Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois ("CFNIL") was established to serve as a catalyst for giving and a promoter of philanthropy. The Foundation attracts, preserves, and grows a charitable endowment for the present and future needs of the people of Northern Illinois. The Foundation identifies community needs and convenes volunteers to advise the Foundation's Board in grant making, investment, and spending policy decisions. The Foundation also serves as a custodian of funds for not-for-profit organizations.
- Income
- $14.8 million
- Spending
- $5.5 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 43.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 64%
- Employees
- 10
- Volunteers
- 200
- Highest pay
- $198,528, president/secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 43.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 14% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 63% of income.
Income trend
5 of 15Income fell 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $4.0 million spent. CFNIL managed 486 funds established for charitable purposes during 2024. Management of the funds includes prudent investment and the establishment of a spending policy. The organization manages a grant making process that includes the convening of community volunteers to advise the foundation on grant making decisions consistent with the intentions of donors as documented in the fund agreements.Continued on Schedule OCFNIL has been creating endowments and honoring donor intent through grantmaking in the Rockford region since 1953. Early grants responded to community needs by funding the distribution of the polio vaccine and creating safe places for children to play. Since its founding, CFNIL has distributed thousands of grants for the benefit of the region. This has been made possible through the generosity of CFNIL's donors: individuals, families and organizations committed to improving the region's quality of life. Endowed gifts create reliable funding for current needs and future opportunities. CFNIL does not create programs, we respect the expertise of nonprofit professionals working in various sectors and the people they serve in our communities to identify needs and solutions.Unrestricted gifts supplement CFNIL's Community Grants Program, which provides grants for charitable activities in six focus areas: Arts & Humanities; Education; Health; Human Services; Sustainable Communities; Youth & Families. Of these six, Education comprises half of all the grantmaking made through this program. Over one hundred community volunteers make up the committees which review proposals and recommend recipients to CFNIL's board of trustees.CFNIL's youth philanthropy program, In Youth We Trust (IYWT), provides grants for programs and services which specifically benefit youth in our community. The applications are created, promoted, and reviewed by the IYWT Council, a group of high school-aged students. The Neighborhood Grants Program is administered in partnership with NW HomeStart, a nonprofit housing advocacy agency, and provides grants to neighbor-led and neighborhood-serving projects. CFNIL administers a robust Scholarship Program with over 100 unique scholarship funds. The diversity of CFNIL's scholarship program reflects the diversity of our donors and the students the funds serve; there are awards for students of all backgrounds, experiences, and educational aspirations. Many scholarships have living donors who participate in the scholarship selection process. Over 140 volunteers participate in scholarship selection committees, reviewing hundreds of applications and recommending recipients to CFNIL's board of trustees.Many of CFNIL's funds are designated by donors for specific causes, programs, or organizations. Each year CFNIL calculates the distributable income of these funds and makes grants to the beneficiaries. It is CFNIL's privilege to administer these funds, which are governed by formal agreements which spell out the donors' charitable intent. CFNIL is proud to consistently and thoroughly steward each donor's intent, each and every year, for the benefit of dozens of organizations and generations of residents in northern Illinois.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 2001.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.