Starved Rock Country Community Foundation

What Starved Rock Country Community Foundation does

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2015 that operates as a community foundation serving LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties in north-central Illinois. The foundation's primary function is to connect donors with local charitable causes by offering a range of fund vehicles — donor advised funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, scholarship funds, and agency endowment funds — and providing fiduciary oversight, investment management, and grant administration on behalf of those donors. Beyond fund management, SRCCF administers grant programs (Community Grants, Art Grants, Women Inspired Network grants) and scholarship programs, supports fiscal sponsorship for emerging nonprofits, and operates sub-brand initiatives such as the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund, the Women Inspired Network (WIN) giving circle, and EleVate, a $5,000-per-year premium giving circle.

SRCCF's underlying operating infrastructure is conventional rather than technology-led: it runs a WordPress-based website (srccf.org) for fund establishment, donations and grant applications, processes payments through Zeffy (a no-fee card processor), and distributes content via email newsletters, Facebook, Instagram, and a YouTube channel. There is no proprietary technology platform, no mobile app, and no AI tooling described in the source materials. Fund management, grant evaluation, and donor stewardship are performed by a lean staff led by President and CEO Fran Brolley, with stated headcount of 1–10 employees.

The foundation's revenue mechanics are those of a public charity rather than a for-profit business: it receives tax-deductible contributions from individuals, families, and organizations; growing those contributions requires continued donor cultivation and professional advisor referrals. Membership and giving circles (WIN at $200/$500/$1,000 annual tiers and EleVate at $5,000/year) generate predictable recurring revenue while also serving as donor-acquisition funnels. As of 2025, SRCCF holds more than $3M in assets under management across 130+ funds, has received over $9.6M in cumulative contributions since founding, and has distributed over $4.1M via 1,016+ grants, scholarships and disaster relief payments. Its customer ecosystem includes individual and family donors, nonprofit grantees, schools, arts and cultural organizations, professional advisors and their clients, and women-focused philanthropists.

Name

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation

Legal name

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation

Website

https://srccf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) is a 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 2015 that connects donors with charitable causes across LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties in Illinois, managing 130+ funds and distributing grants and scholarships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Charitable fund management
• Grant administration
• Donor advised funds
• Scholarship administration

Headquarters

HQ city

La Salle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donor Contributions and Gifts: SRCCF receives charitable donations and gifts from individuals, families, and organizations to establish and grow various types of charitable funds including donor advised funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, and agency endowment funds.
2. Fund Management and Administration: The foundation manages over 130 funds for donors, providing fiduciary oversight, investment management, and grant administration services. Revenue is generated through the investment returns and growth of endowed funds.
3. WIN Membership Program: The Women Inspired Network (WIN) charitable giving circle offers annual memberships at $200 (standard), $500 (Emerald), and $1,000 (Diamond) tiers, providing members collective giving opportunities and grant-making participation.
4. EleVate Giving Circle: A premium participatory giving circle requiring $5,000 annual commitment, pooling resources to support SRCCF operations and administration.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) community foundation that manages more than 130 charitable funds and has distributed over $4.1 million in grants and scholarships since 2015. It serves donors, local nonprofits, and students across LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties in Illinois through donor-advised funds, designated funds, scholarship funds, field-of-interest funds, agency funds, fiscal sponsorship, and competitive community grant cycles.

Product overview

Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) is a 501(c)(3) grant-making public charity established in 2015 that connects donors with causes in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties, Illinois. Rather than a unified software platform, SRCCF operates as a portfolio of charitable fund vehicles and programs. The core offerings include Donor Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Agency Funds, and Field of Interest Funds, all managed through SRCCF's administrative infrastructure. The foundation administers grant programs (Community Grants, Art Grants) and scholarship programs to local students. Sub-brand initiatives include the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund (supporting regional arts), the Women Inspired Network (WIN) giving circle for women and children, and EleVate, a premium $5,000/year giving circle. SRCCF also provides fiscal sponsorship services for emerging nonprofits. The foundation has distributed over $4.1 million through 1,016+ grants and manages approximately $3 million in assets across 130+ funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund: Component fund of SRCCF that awards financial support twice a year to local theatre groups, symphony orchestras, museums, libraries and schools for arts and cultural projects.
• Women Inspired Network (WIN)
• ELEVA̅TE

Products and services

• Donor Advised Funds
• Designated Funds
• Scholarship Funds
• Field of Interest Funds
• Agency Funds
• Fiscal Sponsorship
• WIN Giving Circle

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $4.1 million distributed through 1016+ grants to charitable organizations, scholarships and disaster relief funds since 2015
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Illinois Arts CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRCCF serves as a Regional Arts Partner for the Illinois Arts Council, hosting Creative Projects Grant workshops and administering arts grants partially funded by the council. The partnership provides additional funding for the Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund grant program.
• National Endowment for the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arts of Starved Rock Country Fund receives partial funding from the National Endowment for the Arts through the Illinois Arts Council Agency grant program, supporting arts and cultural projects across the region.
• ZeffycoreTechnology or IntegrationSRCCF partners with Zeffy as its card payment processor, enabling online donations without charging service fees to donors. This ensures 100% of donations support foundation programs.
• Illinois Valley Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIVCC hosts the WIN (Women Inspired Network) annual Celebration of Giving and receives support through various foundation grants for educational programs.
• City of OttawaminorOthersThe City of Ottawa has shown robust support for the Ottawa Exploreum Children's Museum project, with Mayor Robb Hasty endorsing the vision and the city providing support for downtown revitalization efforts.
• Ottawa Visitor's CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed by Operations Tourism Manager Donna Reynolds, the Ottawa Visitor's Center is dedicated to promoting tourism and enriching the cultural landscape, partnering with SRCCF on the Ottawa Exploreum Children's Museum project.
• Ottawa Area Chamber of CommerceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnder guidance of executive director Jay McCracken, the Chamber supports local businesses and community development, partnering on the Ottawa Exploreum Children's Museum initiative.
• Ottawa Special EventsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChaired by Wayne Eichelkraut, this organization enhances community engagement through various events and activities, collaborating on the Exploreum museum project.
• Flags of Freedom OrganizationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSRCCF has held the Flags of Freedom fund for over nine years and partnered with this Princeton-based veteran organization to launch the Support Our Soldiers Field of Interest Fund.
• Illinois Valley Quilts of ValorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTerry Johnson serves as Group Leader of Illinois Valley Quilts of Valor, delivering quilts to veterans. SRCCF hosted a Quilts of Valor ceremony following its board meeting.
• Jeremiah Joe CoffeeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Ottawa Exploreum Children's Museum's Sparkle Spectacular fundraiser displays holiday trees at Jeremiah Joe Coffee, 807 LaSalle Street, for the community auction event.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Illinois Prairie Community Foundation: Bloomington/Normal-area Illinois community foundation managing donor advised funds, agency funds, and competitive community grant cycles for a multi-county service territory — closely comparable to SRCCF in model and scale.
• Community Foundation of McLean County: Central Illinois community foundation managing donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grant programs for a single-county region. Direct operational peer with similar geography, fund types, and grantmaking approach.
• Quad Cities Community Foundation: Quad Cities (IL/IA) community foundation offering donor advised funds, competitive community grants, and scholarship administration — directly comparable to SRCCF's structure across the IL/IA border region.
• Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley: Illinois-based community foundation serving the Fox River Valley region with comparable fund products (donor advised, scholarship, agency), grantmaking, and professional-advisor-led donor acquisition model. Highly comparable in mission, scale, and operating model to SRCCF.
• DeKalb County Community Foundation: Illinois community foundation serving a single rural county with donor advised funds, scholarship funds, and arts/health/education grant cycles. Closely comparable in scale, target geography, and product mix.
• Coles County Community Foundation: Rural Illinois county-based community foundation offering DAFs, scholarships, and community grants. Comparable in operating scale, county-level geographic footprint, and product set.
• The Community Foundation of East Central Illinois: Champaign-area Illinois community foundation administering donor advised funds, scholarships, and community grants in a multi-county service area — comparable in product offering and geographic concentration to SRCCF.

Broad incumbents

• Fidelity Charitable: National donor-advised fund sponsor and the largest in the U.S. Competes for the same donor dollars and works with many of the same professional advisors, but offers a digital, broker-integrated alternative to SRCCF's locally-rooted fund vehicles.
• The Chicago Community Trust: The largest community foundation in Illinois and the Chicago region, offering donor advised funds, scholarships, and competitive grantmaking. A statewide incumbent that operates alongside (not against) SRCCF but defines the broader Illinois community foundation category.

Regional players

• Kankakee River Valley Community Foundation: Illinois community foundation serving an adjacent multi-county region with similar donor advised fund and grant programs. Operates in a contiguous but non-overlapping geography, making it a regional comparison rather than direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SRCCF-YouTubeChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/StarvedRockCountryCommunityFoundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/srccf1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transforming-ugandan-farmers-tuf

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Starved Rock Country Community Foundation