Community Impact Fund Grant Program

The application due date is Friday, May 1, 2026.

In April 2022, the Harper College Educational Foundation announced the launch of a new program that provides grant awards to non-profit organizations in Harper’s district for projects that support the equity, diversity, and economic goals of the Community Impact Fund Grant (CIFG) program.

The Harper College Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the fifth year of CIFG Program funding for non-profit organizations in Harper's district. Eligible applicants must provide programs and services that support the goals below. Grant applications are due on or before Friday, May 1, 2026.

CIFG Program Goals

Equity: Provide equity in living, learning, teaching, and working environments; recognize everyone has a different starting point and individual needs; provide support and access to resources for all members of Harper’s community; and find solutions to remedy equity gaps.
Diversity: Build, strengthen, and maintain a respectful and safe community where inclusivity and open exchange of ideas are encouraged and supported; operate from an individual and collective awareness of the dynamics of social identity and inequality; and identify and remove unjust barriers that limit our realization of an inclusive community.
Economic Mobility: Improve the ability of underserved individuals in Harper’s district communities to move up the economic ladder by creating intragenerational mobility through training and education that leads to in-demand, living-wage jobs in regional industries.

Program Focus and Grant Amounts

Grant projects must focus on one or more of the three program goals stated above and include uplifting activities with long-lasting outcomes that are measurable and positively impactful to chronically underserved communities and the individuals who live there. In fiscal year 2026-2027, award funding will range from $5,000 to $10,000.

Organizations must perform all grant activities in Harper’s service area. For a map of Harper’s district boundaries, visit Community College District #512.

Eligible Organizations

This program makes grants only to non-profit entities that are external to Harper College, including, but not limited to:

Non-profit organizations that have status under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
Public libraries
Community-based organizations
Educational foundations
Community resource centers
Religious organizations providing support services such as food, housing, and healthcare assistance

To maximize our impact on the community, we prioritize awarding grants to organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less.

Proposed grant activities and budget must only be for the one-year performance period. Grantees can only receive up to two years of funding within a five-year period of time. Organizations must apply each year, even if a multi-year project is proposed.

Funding Timeline

FY27 Important Dates

Grant Announced March 23, 2026
Application Due Date May 1, 2026
Award Selections Made June 2026
Check Ceremony Held July 2026
Grant Period July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027

Next Steps

Review the Request for Proposal document.
Plan to attend the technical assistance webinar to be held on Wednesday, April 8 from 3:30pm to 4:00pm (CST) to learn more about the grant program and application process. RSVP by 4:30 pm on Tuesday, April 7.
Be sure to address all sections included in the Request for Proposal.
Gather the organization’s most recent annual audited financial statements, a signed W-9 for the organization, and the IRS determination letter verifying non-profit status to submit as uploaded attachments to the online application.
Submit your online application by 11:59pm (CST) on Friday, May 1, 2026.

Questions? Reach out to cifg@harpercollege.edu.