The Community Foundation for McHenry County

10/16/2026

Talking all things philanthropy!

Our Director of Philanthropy, Jessica Rizza, joined Ron Giordano with 101.5 FM Huntley Community Radio to share more about The Community Foundation for McHenry County, the work we do, and how we partner with donors.

Thank you to Huntley Community Radio for the opportunity to share our story!

Tune in to Around Town and take a listen. Jessica is on the October 10th episode!

Listen here: https://huntleyradio.com/hcr/aroundtown/

10/13/2026

We are proud to partner with Friends of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge to help preserve and protect the natural spaces that make our community so special.

As this beautiful video teaser reminds us, “The Midwest is a very slow magic, a magic that is learned over a lifetime.”

We are grateful to play a part in preserving that magic for generations to come!

“Welcome to Hackmatack” tells the story of the establishment of a N...

09/16/2026

We are proud to recognize Shelly Spata and Kate Wade as they conclude nine years of dedicated service on The Community Foundation for McHenry County’s Board of Directors and transition to Emeritus Board members.

Throughout their years of service, Shelly and Kate have provided thoughtful leadership, a deep commitment to our mission, and a genuine investment in the people and organizations that make McHenry County stronger.

We are incredibly grateful for the time, expertise, and heart they have shared with The Community Foundation. Their impact will continue well beyond their board terms, and we look forward to staying connected and continuing to work alongside them in the years ahead.

Please join us in thanking Shelly and Kate for nine remarkable years of service to CFMC and our community!

08/27/2026

We are honored to announce the establishment of the Beth O’Hagan Ryan Memorial Scholarship, created in partnership with Beth’s family and her friends and colleagues Maggie Crane, Martha Hansen, and Carrie Zamorano, with the Woodstock Public Library (Woodstock, IL).

Beth dedicated her career to libraries, learning, service and ensuring that everyone felt welcome. This scholarship will carry that legacy forward by supporting individuals working in McHenry County libraries as they pursue graduate education in library and information science.

We are especially grateful to those who came together to create this meaningful and lasting tribute to Beth.

Learn more about Beth’s story, the scholarship, and how to contribute: https://cfmchenrycounty.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2420

08/26/2026

Today, we join so many in mourning the loss of Dolly Parton, a cultural icon and an extraordinary philanthropist.

Dolly’s generosity reached far beyond Tennessee, all the way to children and families right here in McHenry County. Locally, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is made possible through a partnership with United Way of Greater McHenry County, helping bring free books directly into the homes of young children across our community. Nationwide, the program has reached millions of children, inspiring a love of reading and opening doors to bigger dreams. The Imagination Library is just one example of the remarkable philanthropic impact Dolly made throughout her life.

In her own words, “I'm just so proud to have been a part of anything that's good, and that's making life a little better for people.”

We are grateful for Dolly’s example of generosity, compassion, and belief in the potential of others. Her music will be remembered, but so too will the countless lives made better because she chose to give. ❤️

08/25/2026

Congratulations to our own Jake Schlicht, Manager of Grants & Scholarships, on his recent appointment to the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors!

Jake brings a strong commitment to community and service to everything he does, and we’re excited to see him bring that same energy to the Chamber board. Congratulations, Jake!

08/21/2026

This year, The Community Foundation for McHenry County awarded more than $1.5 million in Foundation-directed grants and scholarships to local nonprofits and students!💙

Behind every award is a nonprofit strengthening our community, a student building their future, donors who believe deeply in McHenry County, and volunteers who help make thoughtful grantmaking possible.

We are grateful for the opportunity to bring generosity and community needs together and we look forward to growing our ability to say “yes” to even more local impact in the years ahead.

Full list of Grant Recipients - https://thecfmc.org/receive/grants/recipients/

Full list of Scholarship Recipients - https://thecfmc.org/receive/scholarships/recipients/

This summer, we gathered to celebrate our grant and scholarship recipients and what a wonderful morning of celebration it was! Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special. We’re excited to share a few photos from the celebration below!

07/31/2026

Did you catch us in The Land Conservancy of McHenry County's 2025 Gratitude Report? 🌿

It's been an honor to partner with The Land Conservancy and their generous donors to build a strong permanent endowment, all while taking advantage of the Illinois Gives Tax Credit.

Through the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act, donors who contribute to permanent endowment funds at The Community Foundation for McHenry County can receive a 25% state tax credit on qualified gifts, up to $100,000 per taxpayer, per year.

Why it matters:
🌱 Your gift grows a permanent endowment, invested for the long term, so it keeps giving for generations and builds long-term sustainability for local nonprofits, like The Land Conservancy.
🤝 Earnings support grants exclusively for Illinois and McHenry County causes and nonprofits

Credits are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and are limited statewide, so don't wait. Ready to give or learn more? Reach out to The Community Foundation for McHenry County today.

Email at [email protected], call at 815-338-4483, or visit https://thecfmc.org/give/illinois-gives-tax-credit-program/

07/09/2026

Earlier this year, we were proud to share The Community Foundation for McHenry County’s 2025 Annual Report.

Last year’s report reflects the power of local generosity and the lasting impact made possible by donors, fundholders, nonprofit partners, and community leaders across McHenry County.

In FY 2025, The Community Foundation managed $55.3 million in assets across 108 charitable funds, with 88% of assets permanently endowed. Together, these funds helped award more than $1.3 million through 168 grants and scholarships supporting local nonprofits, students, programs, and community initiatives.

Read the full report and see how local philanthropy continues to strengthen our community today and for generations to come.

https://thecfmc.org/2026/07/09/2025-annual-report-for-mchenry-county-forever/

06/24/2026

We had a wonderful time on Saturday, welcoming guests to our office as a stop on the Downtown Crystal Lake / Main Street Midsummer W**e Walk!

We loved opening our doors, connecting with local residents, and sharing more about the work of The Community Foundation. A special thank you to 1776 Restaurant for the delicious food and for pouring and educating guests about their w**e.

And to Nancy Merkling of NMP Productions for curating a beautiful exhibit throughout our office, showcasing talented local artists.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions, and celebrated community with us. We had so much fun and hope to see everyone again next year!

A big thank-you to Downtown Crystal Lake for bringing so many people into Crystal Lake and organizing a wonderful community event.