Harper College Educational Foundation awards Community Impact Fund Grants to four local nonprofits

Harper College recently celebrated the recipients of its 2026-27 Community Impact Fund Grants, awarding $38,200 to four local nonprofit organizations whose programs promote equity, diversity and economic mobility.

The Harper College Educational Foundation program supports organizations serving residents throughout Harper’s district. Since its launch, the Community Impact Fund Grant Program has awarded 26 grants totaling $277,900. According to outcome reports submitted by participating nonprofits, the grant-funded services have helped 4,805 individuals.

The program was inspired in part by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott’s transformational $18 million gift to Harper in 2021 and the idea that generosity can create opportunities for even greater impact. This year, Harper added a new emphasis to the grant process by asking applicants how they could partner with the college, creating opportunities to connect the people they serve with Harper’s educational, workforce and support resources.

“As the community’s college, Harper has a responsibility to look beyond our campus and work with partners who are addressing real needs in the communities we serve,” said Dr. Avis Proctor, Harper president. “Through this fund, we support organizations that address immediate needs while also creating longer-term pathways to education, employment, stability and economic mobility.”

Community Impact Fund Grant recipients for 2026-27 include:

• Kindred Life Ministries – $8,200: The organization will use its grant to support teen parents through its Life Education Group program, which provides mentoring, financial coaching, parenting education, counseling and life-skills training designed to help young parents achieve educational success, employment stability and long-term economic mobility.
• Palatine Township Foundation – $10,000: The foundation will expand access to food security and transportation assistance for residents facing financial hardship. This project addresses two foundational needs that can stand between individuals and economic opportunity: reliable access to nutritious food and dependable transportation.
• WINGS Program – $10,000: WINGS is launching a Workforce Readiness Survivor Fund to support survivors of domestic violence seeking education, training and employment opportunities. The fund helps participants overcome barriers such as transportation, child care and other support needs as they build greater stability and pursue their educational and career goals.
• United Palatine Coalition – $10,000: The organization’s Digital Pathways for Opportunity and Well-Being project will help immigrant, multilingual and under-resourced adults build critical digital skills. Through culturally responsive technology training and support, the program aims to address barriers to employment, education, health care access and community connection.

At the awards presentation, representatives from Kindred Life Ministries and WINGS each shared the story of a mother participating in their programs while enrolled at Harper and pursuing new career opportunities through education. Both organizations are previous Community Impact Fund Grant recipients.

“Four years ago, Harper College welcomed WINGS into its commitment to ensuring that local residents have access to educational opportunities that can build them better lives. We remain deeply grateful for that partnership,” said Luticia Fiorito, director of grants for WINGS. “Thank you for your continued support and for helping create meaningful opportunities for our survivors as they work toward safety, stability and long-term independence.”

This year’s grants continue an effort that Harper began in 2022 and has helped local organizations pilot new ideas, expand successful programs and remove barriers to opportunity.

“Student success does not begin or end at the edge of our campus. It is shaped by access to resources, by stability at home, by opportunity in the workplace and by the strength of the community around each learner,” Dr. Proctor said. “These grants allow Harper to partner with organizations that are already deeply trusted in our communities and help extend their reach in meaningful ways.”