Donors
Putting your charitable dollars to work in the community you love.
With multiple ways to give and a knowledgeable, local staff ready to answer your questions, anyone can make an impact and support the needs of the people of northern Illinois — forever!
Ways to Give Today
Donate online, drop off cash or checks, or mail gifts to our office in Rockford.
Checks should be made out to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. If there is a specific fund you would like the gift applied to, include the fund name on the check memo or in a note accompanying your gift. View the full list of funds.
CFNIL works with a local broker to facilitate the transfer and sale of gifts of stock and other securities.
If you are concerned about taxes on capital gains, the sale of the stock/security is made after transfer to CFNIL, so you are eligible for the full market value of your gift with no capital gains.
To discuss the process for making a gift of stock or other marketable security, email James Patterson or call (779) 210-8206.
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-free way to support the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.
Individuals 70 ½ and older may gift up to $100,000 tax-free per year from their IRA* directly to tax-exempt philanthropic organizations like CFNIL. Individuals making Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from their IRA may count a QCD toward satisfying their RMD.
To discuss the process for making a QCD to CFNIL, email James Patterson or call (779) 210-8206.
*Tax laws regarding QCDs, RMDs, and IRAs are subject to change. Please contact your financial or tax advisor for up-to-date regulations and further guidance.
CFNIL is able to facilitate gifts of many non-cash, real assets, including: real estate (land and buildings), jewelry, artwork, and more.
Email James Patterson or call (779) 210-8206.
Who do you want to help?
The answer to this question helps determine the type of fund best suited to you. Do you want the flexibility of giving to any charitable organization anywhere, any time? Or, is there a specific charitable organization you want to support? Perhaps there is a particular cause you are passionate about? Create a fund and see your desired impact. Learn how to create your own fund.
Is your company considering ways to maximize its philanthropic benefit to the community?
Thinking about starting a corporate giving program but not sure how to administer the process? Let's talk! There are many options to consider, and CFNIL has the professional and technical capacity to ensure you can focus on impact, not administrative details. Email James Patterson or call (779) 210-8206 to start a conversation about these and other options related to corporate giving:
- Employee Gift Matching
- Employee and/or Customer Charitable Giving and Grantmaking
- Corporate Grantmaking
Planned Giving
A charitable bequest in your will or trust can create or add to existing funds...
Your bequest may be a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or even the residual balance of your estate after all other bequests have been made. Please contact us for the appropriate language for your estate planning documents.
Perhaps the simplest and most tax advantageous bequest is to name the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois as the beneficiary of your IRA, 401(k), or 403(b).
Gifts of retirement assets are worth 100% of their value for public charities, while individual beneficiaries may only enjoy 60-80% of the value on an after-tax basis. Please contact us to discuss this option further.
As with your retirement funds, your life insurance beneficiary designation regulates who will ultimately receive your life insurance proceeds.
You can designate the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois as the beneficiary of all or a portion of your life insurance.
Questions About Ways to Give?
Connect with our team and we’ll guide you through the process.