Community Foundation for Mchenry County

About Community Foundation for Mchenry County

The Community Foundation for Mchenry County centers its philanthropy on McHenry County needs through a mix of annual grants, competitive programs, and donor-advised scholarship funds. Recent grantmaking shows a steady emphasis on local human services and community infrastructure, with recurring support for Family Health Parnership Clinic, Home of the Sparrow Inc, and The Land Conservancy of Mchenry County across multiple years. The foundation also funds named program areas such as Bridge Grants, Capacity Development Grants, Mission Grants, Transformational Grants, Women’s Fund Grants, and GIVE360, alongside scholarship programs for McHenry County students. Its grants often function as general support rather than tightly restricted project dollars. That pattern appears in awards to Nami of Mchenry County, The Break, and the Youth and Family Center of Mchenry County, which reflect a broad approach to nonprofit support within the county. Education is another clear strand of the portfolio through scholarship funds created by community members and donors, serving students pursuing two- or four-year degrees, certificate programs, or private high school depending on fund criteria. The foundation’s stated purpose is to address McHenry County needs by providing leadership, granting resources, stewarding assets, and fostering awareness.

What Community Foundation for Mchenry County Funds

Several cause areas stand out in the foundation’s grantmaking. In mental health, it gave $100,168 in 2025 to Nami of Mchenry County for general support, and in addiction recovery it awarded $40,000 to New Directions Addiction Recovery Services for general support. Housing-related work also appears in the portfolio: Home of the Sparrow Inc received $97,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for general support. The foundation also supports environmental and community land work. The Land Conservancy of Mchenry County received $102,149 in 2024, $90,020 in 2023, and $38,100 in 2025, all for general support. In youth and family services, the Youth and Family Center of Mchenry County received $30,000 in 2025 and $27,500 in 2023. Women and girls are served through the Women’s Fund Grants program, which is a distinct competitive grant line for organizations working in McHenry County.

How Community Foundation for Mchenry County Gives