Our Mission and History

Since 1953, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois has awarded more than $85,000,000 in grants, scholarships, and community support to the people and communities of northern Illinois.

70+ years of community support.

  1. Illustration of a tree

    1953

    A Seed Is Planted

    CFNIL — known then as the Rockford Community Trust — is founded.

  3. 1978

    A Quarter Century of Change

    The Trust celebrates its 25th anniversary, granting the equivalent of almost $4 million throughout the 1970s.

  4. 1980–1989

    Growing the Team

    Thanks to a sizable donation from the Gannett Foundation, the Trust hires its first paid staff members and establishes an office at 333 E. State Street. The Trust grants the equivalent of $6.2 million throughout the 1980s.

  5. Illustration of a tree

    1990–1999

    Nurturing Future Leaders

    The Trust changes its name to the Rockford Community Foundation and launches the In Youth We Trust program thanks to a major donation from the Ford Foundation.

  6. The Lundberg House
  7. Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

    2000–2009

    Reflecting Our Community

    The Rockford Community Foundation becomes the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to more accurately reflect the region it serves, encompassing Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. With more than $80 million in assets and 50 years of service behind them, CFNIL establishes the Katrina Fund to raise dollars for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and grants more than $25 million throughout the decade.

  8. CFNIL-logos-tacked-color-1-1-1

    2010–2020

    Gifts for Growth

    Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin bequest their estate to CFNIL, and the $24 million gift allows CFNIL to:

    • Offer a matching challenge to Rock Valley College, Rockford University, and Highland Community College, building scholarship endowments for local students.
    • Effectively double awards made via the Community Grants program.
    • Launch Education Works, a strategic grantmaking initiative designed to support the regional education system.

     

    CFNIL makes its largest-ever single grant of $675,000 ($225k/year for three years) for "Linking Talent to Opportunity," a career-pathways-building program at Rock Valley College and Highland Community College.

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    2023

    A Platinum Jubilee

    CFNIL celebrates 70 years of serving the communities of northern Illinois.

  11. 2024

    Reaching New Heights

    Annual awards to local students through CFNIL scholarships exceed $500,000.

History of the Lundberg House

The Lundberg House, originally known as the Stone House, was built by Frank A. Carpenter in 1915 for Charles and Olga Lundberg.

 

Thanks to a bequest from Verona Swenson, the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois purchased the house in September 2000, just as the foundation was outgrowing its current space in the Talcott Building in downtown Rockford. Due to the generosity of many donors, the Marlowe Center of Philanthropy was renovated and introduced in 2001. Although the house functions as an office, every attempt has been made to preserve the architectural integrity and atmosphere of the Stone House. Architect David Hagney and interior consultant Sarah Bell carefully and artfully blended form and function during the restoration.

 

Lundberg House Facts

  • The land on which the house stands was formerly the Schmauss Cattle Yards.
  • The house is located in Rockford's Brown Hills-Knightsville Historic District.
  • The steps leading up to the house were repurposed from the Art Institute of Chicago.
  • The front door and entry light are original to the home.
  • The beautiful green tile in the foyer is original Massachusetts Grueby Tile.
  • The dining room is the most in-keeping to the period.
  • The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.
  • The two Italian urns in the dining room were donated to CFNIL by Olga Lundberg’s descendants in 2018.
  • The large room in the lower level was built as a dance space for Charles and Olga’s daughter, Karin.
  • The house is Colonial Revival with a touch of craftsman detailing.
  • The style is an ode to the Arts & Crafts Movement.
house

  • The Home is an excellent local example of early 20th century eclectic architecture.

    - National Register of Historic Places Application