This program is for DeKalb County, Illinois residents ONLY.

We are excited to announce the Fall 2026 CSBG Scholarship Program, an initiative rooted in Community Action values and designed to expand access to education and economic opportunity for eligible DeKalb County residents pursuing higher education at Illinois institutions.

Family Service Agency’s Community Action Program believes education can be a powerful pathway out of poverty and an important investment in long-term stability, stronger families, and stronger communities. We recognize the determination it takes to pursue an education while navigating financial and other barriers, and we encourage eligible students from all backgrounds and life experiences to apply.

The CSBG Scholarship provides financial assistance to help reduce the cost of pursuing education and support students as they work toward their academic, career, and economic goals. Eligible applicants attending an Illinois college, university, or vocational school are encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline:

Friday, October 30th, 2026, by 5:00pm CST

Applications must be submitted by the deadline. Late applications will not be accepted.

Questions or Application Support 

Virtual Office Hours for Scholarship Application Support

cap@fsadekalbcounty.org | 815-758-8616 (ask for Community Action)

Community Action changes people’s lives, embodies the spirit of hope, improves communities, and makes America a better place to live. We care about the entire community, and we are dedicated to helping people help themselves and each other.

Details & Eligibility

Eligibility

• Must be a resident of DeKalb County, Illinois
  • You must provide your DeKalb County permanent residential address. Proof of residency will be required and may include a lease, mortgage, or documentation of residence at a shelter located in DeKalb County. NIU residence halls/dormitories do not qualify as proof of DeKalb County residency.
• The scholarship is available only for students attending accredited Illinois colleges, universities, or trade schools.
• Students must be pursuing a certification, associate's, bachelor's, or master's degree.
  • Doctoral programs are NOT eligible for this scholarship.
  • To determine if your program or institution is eligible before submitting your application, please contact cap@fsadekalbcounty.org.
• Applicants must demonstrate some level of community involvement or volunteerism to be considered.

2026 Income Guidelines (based on pre-tax income)

If your household size is larger than 8, please visit this link.

Scholarship Details

• Funds may be used for past or current semesters.
• Allowable expenses include tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
• Each scholarship award is a maximum of $2,500.
• Funds will be sent directly to the recipient’s school on their behalf.
• Final school cost verification will be required before the award is granted.

Award Selection

• Scholarship awards are determined through a holistic review of each eligible application. Applicants are evaluated based on the total points earned across the following areas:
  • Application Completeness: Submission of a complete application and all required documentation by the established deadlines.
  • Community Involvement: The applicant’s involvement in and contributions to their community, including formal and informal service, volunteerism, leadership, advocacy, caregiving, and other forms of community engagement.
  • Personal Essay: The quality and thoughtfulness of the applicant’s responses, including how clearly they communicate their experiences, educational and career goals, and commitment to their community.
  • Program Rigor: Consideration of the applicant’s academic or training program, course load, educational commitments, and the demands associated with pursuing their chosen credential or degree.
  • Demonstrated Resilience: Consideration of challenges, barriers, responsibilities, or significant life circumstances the applicant has navigated while pursuing their education and long-term goals.
  • Academic Performance: Academic performance will be considered as one component of the overall application but will not be the primary factor in award selection. We recognize that balancing school with employment, family responsibilities, financial hardship, community involvement, and other life circumstances can affect academic performance. A lower GPA does not, by itself, prevent an applicant from receiving a scholarship.

Award Notification

• Applicants will be notified via email the week of November 23, 2026, using the email address provided on the application.

Important Notices

• Please do not contact our office regarding the status of your application. Doing so may result in disqualification from the 2026 CSBG Scholarship opportunity. 
• Incomplete applications will not be reviewed and will not be eligible for the Fall 2026 CSBG Scholarship. No exceptions. Applicants are responsible for ensuring their application is complete, all required materials are included, and everything is submitted by the deadline. Family Service Agency will not review submissions for completeness or contact applicants regarding missing or incomplete materials.
• Applicants who have already received CSBG Scholarship funds during 2026 are not eligible to receive an additional award through the Fall 2026 CSBG Scholarship cycle.

Application Instructions

To apply for the 2026 CSBG Scholarship Program, follow the steps below. Please read the entire application thoroughly before completing it.

Step 1: Initial Submission

• At the time of submission, applicants are only required to submit:
  • CSBG Scholarship Application
    • Complete all sections and answer all required fields.
    • If the applicant is under 18, a parent/guardian must sign the necessary pages.
  • Personal Essays
    • Submit two 500-word typed essays. A list of topics is included in the application.

Step 2: Eligibility Determination

After submitting your application, a Family Support Specialist will reach out to verify eligibility for the CSBG Scholarship. 

To verify eligibility, you will need to provide the following:

• Proof of DeKalb County residency
• Social Security Cards (if available)
  • If you or a household member does not have a Social Security card or proof of U.S. citizenship, you are still eligible to apply.
• Proof of Household Gross 30-Day Income
• Official or Unofficial Transcript

Step 3: Schedule an Appointment

Once a Family Support Specialist has verified your eligibility, they will schedule a 60-minute Intake Appointment with you to complete all necessary Community Action paperwork.

Next Steps

• Failure to provide all required documentation before or at your scheduled appointment will result in disqualification.
• If you have any questions about the application process or required documents, please contact Family Service Agency’s Community Action Program for assistance.
• Scholarship applicants are also encouraged to continue working with our case management services beyond the scholarship application process. Our Family Support Specialists can help identify and address barriers to your educational, employment, and financial goals.
  • Support may include FAFSA assistance, employment and job-search support, applying for public benefits, identifying additional scholarship opportunities, reviewing scholarship applications, connecting to tutoring or academic supports, and referrals to other community resources.

Estimated Time to Complete the Scholarship Process

1. Application Completion: Approximately 60–90 minutes
   1. Additional time may be needed to complete the two required essay responses of at least 500 words each. We recommend reviewing the full application and essay prompts before beginning.
2. Gathering Eligibility Documents: Approximately 15–30 minutes
   1. You will need to gather documentation verifying residency, household income, identification, academic information, and benefits, if applicable. This may take longer if you need to request documents from another person or organization.
3. Intake Appointment: Approximately 60 minutes
   1. Eligible applicants will complete an intake appointment with a Family Support Specialist to review required documentation, verify eligibility, and complete the CSBG intake process.

Estimated total time commitment: Approximately 2–3 hours.

Example of How to Complete the Next Question

Below are examples showing how different types of degrees and credentials should be entered. These are examples only. 

Helpful Tip: This section is critical to scholarship eligibility and selection. Please provide as much detail as possible about your community involvement, including the organizations, schools, groups, or places involved; what you do; your role or contribution; how long you have been involved; and the approximate number of hours you contribute per week, month, or year. The more specific you are, the better we can understand your involvement and contribution to your community.

Examples: Community involvement can be formal or informal, so consider all the ways you contribute your time, skills, or support to your community. Examples may include volunteering at a child’s school, chaperoning field trips, participating in PTA or school events, coaching or supporting youth sports, participating in church or faith-based activities, helping at food pantries, volunteering with nonprofits or shelters, participating in community cleanups, mentoring youth or peers, assisting with senior services, supporting libraries or literacy programs, attending community meetings or town halls, participating in neighborhood associations or support groups, organizing community events or donation drives, advocating for community needs or resources, or participating in cultural or community celebrations.

Personal Essay

• Submit a typed essay responding to two (2) of the prompts listed below.
  
  • If you need access to a computer, please contact Family Service Agency.
• Each response must be a minimum of 500 words. This means you will submit two separate responses of at least 500 words each, for a minimum of 1,000 words total.
• A new essay is required for each scholarship cycle. Previously submitted essays may not be reused. Submitting the same essay from a previous application will result in disqualification.

Essay Topics (Choose Two):

1. Describe your future and educational goals. Explain what you want to study, why you chose this field, and how your career could support programs or services that help the community.
2. Imagine yourself ten years from now. Describe your career, the kind of work you are doing, and how your efforts are helping strengthen and support services in your community.
3. Describe a need or challenge in your community that you care deeply about. How could your education and future career help you create or support services that address this issue?
4. Imagine your future as a leader in your community. What kind of community services would you like to create or improve, and how will your education prepare you to make that vision a reality?
5. Think about a time when you helped others or participated in community service. How did that experience shape your goals for the future, and how do you plan to continue serving your community through your education and career?

Before You Submit Your Application
Please be prepared to provide the documentation listed below to your assigned Family Support Specialist (FSS). You do not need to submit these documents with the initial application. After your application is received, an FSS will contact you with next steps and instructions for providing documentation.

You will be required to provide:

☐ Proof of DeKalb County residency
Lease, mortgage documentation, utility bill, or documentation from a shelter located in DeKalb County. NIU residence halls/dormitories are not accepted as proof of permanent DeKalb County residency.

☐ Proof of gross household income for the most recent 30 days
Documentation is required for all household members age 18 and older and must include all earned and unearned income, such as wages, child support, survivor benefits, unemployment benefits, pensions, Social Security benefits, and other sources of income.

☐ Government-issued photo identification
Driver’s license, state ID, or other accepted identification for household members age 18 and older.

☐ Social Security cards, if applicable
For household members, including children. Not having a Social Security card or proof of U.S. citizenship does not automatically make an applicant ineligible.

☐ Current or most recent academic transcript or GED/high school equivalency test scores
Official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable unless otherwise requested.

☐ Verification of benefits, if applicable
Documentation of benefits such as SNAP, SSI, TANF, unemployment benefits, or other public benefits reported by your household.

Important: Your assigned FSS may request additional documentation based on your household circumstances or information provided in your application. Failure to provide requested documentation by the established deadline will result in your application being determined ineligible or incomplete.

I consent to the school I am attending releasing financial aid, admissions, and registrar information to the Family Service Agency of DeKalb County, including the dollar amount of my student loans, the total amount of scholarships received, my overall student standing, my most recent grades, my GPA, and my anticipated date of graduation.

If I am awarded a scholarship, I give Family Service Agency permission to publish my name and picture on FSA’s website, social media, and any press releases.