Who We Are

Our Mission

Inspiring Donors and Empowering Community Partners for a Stronger Northwest Illinois.

Our Vision

Stronger, Together.

We envision a flourishing Northwest Illinois defined by a culture of generosity with healthy, impact driven nonprofit organizations and collaborative relationships built on a foundation of trust and a desire to elevate our region for the common good.

Our History

The Foundation for Northwest Illinois​ is a charitable organization that serves as a vehicle for local philanthropy. It was originally established in 1975 as the Freeport Community Trust by a group of local forward-thinking citizens who wanted to ensure a permanent source of funds for local charitable organizations. In 1998 the Board of Directors changed the name to the Freeport Community Foundation, and in 2002 the Board of Directors updated the structure of the organization from a simple trust to a not-for-profit corporation.

The Foundation belongs to the community. It is like a “community investment account” for people to give back to the community in which they live, work, raise their families or were once members of the community. The Foundation serves its donors, nonprofit organizations, institutions and the community as a whole.