February - Community Connection

Community Connection

FEBRUARY 2022

About Us

Welcoming Our Newest Staff Member

Join us in welcoming our new Director of Communications,

Carley Allensworth!

“We are thrilled to welcome Carley to the CFCI team. I’m confident her skills, experience, and communications background will add tremendous value to our growing organization as we continue working to create a better quality of life here in central Illinois,” said Mark Roberts, President and CEO of CFCI.

Carley earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Corporate Communication from Eastern Illinois University, as well as a Masters of Humanities degree in Communication from Tiffin University. She previously served as a legal assistant, followed by nearly three years in a communications position with the Peoria Park District. Carley has been involved in the community through the East Bluff Neighborhood Housing Association, as well as a member of the Central Illinois Public Information Officers organization.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to join CFCI and use my communication background in a new capacity,” Allensworth said. “The CFCI team has been so welcoming, and I look forward to becoming a part of the great work they do for this community.”

CFCI Spring Grants

The following grant opportunities are now open at CFCI.

Community Arts Grants

The Arts Mean Business Fund Grants

Jean M. Ligon Animal Welfare Grant

NEW Arts Capacity-Building Grant

ALL APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 2, 2022

Click here for more information and to view CFCI's grantmaking guidelines.

The Community Arts and Animal Welfare grants allow organizations to apply for up to $5,000.

For 2022, The Arts Mean Business grant award has increased from $2,500 to $25,000! This substantial increase will allow the opportunity for organizations to think BIG, collaborate with other entities, or even discover the next new and innovative idea in the community that wouldn’t otherwise be done without this grant.

We're also happy to announce our new Arts Capacity-Building grant opportunity consisting of $50,000 in available funds! Organizations can apply for up to $10,000.

LEARN MORE

2022 Scholarship Opportunities

Did you know CFCI awarded nearly $350,000 in scholarships in 2021 to enhance the lives of 117 students living within our 50-mile service area?

Eligible students are encouraged to apply for available scholarships here at the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Through ongoing donor generosity, over 50 scholarship funds exist.

Check out all the opportunities available for 2022 on our website.

Browse Scholarship Opportunities

“Receiving this scholarship has held so much more meaning than I could have ever imagined. I was eligible to apply for this award because of the volunteer work my late grandpa had done as a firefighter. This experience has been just as much about uncovering the types of men they were as it has been about finding ways in which I can embody the exemplary traits the two of them possessed. I was so thrilled to be a recipient. While the monetary reward was indeed instrumental in paying for school expenses, the people I’ve met and insights gained throughout this experience has been far more valuable.”

-Kelly Schaffnit, 2020 Vernon “Butch” Gudat Fund Scholarship Recipient

A Word From Our Board...

Lea Anne Miller, CFCI Board Member

How did you become involved with the Community Foundation of Central Illinois?

I became involved with The Community Foundation of Central Illinois initially through the Women’s Fund, which is one of the funds under the CFCI umbrella. The Women’s Fund endowment supports projects that strengthen families and communities by empowering women and girls. As a woman, how could I not get behind that?! Then, while I was on the Women’s Fund Advisory Board, I learned more about CFCI and its broader philanthropic impact. I love its ability to connect people who care with causes that matter.

What do you like about your volunteer service with CFCI?

There are so many things, and I’m only getting started since this is my first year on the Board. I have always felt it’s important to be involved in the community in which you live. CFCI has given me the ability to understand the variety and volume of needs that often go unmet. Serving on the Grant Committee really opens your eyes to the challenges facing organizations and the people they support. I was fortunate to be able to meet with some of those organizations when they received their grant awards. It was great to hear more about their plans and how the funding will make a difference. I’m also enjoying getting to know the Board members and appreciate the diversity of the group. I believe that dynamic is an important part in helping us make informed decisions to improve the broader community.

What should everyone know about CFCI?

CFCI is making a REAL impact in the community, and it’s growing! More funds are being added all the time resulting in a greater ability to address the changing needs of our region. It’s also more than just providing funds to organizations through grants. CFCI also forms strategic partnerships with other organizations. Collectively, we can make a greater impact when we work together.

What are you looking forward to the most with CFCI in the next 5 years?

We recently formed the CFCI Arts & Culture Committee. I have a blossoming passion for the arts, so I’m very excited to be a part of this. There will be new grants and funding distributed in a variety of ways to benefit the arts and culture in our region. To assist us with getting started, we gathered feedback/input from a cross-section of the arts community, which helped us focus on the right things. Strategic alliances will also be formed to allow us to work together for a broader impact. I’m looking forward to seeing how it develops over the next five years.

Vernon "Butch" Gudat Scholarship Awards

We are incredibly proud to administer the scholarship honoring Vernon "Butch" Gudat, who lost his life courageously battling an apartment complex fire on Main Street in Peoria on January 23, 1983.

A very big congratulations to Ann Doyle of Illinois Central College and Grace Valentine of Pekin Community High School on receiving this year’s scholarship awards! The Sterling Fire Department also received a $1,000 grant for fire prevention efforts in honor of Lieutenant Garrett Ramos.

Caterpillar Employees and Retirees Can

DOUBLE the Impact of Their Donation to CFCI

The Caterpillar Foundation announced that gifts to community foundations are now eligible for their Matching Gifts Program. Caterpillar employees and retirees who choose to donate to our operating fund or other endowment funds can apply for a 1:1 match from the Caterpillar Foundation. Those who have donor-advised or Depository funds at CFCI and plan on donating to a specific charity can also apply for the match. Please visit the Caterpillar Foundation website by clicking here for detailed instructions on how to submit your match request. The Community Foundation of Central Illinois greatly appreciates your support. By working together, we will continue to improve the quality of life throughout central Illinois.

We're proud of our accreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This accreditation, signified by this Seal, indicates that the Community Foundation of Central Illinois meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence. The 26 national standards establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere and indicates CFCI’s commitment to excellence and accountability. Learn more about the accreditation process at cfstandards.org.

Community Foundation Of Central Illinois

3625 North Sheridan Road

Peoria, IL 61604

309-674-8730

Contact CFCI