McKinley CU

Grants & Scholarships

Community Grants

Twelve grants up to $1,000 will be awarded throughout the year to organizations and individuals whose work or special project falls within at least one of these categories: racial justice and equality; healthcare; education; environmental activism; food and housing insecurities; gender equality; and LGBTQ activism. For more information, view Community Grants at McKinley.

College Scholarships

McKinley offers scholarship opportunities every academic school year. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2,000.

  • McKinley Black Lives Matter Scholarship
    The McKinley BLM Scholarship is provided by the McKinley Foundation and McKinley Presbyterian Church in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and our commitment to engage in racial justice. (Read our BLM statement here.) Three $500 scholarships will be awarded to one Black or African-American student from each of these three area high schools: Champaign Centennial HS, Champaign Central HS, and Urbana HS.
  • McKinley Freshman Scholarship
    The McKinley Foundation Freshman Scholarship is available exclusively to students who are incoming freshmen at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and who are Illinois residents. Preference is given to those candidates who demonstrate academic achievement; civic engagement or volunteer service, especially for social justice issues; and financial need.
  • Ullman Scholarship
    The Ullman Scholarship is named for the late Rina Ullman of Urbana, a member of McKinley Presbyterian Church, and a choir member and music lover. The Ullman Scholarship is an award of $2,000 ($1,000 awarded in the fall semester, and second $1,000 in the spring semester), to a resident of Presby Hall in Champaign.
  • Wert Scholarship
    The Wert Scholars Fund is named for the late Charles A. Wert, a member and elder of the McKinley Presbyterian Church, and a professor of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois.  The Wert Scholars Fund benefits a student studying for the Christian ministry, and may also be used for those that are studying for lay minister positions.  The Wert Scholars Fund is generally an award of about $2,000.