Lake County Community Foundation

Since 2003, The Lake County Community Foundation has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to improve the lives of the most vulnerable residents of our county. As nonprofit organizations, local governments and businesses strive to tackle issues of concern, the Foundation provides civic leadership bringing all stakeholders to a common table. Working together, the Foundation, its donors and its community partners leverage collective knowledge, creativity and resources for a greater impact than any of us can make alone. OUR MISSION The mission of The Lake County Community Foundation is to improve the quality of life of the most vulnerable residents of the county by providing civic leadership, promoting collective philanthropy and partnering with our grant recipients. In pursuit of this mission we act as a: Catalyst by mobilizing community leadership to find and fund collaborative, innovative approaches to address Lake County’s most pressing issues Connector by maintaining in-depth knowledge of the nonprofit sector, sharing it with others and building partnerships that strengthen our community Grant Maker by leveraging the power of collective philanthropy to pool charitable dollars to achieve the greatest possible impact Steward by acting as a trusted guide of donor resources and partnering with community-minded individuals, families and organizations to ensure a legacy for charitable solutions What is a Community Foundation? A community foundation is a tax-exempt public charity serving people who share a common interest: improving the quality of life in a specific geographic area. Unlike many foundations, a community foundation both accepts donations and makes grants. Community foundations play a key role in identifying and addressing current community issues, while anticipating new ones. The Lake County Community Foundation is one of more than 750 community foundations across the country, pooling the financial resources of individuals, families and organizations to drive positive change. By harnessing the power of endowments, assets left to the Foundation will continue to grow, supporting good work and emerging needs today and for generations to come. OUR VISION The Lake County Community Foundation serves as the center of knowledge of community needs, a strategic resource for the nonprofit sector and a valued collaborator with donors who consider the Foundation as the premier partner for their collective philanthropy. OUR VALUES Five values define our promise to the individuals and communities we serve: Community and Connectedness We believe that a healthy region maintains interconnections between people and place and actively pursues solutions to community challenges through a sense of shared responsibility that extends beyond boundaries of neighborhoods, villages and townships. We believe that Lake County is part of a healthy and sustainable regional community; one that is diverse, works toward inclusion, cares for the well-being of everyone, plans economic development in a responsible manner and sustains the land and environment while encouraging fairness and respect toward all. Civic Leadership We believe in a productive civic leadership that is inclusive and representative of the full spectrum of the county’s residents. We further believe that civic leadership is a conduit for leveraging resources and advancing strategic solutions toward the county’s most pressing needs. Integrity We believe that the Foundation’s mission will be best advanced by upholding the public trust placed in us as a community foundation; establishing reliable and trustworthy partnerships with our donors and grantees; maintaining open and honest dialogue with civic leaders; and embodying the highest ethical standards for the community. Innovation We believe that the Foundation’s countywide focus and local expertise propels us to be a catalyst for a transformative, system-wide impact. While not all innovation must be new, the Foundation seeks strategic solutions to current challenges so as to improve the quality of life for the most vulnerable residents. Opportunity We believe that the Foundation’s mandate is to foster opportunity for all residents of Lake County by (1) increasing access to county resources for the county’s most vulnerable residents, (2) engaging donors to give back to the community where they live and work and (3) enabling the county’s undeserved residents to have a greater voice in decision making and an equal opportunity to prosper. HISTORY In 2003, a group of civic leaders approached The Chicago Community Trust about forming a community foundation in Lake County. This visionary group of county residents knew that resources would be required to help the community meet its growing needs and help provide a better life for future generations. At the time, the county’s population was approaching 685,000 with a poverty rate of just over five percent. In the subsequent years, the county’s population has grown to almost 704,000 and the poverty rate is approaching ten percent. Nevertheless, the Foundation, with the support of The Chicago Community Trust, remains true to its purpose of partnering with local residents, philanthropists, businesses and government to build permanent assets for our county.