The Community Foundation for McHenry County
The Community Foundation for McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 2001 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, that manages 100+ charitable funds and grants approximately $1.5 million annually to McHenry County nonprofits and $50,000 in scholarships to local students. It serves individual donors, families, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations across the county.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersCrystal Lake, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Community Foundation for McHenry County does
The Community Foundation for McHenry County (CFMC) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charity and community foundation founded in 2001 by Chuck Liebman and a group of engaged citizens in McHenry County, Illinois. Headquartered at 33 E. Woodstock St. in Crystal Lake, IL, the foundation operates as the county's leading philanthropic aggregator, managing more than 100 charitable funds and channeling approximately $1.5 million annually through competitive grant programs to local nonprofits, plus $50,000 in scholarships to McHenry County students (cumulative scholarships awarded exceed $307,000). FY25 actuals showed $1.3 million distributed through 168 unique grants and scholarships.
CFMC's core product set comprises six fund types — Donor Advised Funds, Designated Funds, Field of Interest Funds, Scholarship Funds, Agency Funds, and Unrestricted Funds — offered to individual and family donors, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations. This fund management suite is complemented by a layered grantmaking portfolio (Transformational Grants up to $75,000/year for up to three years; Mission Grants up to $25,000/year over two-year cycles; Community Grants; Emergency Grants; and the Arts & Culture for Woodstock Fund). The foundation administers the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program (25% state income tax credit) as the sole qualified organization in McHenry County, and operates two sub-brands — Women in Philanthropy (with the permanent Women's Fund Endowment) and the Philanthropy Center, a free community meeting space established in 2020.
The foundation employs a 7-person staff led by Executive Director Amy Hernon and is governed by a Board of Directors comprising local professionals (financial advisors, attorneys, insurance agents, educators, and nonprofit executives). Distribution runs through competitive grant cycles, online portals (Fund Portal and Scholarship Portal powered by Foundant/GrantInterface), professional advisor referral partnerships (25-year channel with attorneys, CPAs, financial planners), and direct donor outreach. In 2025, CFMC achieved Community Foundations National Standards accreditation, the highest external validation for the sector. There is no venture funding, no parent company, and no for-profit commercial operations; the foundation is sustained by charitable contributions, bequests, and investment returns on endowed funds.
The Community Foundation for McHenry County firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Community Foundation for McHenry County
- Legal name
- The Community Foundation for McHenry County
- Website
- https://thecfmc.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Community Foundation for McHenry County is a 501(c)(3) community foundation founded in 2001 in Crystal Lake, Illinois, that manages 100+ charitable funds and grants approximately $1.5 million annually to McHenry County nonprofits and $50,000 in scholarships to local students. It serves individual donors, families, professional advisors, and nonprofit organizations across the county.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Community Foundation for McHenry County industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Community Foundation and Philanthropic Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Finance Services (6199)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where The Community Foundation for McHenry County is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Crystal Lake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Community Foundation for McHenry County business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations and Contributions: Receives charitable contributions from individuals, families, and businesses in McHenry County. Supports donor advised funds, designated funds, field of interest funds, scholarship funds, and agency funds. Accepts cash, stock, real estate, and life insurance donations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free community meeting space for nonprofits |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Community Foundation for McHenry County product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Community Foundation for McHenry County operates as a county-wide community foundation that manages more than 100 charitable funds for individual, family, and institutional donors. It accepts cash, stock, real estate, and life insurance contributions and offers six fund types (donor advised, designated, field of interest, scholarship, agency, and unrestricted). The Foundation grants approximately $1.5 million annually to McHenry County nonprofits through competitive programs and $50,000 in scholarships to local students. It also administers the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program and operates the Philanthropy Center community meeting space in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Product overview
The Community Foundation for McHenry County operates as a unified philanthropic services platform offering charitable fund management and grantmaking. The core portfolio consists of six fund types: Donor Advised Funds (acting as charitable checking accounts), Designated Funds (supporting specific nonprofits), Field of Interest Funds (focused on causes/populations), Scholarship Funds (supporting student education), Agency Funds (for nonprofit organizations), and Unrestricted Funds. The Foundation complements these with competitive grant programs including Transformational Grants (up to $75,000/year for innovative community initiatives), Mission Grants (up to $25,000/year for operating support), Community Grants (streamlined annual cycle), Emergency Grants (rolling applications for urgent needs), and specialized funds like the Arts & Culture for Woodstock Fund. The Foundation also administers the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program (25% state tax credit), manages the Women's Fund Endowment, operates the Women in Philanthropy program, and maintains the Philanthropy Center as a community meeting space. Digital services include an online Fund Portal and Scholarship Portal for donor and applicant access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Women in Philanthropy: A Community Foundation initiative that celebrates and engages women in giving, bringing together women who are giving or curious about giving to deepen their understanding of philanthropy, community needs, and the nonprofit landscape in McHenry County.
- Women's Fund
- The Philanthropy Center
Products and services
- Donor Advised Funds A charitable giving fund that acts as a charitable checking account, allowing donors to contribute cash, stock, or non-cash assets, receive an immediate tax deduction, and recommend grants to nonprofits over time. Can be endowed or non-endowed.
- Designated Funds A named fund dedicated to supporting specific nonprofit organizations, ensuring the donor's philanthropic vision continues for generations with flexibility to choose one or multiple organizations.
- Field of Interest Funds A fund that focuses philanthropy on specific causes or populations within McHenry County, allowing donors to support organizations and projects aligned with a specific purpose.
- Scholarship Funds Funds that help students achieve educational goals, supporting two-year college, four-year university, certificate programs, or private high school, with flexible criteria based on major, GPA, or financial need.
- Agency Funds A sustainable fund management option for nonprofit organizations to benefit from the Foundation's investment expertise while ensuring steady support for their mission.
- Transformational Grants Competitive grants supporting bold ideas that result in measurable solutions to community problems. Awards up to $75,000 per year for up to three consecutive years (total $225,000), requiring collaboration among agencies.
- Mission Grants Two-year grant cycle supporting charitable organizations with up to $25,000 per year for general operating costs related to programs, projects, or administrative needs.
- Community Grants Annual competitive funding cycle accepting requests for unrestricted operating support, program support, capital projects, and organizational capacity initiatives through a streamlined universal application.
- Emergency Grants Rolling application program supporting nonprofits facing unexpected expenses that significantly impact their ability to fulfill their mission, covering equipment failures, health and safety incidents, infrastructure issues, natural disasters, and other urgent situations.
- Arts & Culture for Woodstock Fund Competitive grant program funding up to $2,500 per organization per year for performing or visual arts events, artistic programs, and cultural exhibitions showcasing Woodstock talent.
- Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program A 25% Illinois state income tax credit for charitable gifts to qualified endowed funds, with individuals eligible for up to $100,000 in credits annually ($400,000 gift) and couples up to $200,000 ($800,000 gift).
- The Philanthropy Center A welcoming space at 33 E. Woodstock St., Crystal Lake featuring two versatile meeting rooms (The Woodstock Room seats 16 and The Crystal Lake Room seats 24), an incubator space, and a modern kitchenette available at no cost to support nonprofit collaboration and community engagement.
- Women in Philanthropy A giving program bringing together women to deepen their understanding of philanthropy, community needs, and the nonprofit landscape through meaningful conversations and educational opportunities, supported by the Women's Fund Endowment.
- Women's Fund Endowment A permanent granting endowment supporting women and girls in McHenry County, with gifts eligible for the IL Gives Tax Credit and awarded grants to build financial stability, leadership, and confidence.
- Legacy Society A planned giving program honoring individuals who leave a lasting impact through bequests, life insurance, IRA, or retirement plan beneficiary designations.
Quantifiable outcome
- $1.5 million granted annually to local nonprofits
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Community Foundation for McHenry County
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Community Foundation for McHenry County technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Community Foundation for McHenry County partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Press Forward ChicagominorNational funder collaborative dedicated to strengthening and sustaining local news. Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy attended Illinois Local News Summit hosted by Press Forward Chicago and Press Forward Springfield.
- Press Forward SpringfieldminorRegional chapter of national funder collaborative for local news sustainability. Co-hosted Illinois Local News Summit with Press Forward Chicago.
- Institute on GenerosityminorPartnership for Women in Philanthropy programming. Co-presented 'Giving Your Way' event featuring Stanford University resources on philanthropy approaches.
- Impact100 GlobalminorWendy Steele, Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Impact100 Global, served as keynote speaker for inaugural Women in Philanthropy event.
- The Land Conservancy of McHenry CountycorePartnership for conservation easement work. The Savas established an endowed fund to support long-term stewardship of their property held in conservation easement with The Land Conservancy.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Community Foundation for McHenry County competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Chicago Community Foundation: A large, established Chicago-area community foundation operating multiple funds and grant programs. Much larger scale and broader geography, but overlaps with CFMC in serving Chicagoland HNW donors and competing for regional DAF assets.
- Fidelity Charitable: The largest national donor-advised fund sponsor, competing with CFMC's DAF offering through low-minimum, low-friction, digitally-native giving accounts. Represents the primary competitive threat to community foundation DAF growth.
Direct peers
- Grundy County Community Foundation: A small Illinois community foundation serving a single rural county with DAFs, scholarship administration, and competitive grants. Closest scale and rural-Illinois operating profile to CFMC among the peer set.
- Kane County Foundation: An Illinois county-focused community foundation providing scholarships, grants, and donor fund services. Adjacent to McHenry County with a similar suburban-Chicago demographic profile and donor mix.
- The DuPage Foundation: An Illinois-based community foundation serving DuPage County with comparable fund types (DAFs, scholarship funds, designated funds), competitive grant programs, and National Standards accreditation. Directly comparable in operating model and service menu.
- Lake County Community Foundation: An Illinois community foundation serving Lake County with donor advised funds, scholarship programs, and competitive grants. Adjacent geography and similar scale make it one of the closest operational peers.
- Illinois Prairie Community Foundation: A multi-county Illinois community foundation administering donor funds, scholarships, and competitive grants. Comparable scale and operating model to CFMC with overlapping donor and advisor networks.
- The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley: A small-to-mid-sized Illinois community foundation offering DAFs, scholarships, and competitive grants to local nonprofits. Operates with a similar small-staff model and county-focused grantmaking footprint.
- Community Foundation of Northern Illinois: A community foundation serving northern Illinois counties with donor advised funds, scholarship administration, and grant programs. Directly comparable in mission, product mix, and target donor base.
Regional players
- Quad Cities Community Foundation: A multi-county community foundation serving the Quad Cities region with DAFs, scholarships, and competitive grant cycles. Operates a similar operating model but in a different Illinois/Iowa geography, making it a useful comparator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Community Foundation for McHenry County social profiles
Digital presenceThe Community Foundation for McHenry County financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Community Foundation for McHenry County leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
The Community Foundation for McHenry County funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Community Foundation for McHenry County M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments103 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Community Foundation for McHenry County
What does The Community Foundation for McHenry County do?
The Community Foundation for McHenry County operates as a county-wide community foundation that manages more than 100 charitable funds for individual, family, and institutional donors. It accepts cash, stock, real estate, and life insurance contributions and offers six fund types (donor advised, designated, field of interest, scholarship, agency, and unrestricted). The Foundation grants approximately $1.5 million annually to McHenry County nonprofits through competitive programs and $50,000 in scholarships to local students. It also administers the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Program and operates the Philanthropy Center community meeting space in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
Is The Community Foundation for McHenry County a public or private company?
The Community Foundation for McHenry County is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Community Foundation for McHenry County founded?
The Community Foundation for McHenry County was founded in 2001.
Where is The Community Foundation for McHenry County based?
The Community Foundation for McHenry County is headquartered in Crystal Lake, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Community Foundation for McHenry County make money?
One revenue line is on record: charitable Donations and Contributions.
Who are The Community Foundation for McHenry County's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Chicago Community Foundation and Fidelity Charitable. Direct peers are Grundy County Community Foundation, Kane County Foundation, The DuPage Foundation, Lake County Community Foundation, Illinois Prairie Community Foundation, The Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley and Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Quad Cities Community Foundation is listed as a regional player.
Does The Community Foundation for McHenry County have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Community Foundation for McHenry County.
What industry is The Community Foundation for McHenry County in?
The Community Foundation for McHenry County's product category is Community Foundation and Philanthropic Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 6199.