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We moved! Our Aurora office is now located at 1971 West Downer Place, Aurora, IL 60506.

 

Scholarships

Since 1948, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley has awarded over $27.3 million in scholarships!

Apply for Scholarships!

Mark your calendar! Our scholarship application for the 2025/2026 school year will open on November 1. The deadline to submit the application is 4:00 pm on January 24, 2025.

Applicants will be notified of award decisions in May.

Scholarship Program

The Community Foundation Scholarship Program consists of separate scholarship funds created by individual donors who establish specific criteria for the administration of their scholarships. Such criteria must be consistent with overall Community Foundation policy.

Scholarships are available to local students who will attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America on a full-time basis.

To learn more about the various scholarship funds administered by the Community Foundation and its donors, please visit the Scholarship Fund profile pages.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is proud to administer four generous scholarships sponsored by the Dunham Foundation. To learn more about these scholarships and the criteria, please visit the Scholarship Fund profile page.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

When are applications available?

The scholarship application for the 2025/2026 school year will be available on November 1, 2024, until January 24, 2025, at 4:00 pm Central Time.

Is the scholarship application deadline flexible?

In fairness to all applicants, the deadline is firm. Be sure to submit your application ahead of the 4:00 pm deadline to ensure that internet or computer trouble do not impact your submission.

What materials are needed to complete the application?

1. Grade Transcript(s)

2. SAT and ACT Test Scores - if available

3. Student Aid Index (SAI) number from a processed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - if available

4. Email addresses of individuals from whom you will request a recommendation

How do I obtain my transcript(s)?

Contact or visit your guidance secretary, transcript service, or high school/college website.  Unofficial transcripts are accepted.

What is a Student Aid Index (SAI) number and how do I get one?

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that colleges use to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive. Your SAI is calculated according to a formula established by law and the information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Further information about the FAFSA is available at: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Why should I provide my Student Aid Index (SAI) number on my application?

Most scholarships offered through the Community Foundation Scholarship Program are based on academic ability and financial need. A few scholarships are based on academic ability without consideration of financial need.

Therefore:

  • Students who provide their SAI number are considered for 100% of the scholarships available through the Community Foundation Scholarship Program.
  • Students who do NOT provide their SAI number are considered for only 20% of the scholarships available through the Community Foundation Scholarship Program.
Will I need to indicate that I would like to apply for specific scholarships?

No.  Students apply to the Community Foundation Scholarship Program as a whole, not for a particular scholarship, and are considered for any scholarship in which they are eligible.

Note: Although a student may be eligible for several different scholarships offered, only one scholarship may be received by any one student in any given year.  This policy is in keeping with the philosophy of the Community Foundation Scholarship Program to help as many individual students as possible.

How do I edit or view my application?

You can view your application at any time, however, once you submit your application, it can no longer be edited by you. Therefore, take your time and review your whole application before submitting it.

If you realize your application needs to be edited after submission, send the updated information to scholarship@cffrv.org as soon as possible.  The Scholarship Team will edit your application with the updates.

Visit the Scholarship Portal.

Who reviews the scholarship applications?

The Scholarship Committee consists of local residents who volunteer their time and skills.

How much is a scholarship award?

The monetary value of each scholarship award varies depending upon the amount available in each individual scholarship fund.  The most common scholarship award amount is $1,000 for a single year.

Are scholarship awards renewable?

Scholarships are designated as non-renewable one-year awards or renewable multi-year awards depending upon the scholarship fund criteria, as established by the donor of the scholarship fund.

When and how will I know if I am selected to receive a scholarship?

Notices regarding application decisions will be sent to all applicants via email in early May each year.

Primary Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must complete their high school education during, at the conclusion of, or prior to the current academic year as follows.

  • High School Diploma from a public, private, parochial, or online school
  • Home-Schooled High School Education
  • General Educational Development (GED) certificate or state certificate

Applicants must attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America during the upcoming academic year.

Applicants must pursue studies (career/technical/vocational, undergraduate, graduate, etc.) on a full-time basis during the upcoming academic year.

Applicants must maintain a permanent address located within the Community Foundation Scholarship Program service area (a few exceptions apply).

  • A permanent address is usually a parent’s home or the address listed on a driver’s license, voters registration card, FAFSA, etc. It is most likely NOT a temporary on/off college campus address.
  • The Community Foundation Scholarship Program service area includes the following areas within the State of Illinois:

There’s no question in my mind that the scholarship I received opened up possibilities.

Marianne Renner

Past Scholarship Recipient & Current Leadership Coach

A community foundation is a donor-driven organization that helps donors custom-design funds that reflect their charitable interests. Through the years, grants from these funds have made a significant impact on our local communities.

Sharon Stredde

President Emeritus

…you can always start small, even $25 can make a difference. Remember we can’t take our money with us. Even if it’s just your gift of time. Volunteer and get involved.

Cris Anderson

Cristina & Thomas S. Anderson Endowment Fund | Tom & Cris Anderson Colonial Advisory Fund

As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, I was worried about how I was going to pay for books and supplies. This scholarship will allow me to focus more on my studies instead of worrying about how to afford college. I am working to not only create opportunities for myself but to motivate future generations. Thank you so much for helping me along this journey!

Moises J.

Claude & Alice Allen Memorial Scholarship Recipient

We chose the Community Foundation because of its reputation. It’s well known, established and we can trust them to do the job for us.

Dick Schindel

Richard and Susan Schindel Scholarship Funds

Thank you very much for supporting my college education for these four years. I will never be able to repay you for the opportunity that this scholarship has given to me.

Julia H.

[Renewing Scholarship Recipient] Graduate of Hinkley-Big Rock High School

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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