Grantors
Womanspace is grateful for the support of foundations and organizations that help sustain our programs and mission. The following grants reflect partnerships that make our work possible in the Rockford, IL area and throughout the stateline community.
Illinois Arts Council – General Operating Support
annually since 2025 - $10,000
This grant is used to offset the financial impact of art instructor payments and covers approximately one-third of Womanspace’s annual Art Instructor compensation. This support helps sustain one of the organization’s most important operational commitments: offering high-quality arts programming that remains financially accessible to the community while still fairly compensating instructors for their expertise, preparation, and time. By helping absorb a significant portion of these personnel costs, the grant allows Womanspace to maintain a simple and equitable registration and compensation system that supports both program accessibility and the long-term sustainability of our arts programming.
Illinois Arts Council – Youth Employment in the Arts
Annually since 2025 - $3,780 current year
This grant provides financial support for Womanspace’s Youth Arts & Media Internship. The internship is designed for an aspiring young person, defined by the grant as ages 14–22, to work directly alongside our staff while gaining hands-on experience in how a community arts organization delivers programs, builds relationships, and advances its mission in meaningful ways. Interns are invited into the daily life of the organization as active contributors, developing both creative and professional skills in a supportive environment. Past interns have played an important role in strengthening our social media presence, assisting with grant writing for expanded programming, and conducting and producing interview videos that help document and share the voices of our community.
CFNIL – Community Grants, funded by the Bengt & Mary Kuller Fund
Awarded Fall 2025 - $6,095
This grant provides direct financial support for expanded youth programming through Womanspace’s
Kids CREATE initiative (Cultivating Resilience, Empathy, Artistry, Tenacity, and Empowerment). Funding supports the development of more intentional arts experiences for children that combine creativity, confidence-building, and connection. This grant allows Womanspace to offer affordable programming for families while growing opportunities for young people to explore art as a tool for self-expression and belonging within the community.
Kjellstrom Family Foundation – Board & Staff Strategic Planning Grant
awarded February 2025 - $4,000
This grant supported a dedicated strategic planning process for Womanspace’s board and staff during a period of organizational transition. Funding helped create space for collaborative planning, leadership development, and long-term visioning to strengthen the foundation of the organization. This investment helped Womanspace clarify priorities, align internal leadership, and build a stronger framework for future growth.
Christ Lutheran Church, Belvidere – Mission Endowment Grant
awarded August 2025 - $2,498
This grant provided support for much-needed technology upgrades at Womanspace. Funding allowed us to purchase new computers and retire four outdated machines that could no longer support current software or security updates. The impact of this grant on our team’s daily functionality, efficiency, and overall organizational capacity has been immeasurable, strengthening our ability to serve the community more effectively behind the scenes as well as in our public programs.
Rockford Area Arts Council – Access Grant
awarded January 2022 & March 2025 - $4,500 total
These grants supported the development of a book documenting the history of Womanspace through the voice and perspective of co-founder and longtime Executive Director Elaine Hirschenberger, whose leadership has shaped the organization for fifty years. The project includes historical context provided by Dr. Catherine Forslund, Professor of History at Rockford University and President of the Womanspace Board of Directors. Funding has helped support writing, editing, and production costs for a publication that will preserve the story of Womanspace for future generations while honoring the women who built and sustained its mission.
Rockford Area Arts Council – ACTION Grant
awarded May 2025 - $500
This grant provided support for live music at Bloomfest, helping create a more vibrant and welcoming atmosphere during Womanspace’s annual spring festival. Funding allowed Womanspace to feature local musicians as part of the festival experience while strengthening the connection between visual art, performance, and community gathering.
Walmart Spark Good Local Grants
awarded 2025 - $1,000 total
Womanspace received two $500 grants through the Walmart Spark Good Local Grant program to support Bloomfest 2025. These funds helped offset event expenses for our annual spring festival, allowing us to create a more welcoming and engaging experience for attendees. Support through this program helped strengthen a community-centered event that celebrates creativity, connection, and the local artists and wellness practitioners who make Bloomfest possible.
