Harper College will be closed Wednesday, November 27 through Sunday, December 1 for Thanksgiving Break.
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 Innovation Fund Grant (CIFG) program. To date, Harper has awarded $150,000 to 11 non-profit organizations serving residents of the 23 communities in Harper's district.
The Harper College Educational Foundation is pleased to announce the third year of CIFG Program funding available for non-profit organizations in providing programs and services in Harper’s district seeking funding to support the equity, diversity, and economic goals and outcomes below. Grant applications were due on or before Friday, May 10, 2024. The committee is currently reviewing the 12 submissions.
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 and marginalized 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.
FY25 Important Dates | |
Grant Announced | March 25, 2024 |
Webinar (will be recorded) | April 3, 2024 |
Application Due Date | May 10, 2024 |
Award Selections Made | June 2024 |
Grant Period | July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025 |
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 2024-2025, $50,000 will be available for grant awards of up to $10,000 each.
Organizations must perform all grant activities in Harper’s service area. For a map of Harper’s district boundaries, visit Community College District #512.
This program makes grants only to non-profit entities that are external to Harper College, including, but not limited to:
To maximize our impact on the community, we prioritize awarding grants to organizations with annual operating budgets of $500,000 or less. Eligible organizations may receive funding for a maximum of two years within any five-year period. Organizations that have already received two grants within the past two years will not be eligible for additional funding in fiscal year 2025.
In fiscal year 2023-2024, the CIFG program awarded $50,000 to six eligible non-profit organizations. The grantees are:
In fiscal year 2022-2023, the CIFG program awarded $100,000 to five eligible non-profit organizations. The grantees were: