Morton Community Foundation - Est. 2000
25 Years of Gather, Grow, Grant
Annual Spring Community Grant Cycle Process
The Annual Spring Community Grant Cycle has occurred every year since 2003 and is made possible through the generosity of the MCF’s donors—individuals, families, and organizations committed to improving the quality of life here in the Morton area. Endowed gifts create reliable funding for current needs and future opportunities. That’s the power of endowment.
Some donors choose to support specific organizations, while others provide scholarship funding that helps students get to and through school. Some donors decide that they want their legacy gifts to address the challenges and opportunities of future generations. These endowed gifts support Community Grants, MCF’s grantmaking program that endeavors to meet the community’s most urgent needs through responsive grantmaking.
The Morton Community Foundation is pleased to continue its tradition of grantmaking with the annual Spring Community Grants cycle.
Eligible applicants include:
Nonprofit organizations that are recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.
Government entities applying for grants that are exclusively for public or charitable purposes (Schools, Parks, Libraries, Police, Fire, etc.)
Faith-based organizations applying for grants that benefit the public good, but not for specifically religious or sectarian purposes, or programs that require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services. Acceptable requests from faith-based organizations include requests for…
Facility improvements (e.g., upgrading a playground, library, or science lab)
Technology and equipment (e.g., computers, projectors, STEM lab tools)
Extracurricular programs (e.g., music, arts, sports)
Teacher professional development (as long as it’s not for religious instruction)
To qualify, organizations must serve and impact Morton, IL area residents (Includes Groveland).
Grant Process Timeline
Grant Seekers' Workshop at the Morton Community Foundation, 135 S First Ave, Morton.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 4:00PM
NOTE: This is not a How-To training on writing grant applications. It is to help non-profits and schools who impact Morton area residents understand what we’re looking for in your application that will give it the best chance of being funded with a grant. Please don’t sign up if your non-profit’s work does not impact Morton, IL area residents. The mission of the Morton Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life for Morton area residents now and for generations to come. If your non-profit does not impact Morton area residents, you need not apply.
Friday, February 20, 2026 - GRANT CYCLE UPLOAD PORTAL OPENS
Friday, March 20, 2026 - Deadline for grants to be received at the MCF office no later than 5pm.
First full week of April, 2026 - Grant Review Committee meets & agrees on recommended distributions.
Thursday, April 9, 2026 - MCF Board of Trustees reviews and approves Grant Committee recommendations.
Monday, April 13, 2026 - Grant Recipients are contacted
WANT TO APPLY FOR A GRANT?
NOTE: The mission of the Morton Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life for Morton area residents now and for generations to come. If your non-profit does not impact Morton area residents, you need not apply.
Click the button below to fill out the online application
February Fundaversaries
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Morton Fire Department Local 4952 Charitable Fund
Started in February of 2017, the Morton Fire Department Local 4952 Charitable Fund is a donor-advised charitable fund associated with the firefighters’ union in Morton, Illinois (IAFF Local 4952). It channels money raised by Morton fire and EMS personnel into grants for local nonprofits and community needs in and around the Village of Morton.
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Wayne L. Sampson Memorial Educator’s Scholarship
The Wayne L. Sampson Memorial Educator’s Scholarship is an endowed scholarship fund supporting future educators connected to Morton High School in Morton, Illinois. It was started in February of 2010 to honor the life and educational legacy of Wayne L. Sampson, a longtime Illinois educator and school board leader.
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RHMA (Rural Home Missionary Association) Endowment Fund
The RHMA (Rural Home Missionary Association) Endowment Fund is a designated charitable endowment started in February 2025. It exists to provide long-term, sustainable financial support to Rural Home Missionary Association, a US evangelical nonprofit focused on planting and strengthening rural churches.
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Rewarding Resilience Dyslexia Scholarship
The Rewarding Resilience Dyslexia Scholarship is a donor-funded scholarship started in February of 2021. It supports students with dyslexia pursuing post-secondary education or training and focuses on recognizing perseverance and potential in learners with reading-based learning differences, rather than traditional academic metrics alone.
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Leadership Forever Endowment Fund
The Leadership Forever Endowment Fund is an endowed fund, started in February of 2008, whose investment earnings support the foundation’s internal leadership and operational capacity on an ongoing basis. It is the MCF’s effort to become fully self-sustained so that, instead of focusing so much on fundraising to “keep the lights on”, the operations of the organization are primarily funded through operations endowment grants and management fees.
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Samantha Hou – PAWS Fund
The Samantha Hou – Peoria Humane Society / PAWS Fund is a designated charitable endowment started in February 2017. It honors the memory of Samantha Hou by providing ongoing financial support for cat-focused work within the Peoria Humane Society’s PAWS program.
2026 Incentives Available to Multiply Your Impact
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Through this program:
• Donors to qualified endowment funds can receive a 25% Illinois state tax credit on contributions.
• Tax credits are capped at $100,000 per donor annually (up to $400,000 in donations).
• $5 million in tax credits are available statewide for 2025, with 25% reserved for contributions of $25,000 or less.
• MCF can receive up to $3 million in qualified contributions.
Act quickly—credits are first-come, first-served.
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The Caterpillar Foundation offers a year-round Matching Gifts Program that matches employee and U.S. retiree donations to eligible charities on a 1:1 basis, up to $10,000 per participant annually.
This means that if you are a Caterpillar employee or retiree, your donation to the Morton Community Foundation can be doubled, significantly enhancing your contribution to the community.
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Donating appreciated stock offers unmatched tax benefits, such as avoiding capital gains tax on the appreciated value while deducting the full fair market value of stock held for more than 12 months.
For example, if you purchased Apple stock 10 years ago at $20 per share, a gift of 100 shares now worth $20,000 would have cost you just $2,000. You avoid taxes on $18,000 in gains and can deduct the full $20,000 as a charitable deduction for tax purposes.
Stock donations are easy, take minutes online, and are completely free for you and your advisor. Learn more on our website, or call for a no obligation discussion.
Make a Difference Today
These programs amplify your impact while offering significant tax benefits, especially if your donation qualifies for several, or all the above incentives. Whether supporting the Morton Public Library, education, or other local non-profit organizations, your gift goes further in 2025.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Free monthly books for every child under five who lives in Tazewell County.
Children under five years old who live in Tazewell County are now eligible to receive a free book each month through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in partnership with Tazewell County Libraries. The free books are offered to all children under five in the county, regardless of family income.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library was launched in 1995 by The Dollywood Foundation, providing free books to children in Patron’s home area of Sevier County, Tennessee. The goal of the program is to inspire a love of books and reading among children.
Alissa Williams, Director of the Morton Public Library said, “Libraries are committed to education and learning. As research shows early literacy skills lead to success in school. We want all children to have easy access to books, so partnering with Imagination Library made sense.”
Tazewell County’s Imagination Library program is funded by donations. Anyone can donate to support the Tazewell County Imagination Library program. A fund has been established at the Morton Community Foundation and donations can be sent to Morton Community Foundation ATTN: Imagination Library Fund, 135 S. First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550. Donations may also be made online.
Genna Buhr, Director of Fondulac District Library added, “this program allows Tazewell County libraries another avenue to share the joy of books and the gift of reading in our community. We can’t wait to get books in the hands of children throughout Tazewell County.”
Children must be registered by a parent or guardian in order to receive the books. There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month. Parents or guardians may register their children online by filling out a brief form at imagination library.com. Registered children will begin receiving books at their home address about eight to 10 weeks after their forms are received. The first book distributed is always the children’s classic, “The Little Engine That Could.”
The program’s impact has been widely researched, and results demonstrate its positive impact on early childhood development and literacy skills. Penguin Random House is the exclusive publisher of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. For more information, please visit www.imaginationlibrary.com.
Trusted for Good
Giving generously—to support your favorite cause or establish a permanent legacy—requires trust. At the Morton Community Foundation, we don’t take that trust lightly. Whether you’re starting an endowment or donating to one of our existing funds, you can be confident knowing we’ve met the highest standards for accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship.
These commitments are reflected in the memberships, accreditations, and designations you’ll see recognized in the footer of every page of our website.
We are proud to be accredited for National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations, the nation’s highest measure of excellence in the field. This rigorous accreditation, overseen by the National Standards Board (a subsidiary of the Council on Foundations), confirms that we meet strict legal, ethical, and operational standards.
We’re proud members of the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, a statewide network that fosters collaboration, learning, and advocacy among community foundations in Illinois. This membership keeps us connected to best practices and collective impact strategies.
Candid (formerly GuideStar) has awarded us the Gold Seal of Transparency, recognizing our commitment to openly sharing our goals, financials, and impact. It’s a sign to donors that we’re accountable and aligned with best nonprofit practices.
We’ve earned a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator, their highest possible score. This distinction reflects our strong financial health, accountability, and transparency—so you can give with confidence.
As an active member of the Morton Chamber of Commerce, we’re deeply connected to our local business and civic community. Our membership reflects our commitment to supporting local partnerships and advancing the economic and social vitality of Morton.