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Peoria, IL 309-674-8730
CFCI Announces New $50,000 Grant Opportunity Focusing on Job Creation and Retention
November 1, 2021 – The Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) announces the new Community Works grant program focusing on job creation and retention in central Illinois. These grants will be for one year with a maximum award of $50,000.
In 2021, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois (CFCI) received its largest single donation to date from an individual or family – an estate gift worth more than $3.9 million – from the late Robert E. (Bob) Gilmore, retired president of Caterpillar, Inc. Prior to his death in September of 2020, Gilmore created a legacy through a planned gift to provide funds that would benefit local nonprofits. With this gift, CFCI has established the Gilmore Fund, which will provide annual grants in perpetuity to organizations and programs which will maintain and enhance culture, improve society, and promote job creation and retention in the central Illinois area.
“We’re proud to put these grantmaking resources from Mr. Gilmore to use through the Community Works grant program in hopes of driving systematic, long-term change,” says Mark Roberts, CFCI President and CEO. “We’re interested in investing in economic development programs that emphasize job creation and retention. We would like to see innovative collaboration among two or more organizations rather than those working in isolation. Our nonprofit professionals do incredible work in this community, so we look forward to seeing the positive, lasting effects this new initiative will have.”
All organizations with 501(c)(3) status within CFCI’s service area are eligible to apply for the Community Works grant. Grant funding may support new or existing programs that positively benefit central Illinois. Letters of intent are due November 23, 2021. Organizations selected to submit full proposals will do so by February 11, 2022. A committee of CFCI key stakeholders will review all submissions, with final grant decisions to be made by March 4, 2022.
CFCI will also be hosting a virtual Community Works Networking Forum on Wednesday, November 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., for anyone interested in learning more about this new grant opportunity and what other organizations are doing to promote job creation and retention in the central Illinois area.
For more information, to review submission criteria and deadlines, or to register for the Networking Forum, visit communityfoundationci.org, or call 309-674-8730.
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