Founded in 1956, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates that supports college and university leadership, advances institutional excellence, and enhances public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.
Council of Independent Colleges’ grantmaking is anchored by NetVUE, a network for vocation in undergraduate education that funds student programming, faculty and staff development, institutional narrative work, and related campus initiatives at member colleges and universities. The recent record also shows support for state councils, scholarships, and campus-level projects tied to independent higher education. A 2023 award of $276,000 to Wofford College for Crafting Democratic Futures signals that the foundation also backs large, initiative-specific projects beyond its core NetVUE work. Other substantial grants include $275,000 to Concordia College - Mn for the same initiative and $183,089 to North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities for UPS Scholarships, showing a mix of institutional, network-based, and student-support grantmaking. The foundation’s giving is shaped by higher education institutions and affiliated councils rather than individuals, with awards that can range from smaller organizational support to six-figure program grants. Across the recent grants list, the funding pattern emphasizes colleges, university affiliates, and statewide independent-college associations working on vocation, leadership, and public-facing academic programs.
One clear theme is vocational exploration. The foundation awarded $114,987 to Independent Colleges of Indiana Inc for grants to state councils, and its NetVUE programs support student programming and faculty/staff professional development around vocation and discernment. Leadership development is another thread: a $179,927 grant to Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges supported grants to colleges and state councils, while the Senior Leadership Academy fellowships are designed for experienced administrators preparing for cabinet-level roles. The grants also extend to scholarship support, including $183,089 to North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities for UPS Scholarships. Civic and democratic education appears in the $275,000 grant to Wesleyan College for Crafting Democratic Futures, which ties campus programming to broader public engagement.
Typical grant size sits around a median of $24,806, with the 25th percentile at $19,944 and the 75th percentile at $41,600. The recent grants list shows both recurring institutional support and larger project grants, with several recipients appearing in multiple years, including state councils and scholarship programs. Council of Independent Colleges is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals directly as a general practice; however, its NetVUE portfolio includes some individual-focused grants. Most active programs accept unsolicited requests, while Senior Leadership Academy fellowships do not.
$5.9M
$89M
$22.3M
$20.5M
Most grants fall between $20K and $42K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$42K
About 1% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, and the top state by grant count is Minnesota. Recent awards reached colleges and councils in places such as Spartanburg, South Carolina; Moorehead, Minnesota; Macon, Georgia; and New London, Connecticut. The list also includes multiple recipients in Raleigh and Westerville, plus Chicago, Austin, Indianapolis, and Tallahassee, showing a broad national spread across independent-college networks and member institutions.
The grant list centers on colleges, universities, state councils, and higher-education affiliates. Recent recipients include Wofford College, Concordia College - Mn, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities, Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, and Associated Colleges of Illinois.
Its active programs focus on NetVUE grantmaking for vocational exploration, student programming, faculty and staff professional development, institutional narrative work, and capacity building. The recent grants list also shows support for scholarships and initiatives connected to civic and democratic education.
Yes, several active NetVUE programs accept unsolicited requests, including the NetVUE Program Development Grants and NetVUE Grants for Reframing the Institutional Saga. The Senior Leadership Academy fellowships are listed as not accepting unsolicited requests.
The typical grant size is $19,944 at the 25th percentile, $24,806 at the median, and $41,600 at the 75th percentile. Some active NetVUE programs are smaller or larger than that range, including awards from $10,000 to $200,000 depending on the program.
Giving is national within the United States. The recipient country distribution shows 398 grants in the US, and the foundation’s recent awards reached institutions in multiple states, with Minnesota appearing most often by grant count.
MARJORIE HASS
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Council of Independent Colleges that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: NetVUE member colleges and universities with vocational exploration programs already underway.
Deadline: Applications for the current round are due November 20, 2026.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | RALEIGH, NC | $172,504 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF TEXAS FOUNDATION | AUSTIN, TX | $155,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| OHIO FOUNDATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES | WESTERVILLE, OH | $134,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| VIRGINIA FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT COLLEGES | RICHMOND, VA | $131,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF ILLINOIS | CHICAGO, IL | $128,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF INDIANA INC | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $114,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| IOWA COLLEGE FOUNDATION | DES MOINES, IA | $113,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| FLORIDA INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND | TALLAHASSEE, FL | $105,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| WISCONSIN ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INC | MADISON, WI | $97,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY | EWING, NJ | $97,102 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | COLUMBIA, SC | $91,250 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT KENTUCKY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | FRANKFORT, KY | $84,400 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| MINNESOTA PRIVATE COLLEGE FUND | ST PAUL, MN | $79,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT NEBRASKA COLLEGES FOUNDATION | BELLEVUE, NE | $78,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| MICHIGAN COLLEGES ALLIANCE | DETROIT, MI | $68,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| BUSHNELL UNIVERSITY | EUGENE, OR | $60,996 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| LANE COLLEGE | JACKSON, TN | $59,525 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| MISSOURI COLLEGES FUND INC | JEFFERSON CITY, MO | $56,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| GEORGETOWN COLLEGE INC | GEORGETOWN, KY | $54,989 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGES OF WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $52,971 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| BETHEL UNIVERSITY | ST PAUL, MN | $52,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | MONTGOMERY, AL | $52,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND OF MARYLAND | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $52,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| LIPSCOMB UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $51,551 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $51,387 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ST OLAF COLLEGE | NORTHFIELD, MN | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE | NAPERVILLE, IL | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| MCDANIEL COLLEGE | WESTMINSTER, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY | HUNTINGTON, IN | $49,999 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| UNIVERSITY OF ST THOMAS MN | SAINT PAUL, MN | $49,225 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $48,660 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| MOUNT MARY UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $47,706 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| SAMFORD UNIVERSITY | BIRMINGHAM, AL | $47,213 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ADVENTHEALTH UNIVERSITY INC | ORLANDO, FL | $47,010 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF NEW JERSEY | TRENTON, NJ | $45,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| SETON HILL UNIVERSITY | GREENSBURG, PA | $42,680 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| WEST VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES | CROSS LANES, WV | $41,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| MACALESTER COLLEGE | ST PAUL, MN | $40,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE | PALOS HEIGHTS, IL | $39,961 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| FURMAN UNIVERSITY | GREENVILLE, SC | $37,440 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ARKANSAS INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES | LITTLE ROCK, AR | $35,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY | FAYETTE, MO | $35,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY | READING, PA | $35,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| AUGUSTANA COLLEGE | ROCK ISLAND, IL | $34,982 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| REGIS UNIVERSITY | DENVER, CO | $34,922 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| RIVIER UNIVERSITY | NASHUA, NH | $34,875 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY | DAVENPORT, IA | $34,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| LOUISIANA INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FOUNDATION | BATON ROUGE, LA | $33,000 | 2026 | GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS |
| GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY | NEWBERG, OR | $32,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
| SAINT ANSELM COLLEGE | MANCHESTER, NH | $32,500 | 2026 | GRANTS TO COLLEGES |
INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF TEXAS FOUNDATION
$155,500GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
ASSOCIATED COLLEGES OF ILLINOIS
$128,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
FLORIDA INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND
$105,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY
$97,102GRANTS TO COLLEGES
ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT KENTUCKY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
$84,400GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
COUNCIL OF INDEPENDENT NEBRASKA COLLEGES FOUNDATION
$78,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
ALABAMA ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
$52,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FUND OF MARYLAND
$52,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
MCDANIEL COLLEGE
$50,000GRANTS TO COLLEGES
HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY
$49,999GRANTS TO COLLEGES
MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY
$48,660GRANTS TO COLLEGES
MOUNT MARY UNIVERSITY
$47,706GRANTS TO COLLEGES
INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES OF NEW JERSEY
$45,500GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
WEST VIRGINIA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
$41,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
TRINITY CHRISTIAN COLLEGE
$39,961GRANTS TO COLLEGES
ARKANSAS INDEPENDENT COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
$35,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
CENTRAL METHODIST UNIVERSITY
$35,000GRANTS TO COLLEGES
ALVERNIA UNIVERSITY
$35,000GRANTS TO COLLEGES
REGIS UNIVERSITY
$34,922GRANTS TO COLLEGES
RIVIER UNIVERSITY
$34,875GRANTS TO COLLEGES
LOUISIANA INDEPENDENT COLLEGE FOUNDATION
$33,000GRANTS TO STATE COUNCILS
GEORGE FOX UNIVERSITY
$32,500GRANTS TO COLLEGES
