The Community Foundation for McHenry County

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.

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

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

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Press Forward ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National 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 SpringfieldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Regional chapter of national funder collaborative for local news sustainability. Co-hosted Illinois Local News Summit with Press Forward Chicago.
• Institute on GenerosityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for Women in Philanthropy programming. Co-presented 'Giving Your Way' event featuring Stanford University resources on philanthropy approaches.
• Impact100 GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Wendy Steele, Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Impact100 Global, served as keynote speaker for inaugural Women in Philanthropy event.
• The Land Conservancy of McHenry CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partnership 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

Broad 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cfmc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments103 records

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Frequently asked questions about The Community Foundation for McHenry County