Grants
Freeport Community FoundationFreeport Community Foundation supports nonprofit organizations serving citizens in Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll counties in Northwest Illinois. The size and number of grants are directly related to the amount of money available each grant period and to the restrictions donors have placed upon the use of certain funds.
Grant Programs
Marvin ∙ Wilson Community Needs Annual Grant
Next Application Opening: TBA
Application Closing: TBA
Status: CLOSED
John M. Drogosz Youth Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment Memorial Fund Grant
Next Application Opening: June 26, 2023
Application Closing: July 21, 2023
Status: CLOSED
Marvin ∙ Wilson Community Needs Annual Grant Guidelines
The Freeport Community Foundation is particularly interested in funding initiatives that are collaborative, inclusive and responsive to current and emerging needs of the community. Programs and/or activities should:
- Present innovative, creative and practical approaches in dealing with community needs
- Strengthen the capacity of the community to solve problems or seize opportunities in the future
- Encourage partnerships and collaborative efforts to reduce duplication of services
- Demonstrate vision, action, effectiveness, good management and quality
The philanthropic fields of interests include, though are not limited to, initiatives that will:
- Address current and emerging needs
- Foster civil and community betterment
- Meet human and health service needs
- Provide reform and innovation in the schools and new approaches to learning
- Support the advancement of arts and literature
In general, grants are not awarded for the following:
- Annual project/program support and ongoing operating support
- Annual fundraising drives
- Capital campaigns (this does not exclude grants for emergency capital needs)
- Endowments
- Grants to individuals, fraternal organizations, booster clubs
- Travel or conference expenses
- Religious purposes (this does not exclude grants to religious organizations for nonreligious purposes)
- Fundraising expenses
John M. Drogosz Youth Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment Memorial Fund Grant Guidelines
The John M. Drogosz Youth Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment Memorial Fund was established in December 2010 by Dick and Marianne Drogosz, John’s parents, through their matching gift in response to the generous contributions of more than 200 donors. Grants made from this Fund will be directed to non-profit organizations with educational, prevention and/or treatment of substance abuse programs focused on helping youth ages 21 or younger in Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll Counties.
The following are the specific criteria for grants from this Fund:
- Organization must be a nonprofit status and serve youth in Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll Counties
- Programs or activities must focus on the education, prevention and/or treatment of substance abuse
- Programs and/or activities must focus on youth (defined as 21 or younger) in Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll Counties
- Programs must demonstrate vision, action, effectiveness, good management and quality outcomes
- Programs and/or activities should present innovative, creative and practical approaches in dealing with the education, prevention and/or treatment of substance abuse with youth
- Grants will be considered for the expansion and/or completion of a program/project that meets the above criteria
Grants will not be awarded for the following:
- Annual fund-raising drives or fund-raising expenses
- Endowments
- Capital campaigns
- Grants to individuals, fraternal organizations, bands or booster clubs
- Travel or conference expenses
- Religious purposes