDALE, PA | $59,302 | 2025 | OTHER |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CHAMPAIGN | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $59,302 | 2025 | OTHER |
| DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES CENTER | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $43,432 | 2025 | DISABILITIES |
| SPRING INITIATIVE | CLARKSDALE, MS | $43,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS FOODBANK | URBANA, IL | $37,025 | 2025 | FOOD |
| CU CHURCH | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $34,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| CU ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $32,500 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| DON MOYER BOYS & GIRLS CLUB | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $31,985 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $28,675 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| CHAMPAIGN URBANA SYMPHONY | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $27,484 | 2025 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF EAST CENTRAL ILLINOIS | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $27,284 | 2025 | OTHER |
| CUNNINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOME | URBANA, IL | $26,575 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| GREYSTONE | IRVING, TX | $25,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| FIRST STRING A COMMUNITY TEAM | URBANA, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| CU AT HOME | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $24,825 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| ELEVATED ACCESS | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $21,250 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| FAMILY SERVICE OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $19,900 | 2025 | SENIORS |
| CRISIS NURSERY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY | URBANA, IL | $19,831 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| GREEK HERITAGE CENTER | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $19,606 | 2025 | OTHER |
| PARKLAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $18,100 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| GRIOT ARTS INC | CLARKSDALE, MS | $16,000 | 2025 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION | CHARLESTON, IL | $16,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MONTICELLO RAILWAY MUSEUM | MONTICELLO, IL | $13,722 | 2025 | ARTS AND CULTURE |
| THE STEPHENS FAMILY YMCA | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $13,681 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| SHORELINE CHURCH | DESTIN, FL | $12,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| COLLEGE PARK CHURCH | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $12,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| WILLOW TREE MISSIONS | MONTICELLO, IL | $11,957 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| THE ORTHOPTERISTS' SOCIETY | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $11,860 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| CHAMPAIGN URBANA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $10,769 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CARLE CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY | URBANA, IL | $10,750 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| MAHOMET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | MAHOMET, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | NAPLES, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| UWM FOUNDATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF CHAMPAIGN URBANA | URBANA, IL | $10,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY AND RESTORE | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $9,260 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| RACES | URBANA, IL | $9,004 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| DREAAM | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $9,000 | 2025 | YOUTH |
| CHAMPAIGN PARK DISTRICT | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,883 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| THE BABY FOLD | NORMAL, IL | $8,700 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| PROMISE HEALTHCARE | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,601 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| PRAIRIE RIVERS NETWORK | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,500 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| SOLA GRATIA FARM | URBANA, IL | $8,474 | 2025 | FOOD |
| COLES COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC | CHARLESTON, IL | $8,200 | 2025 | SENIORS |
| THE UP CENTER OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,071 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
| ROSECRANCE | CHAMPAIGN, IL | $8,000 | 2025 | HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE |
THE HOPE CHEST
$61,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
FRIENDS OF PEB INC
$59,302OTHER
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF CHAMPAIGN
$59,302OTHER
DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES CENTER
$43,432DISABILITIES
SPRING INITIATIVE
$43,000EDUCATION
CU CHURCH
$34,000OTHER
CU ONE-TO-ONE MENTORING
$32,500YOUTH
GIRL SCOUTS OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS
$28,675YOUTH
CHAMPAIGN URBANA SYMPHONY
$27,484ARTS AND CULTURE
CUNNINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOME
$26,575YOUTH
GREYSTONE
$25,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
FIRST STRING A COMMUNITY TEAM
$25,000YOUTH
CU AT HOME
$24,825HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
FAMILY SERVICE OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
$19,900SENIORS
GREEK HERITAGE CENTER
$19,606OTHER
GRIOT ARTS INC
$16,000ARTS AND CULTURE
MONTICELLO RAILWAY MUSEUM
$13,722ARTS AND CULTURE
THE STEPHENS FAMILY YMCA
$13,681HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
SHORELINE CHURCH
$12,000OTHER
COLLEGE PARK CHURCH
$12,000OTHER
WILLOW TREE MISSIONS
$11,957HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
THE ORTHOPTERISTS' SOCIETY
$11,860ENVIRONMENT
CHAMPAIGN URBANA SCHOOLS FOUNDATION
$10,769EDUCATION
CARLE CENTER FOR PHILANTHROPY
$10,750HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
MAHOMET COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$10,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$10,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP OF CHAMPAIGN URBANA
$10,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY AND RESTORE
$9,260COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
PROMISE HEALTHCARE
$8,601HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
SOLA GRATIA FARM
$8,474FOOD
COLES COUNTY COUNCIL ON AGING INC
$8,200SENIORS
THE UP CENTER OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
$8,071HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
FELLOWSHIP CIRCLE
$8,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE
ROSECRANCE
$8,000HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICE