To secure philanthropic support for the Rockford Park District and assist the District in its pursuit of a quality park and recreation system so people in the community can enjoy life.
The Rockford Park District Foundation’s largest recent grants were seven-figure support for the Rockford Park District itself: $3,317,691 in 2024 and $1,406,652 in 2023, both described as support for the district. That pattern shows a funder built around strengthening the park system at the center of Rockford community life. Their stated purpose is to secure philanthropic support for the Rockford Park District and help the district pursue a quality park and recreation system so people in the community can enjoy life. Beyond direct support to the district, the foundation backs programs and amenities that shape daily use of local parks: playground renovation, youth access initiatives, memorial and tribute gifts, and planned giving for long-term preservation. It also connects funding to education and youth sports through scholarships for young women who play golf, and to community programming through events such as Sounds of Summer. The result is a place-based funder whose work is tied to parks, recreation, and public facilities across the Rockford area.
Youth access is a clear thread in the foundation’s grantmaking. Help Me Play is a funding initiative that provides financial support so youth can access Rockford Park District programs, including camps, lessons, playgrounds, equipment, uniforms, and fee assistance. They also support NFL Flag and Cheer, which covers equipment, uniforms, tournament fees, and travel so financial barriers do not prevent participation. Education appears through scholarship support for female students who enjoy playing golf and are pursuing undergraduate degrees. The foundation administers both the Jane Lyons Memorial Scholarship and the Helen Spencer Junior Girls Scholarship. Community facilities and culture are another focus. Operation Playground supports renovation or replacement of neighborhood playgrounds, while the Sinnissippi Music Shell Rebuild is a capital priority to restore and preserve a community music venue. Tribute and Memorial Gifts also channel donations into trees, benches, and engraved bricks in parks and facilities.
The foundation’s typical grant size is large: p25 is $1,884,412, median is $2,362,172, and p75 is $2,839,931. The recent record suggests concentrated support to a single operating partner rather than a wide distribution of small awards, with the Rockford Park District receiving the two largest grants on file. It is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals. The available program list shows several opportunities that accept unsolicited requests, including scholarships, playground support, tribute gifts, and planned giving, alongside direct support for district programs and capital priorities.
$2.8M
$14.7M
$4.2M
$3.1M
Most grants fall between $1.9M and $2.8M, with a median of $2.4M.
25th Percentile
$1.9M
Median
$2.4M
75th Percentile
$2.8M
LORI BERKES-NELSON
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Giving is fully local: 100% of grants go to recipients in Illinois, and the top giving state is IL. The grants connect to Rockford most directly, with recent support landing at Rockford Park District in ROCKFORD, IL. Program geography also points to nearby Illinois counties and communities, including Winnebago County and Boone County for scholarship support. The foundation’s scope is tied to the Rockford area rather than a multi-state or national footprint.
Its named programs point to parks and recreation, trails, playgrounds, youth programs and camps, scholarships, planned giving, equine-assisted services, and memorial or tribute gifts. Recent initiatives also include Help Me Play, NFL Flag and Cheer support, Sounds of Summer, and the Sinnissippi Music Shell Rebuild.
The typical grant size is substantial: the 25th percentile is $1,884,412, the median is $2,362,172, and the 75th percentile is $2,839,931. The recent largest grants on file were $3,317,691 in 2024 and $1,406,652 in 2023, both to Rockford Park District.
Its giving is local, and 100% of grants go to recipients in Illinois. The grant record and program geography center on Rockford, with some scholarship support reaching Winnebago County and Boone County.
No. The foundation is marked as not funding individuals. Its support is structured around the Rockford Park District, its programs, facilities, scholarships, and related community initiatives.
Yes. Several listed programs accept unsolicited applications or gifts, including the Jane Lyons Memorial Scholarship & Helen Spencer Junior Girls Scholarship, Operation Playground, Tribute & Memorial Gifts, Sounds of Summer, the scholarships program, NFL Flag and Cheer Support, and Parks for Life Planned Giving Program.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Rockford Park District Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Beneficiaries are youth participants in Park District NFL Flag and Cheer programs; page is a donation appeal rather than a grant application.
Track these deadlines, get reminders, and see how well your nonprofit fits — free with a Kindora account.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT | ROCKFORD, IL | $2,681,409 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT |
| THE CITY OF LOVES PARK | LOVES PARK, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | FACILITATE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK |
| ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT | ROCKFORD, IL | $3,317,691 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT |
| ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT | ROCKFORD, IL | $1,406,652 | 2023 | SUPPORT THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT |
ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT
$2,681,409SUPPORT THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT
THE CITY OF LOVES PARK
$100,000FACILITATE THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK
ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT
$1,406,652SUPPORT THE ROCKFORD PARK DISTRICT
