Amount: Up to $1,000 will be awarded to cover either a) the cost of program fees or b) tuition to attend classes, workshops or camps.

Description: The A&D Hewitt Memorial Fund has been established under the auspices of the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation in memory of brothers Abel and Don Hewitt. We believe you inspire others when you are your most authentic self and that personal communities today must be inclusive (reflecting persons across all races, cultures, religions, etc.) The fund encourages and enables students to explore possibilities in new and varied areas of interests, expanded cultural experiences, leadership training, and new skills development (i.e. through internships).

Eligibility: Open to students in middle school and up to ninth grade in the Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities of Austin, Berwyn, Broadview, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest Park, Galewood, Maywood, and Melrose Park.

How to Apply: Applications are closed for 2025-2026. Please check back in Fall 2026 for information about next year’s cycle of grants. Any questions, please contact [email protected] and thanks for your interest!

Amount: Grants of up to $1000 for programs, materials, equipment, or instruction that furthers the applicant’s musical goals. The award cannot be used for high school or college tuition or fees.

Description: Carlos Baldoceda was an Oak Park resident who loved music but passed away too soon from brain tumor complications.

Eligibility: Chicago area resident, 14 to 25 years of age, interested in music.

How to Apply: Applications are closed for 2025-2026. Please check back in Fall 2026 for information about next year’s cycle of grants. Any questions, please contact [email protected] and thanks for your interest!

Amount: Up to $600

Description: This Fund was established by the Rotary Club of OPRF in 2020 to honor the memory of two of its most dynamic female members, Virginia Cassin and Sister Michelle Germanson, O.P. The grant enables each girl to explore learning and develop personal interests outside the classroom. Financial need is required.

Eligibility: Young students who identify as female in grades 6 through 8 with financial need.

Application Information and Deadline: Grants are awarded twice a year in the winter and spring/summer. Applications must be submitted by December 1, for January grants and March 15, for April grants. Link HERE to apply online.

Amount: The Crystal fund provides grants up to $4,000 per student to support extended cultural or educational experiences “away from home.”

Eligibility: Grants are limited to youth from the Chicago area aged 13 to 19 years from low income households.  All applications must be completed by a sponsor, such as a counselor, teacher or mentor; students and family members cannot apply directly. Trips must be at least two weeks long. Your family will be required to submit documents that demonstrate financial need based on our criteria for eligibility. School trips and trips with family or friends are not eligible for funding. You must be in good academic standing. No previous extended, independent travel away from home.

Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Students must apply at least six weeks before funding is needed for their travel.

How to Apply: All applications must be initiated online by a sponsor. Students/families interested in applying for our Crystal Charitable Fund Grant should contact the sponsoring organization and have them begin the online grant application on behalf of the student.  Student families will also have a component of the application to complete.

Sponsor Brochure: Link Here
Student Brochure: Link Here

Amount: Up to $3,000 to assist one or more recipients for an international travel experience for the purpose of improving or perfecting foreign language skills.

Description: We believe that communication between people of the world is not truly possible without common languages. The Dring Language Fellowship is intended to encourage young people to reach competency and fluency in any foreign language of their choice by providing financial assistance grants for language training, foreign travel and related expenses.

Eligibility: Limited to current students or graduates of OPRFHS.

How to Apply: Applications are closed for 2025-2026. Please check back in Fall 2026 for information about next year’s cycle of grants. Any questions, please contact [email protected] and thanks for your interest!

Amount: $500-$1,000 awards to encourage work in the fine and applied arts

Description: This award honors the memory of Laura Southwick who loved the arts and was an Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate in 1986.

Eligibility: Chicagoland High School Freshmen – Juniors

How to Apply: Applications are closed for 2025-2026. Please check back in Fall 2026 for information about next year’s cycle of grants. Any questions, please contact [email protected] and thanks for your interest!

Amount: Up to $6,000 enrichment scholarship(s) will be awarded towards participation in an academic, cultural or travel enrichment activity between the junior and senior year of high school.

Description: The Tom Neumann Memorial Fund honors Mr. Neumann’s love for travel, appreciation for all types of culture and respect for the inherent worth of all people.

Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School juniors and Trinity High School juniors.

How to Apply: Applications are closed for 2025-2026. Please check back in Fall 2026 for information about next year’s cycle of grants. Any questions, please contact [email protected] and thanks for your interest!

Amount: Several enrichment grants will be awarded, with no single scholarship exceeding $3,500.

Description: The Tibensky family established this scholarship to provide support for academic enrichment that is offered and sponsored by Oak Park and River Forest High School (OPRFHS).

Eligibility: Oak Park and River Forest High School students

How to Apply: The application is OPEN and can be linked HERE. Please note there are two application due dates:

1. November 15, 2026 for OPRFHS sponsored trips during the school year. No others may apply until after this date.
2. March 1, 2027 for summer trips sponsored by OPRFHS or endorsed by OPRFHS, such as CIEE.

This is a need-based scholarship. Please follow the prompts in the portal to create a new account, if you have not previously done so. Any questions, please contact [email protected]. Thanks for your interest!

Amount: $1,500 loan repayment

Description: This grant is awarded annually to a teacher who aspires to positively affect the futures of their students, embodies a worthy role model for their colleagues, and enhances the quality and the reputation of Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Eligibility: Certified teachers in their first or second year of teaching in Oak Park Elementary School District 97.

Application Information: Applications are currently closed and will open after January 1, 2027. Please contact [email protected] with any questions, and thanks for your interest!