Glen Ellyn Fund
Glen Ellyn Fund Initiative
The Glen Ellyn Fund Initiative (GEFI) is a community partnership between the Village of Glen Ellyn and DuPage Foundation that was created in 2017 to support local projects enhancing life in Glen Ellyn. This initiative gives residents and friends a meaningful way to come together and invest in the future of their hometown.
The Fund prioritizes projects that deliver lasting benefits for Glen Ellyn residents, especially those that go beyond what currently exists in the community.
Guided by an Advisory Committee of Glen Ellyn residents and leaders, the Fund focuses on five key areas:
- Community Arts and Cultural Programs
- Social and Recreational Programs
- Environmental Sustainability
- Green Space and Open Space
- Infrastructure and Capital Improvements
Grant Guidelines
The 2025 application deadline has passed, grant guidelines for 2026 will be available January 2026.
Below are the 2025 Glen Ellyn Fund Grant Guidelines for reference. Click or tap a section below for more information.
Application Due Dates
The 2025 application deadline has passed, grant guidelines for 2026 will be available January 2026.
Grant Categories & Priorities
Applicants may apply for a Glen Ellyn Fund grant in an amount up to $20,000, which will be awarded for one or more projects in the following areas:
- Community Arts & Cultural Programming
- Social & Recreational Programs
- Environmental Sustainability
- Green & Open Space
- Infrastructure & Capital Improvements
Proposed programs or projects that primarily benefit Glen Ellyn residents and those that provide incremental benefits beyond what already exists will be prioritized.
Eligibility
Entities eligible to apply include:
- Nonprofit public charities classified as exempt from federal income taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
- Glen Ellyn governmental entities for projects that are beyond the purview of the annual budget
Restrictions
The Foundation does not award grants from the Glen Ellyn Fund grant program to:
- Individuals
- Organizations for religious activities (Secular activities provided by religious organizations may be eligible for grant funds.)
- Endowments
- Disease-specific organizations
- Private foundations and private operating foundations
- Hospitals, including supporting foundations
Funding Guidelines
When applying for a grant, please note the following:
- Applications may be submitted for existing or new projects, programs, or operating purposes
- Grants are awarded for a one-year period.
- Applications that do not contain all the requested information in the specified format may be denied.
- Submitting an application to the Glen Ellyn Fund does not preclude 501(c)(3) organizations from also applying for a grant through the DuPage Foundation’s Community Impact grant program.
Application Review Process
A team consisting of Foundation Grant Committee members and Glen Ellyn Fund Committee members reviews and evaluates all applications received and conducts site visits when appropriate. The team then makes grant recommendations to the Foundation Board of Trustees for approval.
All applicants will be notified via email in mid-November whether or not a grant has been awarded.
Additional Resources
Have more questions about the Glen Ellyn Fund? Contact Kait Miller Balsewicz, director of donor & community engagement, for additional details.
