Community Foundation of East Central Illinois

10/30/2026

Did you know ladybugs have hair on their exoskeleton? 🐞🔬

Second graders at Northeast Elementary in Danville do now, because they saw it for themselves.

Since 1989, the Danville Public School Foundation has awarded more than $1 million in classroom endowments, helping teachers bring creative learning opportunities to students beyond what traditional tax dollars can provide.

So when teacher Ms. Melissa Sergent had an idea during a reading unit on insects and life cycles (what if students could actually use a microscope instead of just reading about one?), the Foundation applied for a CFECI Community Commitment Grant. Danville Public Schools Foundation was awarded funds for a dozen LED binocular microscopes, prepared slides, and a portable storage cart.

The result? Students working in teams to explore cells from mammals, birds, amphibians, plants (and bugs, of course!), and journaling what they discovered. A parent who works as a scientist at the University of Illinois even volunteered to help set up the microscopes.

“We cannot thank CFECI enough,” Ms. Sergent shared. “This is a wonderful thing for our school and students!”

And because the microscopes are on a rolling cart, what began with 24 students can now reach more than 320 children across the building.

That’s the power of generosity invested through your community foundation: one thoughtful grant, multiplied for years to come. 💙

Thank you to our donors and to the Danville Public Schools Foundation for bringing science to life.

10/28/2026

💗 When philanthropy meets community health 💗

We were honored to join Kirby Medical Center for a ribbon cutting and a first look at their new MRI space, where CFECI provided funding for an MRI Breast Coil. Allison and her daughter, Clarke, were there to celebrate this milestone with the team who will put it to work for our community.

This is a story of collaboration. When we take the time to understand what our community needs, and work alongside the people closest to the work, philanthropy can make a real difference in community health. A project like this is possible because of relationships built on trust, including the trust of our donors, which allows us to show up and provide resources with the utmost care and respect for the people doing this important work.

Thank you to Kirby Medical Center for the partnership, and to everyone who cares for our neighbors every day. 💚

10/27/2026

It's always a great time when we work with Holly Birch Photography! Check out some behind-the-scenes content from our recent brand photoshoot. We can't wait to share these photos with you!

10/23/2026

National Philanthropy Day Summit 2026 is coming up!

Last year, we gathered with fundraising and nonprofit professionals from across our region to learn together, and it was such a great experience that we’re proud to sponsor the Summit again this year, alongside the AFP East Central Illinois Chapter.

Why? Because we believe in the power of continued education, building collaboratively, and connecting with peers to deepen our impact. When we invest in learning alongside one another, our whole community benefits. 💚

📅 November 5, 2026
📍 I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center

👉 Sign up today: https://afpeci.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php

Bring a colleague, a board member, or a fellow fundraiser. We can’t wait to see you there!

10/21/2026

💡 Great idea? Let’s make sure it fits a real need. 💡

Join us next Wednesday, October 28, for a no-cost session in our Incubating Impact Series with guest speaker Tricia Teague on community research done right. It’s a great fit if you’re starting a nonprofit, getting to know the community you serve, or pressure testing a new program.

Swipe or read the graphic to learn more about Tricia and what she brings to the conversation!

📅 October 28 | 4:00–5:30 PM
📍 Champaign Public Library

👉 Sign up with the QR code or here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/market-research-on-a-community-problem-tickets-2001086814530

10/19/2026

✈️ Community Foundation in conference mode! ✈️

Our team just got back from Wichita, KS, where we attended the Kansas Association of Community Foundations' Annual Conference for Growing Community Foundations. It was our first time attending, and we came home with a full notebook!

With multiple breakout sessions each day, we dug into finance and accounting, program development and implementation, crisis response, CEO leadership, and more. We also connected with community foundation colleagues from across the country, from New York to Texas to Alaska. The conference brought together 490 attendees from 37 states and Washington, DC, representing 179 community foundations.

The conference was thoughtfully planned, with intentional breaks like therapy dogs 🐶 and building our own LEGO minifigures. We also enjoyed a welcome reception at the Wichita Botanical Garden and an Illinois team dinner.

We’re heading home with new ideas, fresh insights, and new partners to think about as we prepare for 2027. Thank you to the Kansas Association of Community Foundations for a wonderful experience! 💚

10/16/2026

We had a great time gathering with Piatt County nonprofit leaders to learn, connect, and share ideas with one another. Time with peers who understand the work is always a highlight, and these conversations remind us how much strength there is in our local nonprofit community.
We also had the joy of awarding a $1,000 microgrant to the Piatt County Nursing Home! 🎉 Congratulations to the team, and thank you for the care you bring to the residents and families you serve.
Thank you to kirbyhealth for facilitating these sessions and all the nonprofits that attended. We can’t wait to keep building these connections across Piatt County and beyond! 💚

10/14/2026

📣 We’re Hiring! 📣
We’re growing our team and looking for a Grantmaking and Stewardship Director to join us at the Community Foundation of East Central Illinois!
This role is perfect for someone who enjoys building out processes and working collaboratively. You’ll lead our annual competitive grant and scholarship cycles from application through award and final reporting, and help shape how we steward donors and share the impact of their giving across our nine-county region.
✨ What you’ll bring:
Strong project management and organizational skills
Excellent communication and a commitment to learning, listening to, and serving the community
A bachelor’s degree or at least three years of relevant professional experience
Residence within our nine-county service area
💰 What we offer: A starting salary of $60,000, an employer SEP contribution, and paid vacation and holidays, all with an intimate, collaborative team that values careful stewardship and relationships rooted in trust.
📅 Apply by Friday, October 23. Email your cover letter and resume to [email protected].
Learn more about the position: https://cfeci.org/were-expanding-our-team-grantmaking-and-stewardship-director/
Know someone who would be a great fit? Tag them or share this post! 💚

10/12/2026

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. 🧡

We pause today to honor the Indigenous peoples who are the original stewards of this land, and to recognize the histories, cultures, and communities that are very much alive and thriving today.

Learning is an ongoing practice, and there are many community resources that can help us listen, reflect, and continue educating ourselves with respect. One example is Native American House at the University of Illinois, which is hosting a full day of programming at Spurlock Museum, Native American House, and Illinois Street Dining Center. It includes storytelling, community gathering, a film screening and dialogue, and outdoor community printmaking. Visit nah.illinois.edu for details.

We encourage you to take a moment today to learn, listen, and support Indigenous voices and organizations in our community.

Monday, October 12 is Indigenous Peoples' Day! Join us for a day of events around this year's theme, "Not Your Mascot: The Impact of (Mis)Representation," at the Spurlock Museum, the Native American House, and Illinois Street Dining Center. Here are some of the highlights:

💙 11 AM: NAH's very own Dr. Charlotte Davidson and Morgan Bear will be featured in the panel "Telling Our Own Stories: Reclaiming Indigenous Representation" at Knight Auditorium, Spurlock Museum.

🧡 4 PM: Join us for a screening of "Imagining the Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting" at Knight Auditorium, followed by a dialogue with our undergraduate ambassadors and the film's director, Ben West.

Also happening are a community feed at 1 PM in the Core Gallery (Spurlock), outdoor community printmaking at NAH from 4-5:30 PM, and a themed dinner at Illinois Street Dining Center from 4:30-8 PM.

Drop in for one event or stay for the day. Full schedule at: https://nah.illinois.edu/events/indigenous-peoples-day

10/07/2026

Strong nonprofits don’t do it alone—and building for the future takes more than a good plan.

Our upcoming Nonprofit Leadership elective courses focus on two areas that can make a real difference in an organization’s ability to grow, adapt, and create lasting impact:

Unlocking Powerful Community Partnerships:
Learn practical strategies for building and sustaining meaningful relationships, overcoming barriers to collaboration, and developing a plan for strengthening your organization’s network.

Nonprofit Sustainability:
Explore sustainability as an ongoing process. Identify priorities, develop practical strategies, and consider how sustainable collaboration and a sustainability mindset can support your organization over the long term.

Both courses include hands-on activities and practical tools you can apply directly to your work.

Learn more and register: https://parkland.augusoft.net/connect/ClassInfo/ClassInformation?int_class_id=21069&int_category_id=0&int_sub_category_id=0&int_catalog_id=0