Community Memorial Foundation

CMF Overview

Community Memorial Foundation (CMF) is a private independent foundation established in 1995 as a result of the sale of the non-profit La Grange Memorial Hospital to Columbia HCA Corporation. CMF’s grant making and community work are guided by its mission- to measurably improve the health of people who live and work in the western suburbs of Chicago. The foundation’s board and staff remain committed to working with area non-profit organizations to create healthier communities.

Early on, the volunteer board of directors decided to maintain a local focus, serving the western suburbs of Chicago. In addition, the foundation decided to define health broadly – including physical, mental, environmental, social and spiritual aspects of health – in order to effectively impact the health of the community.

CMF’s earliest grant programs focused on promoting positive youth development, strengthening families, encouraging community cohesiveness, supporting older adults, and assuring healthcare access. In addition, over the years CMF has launched strategic initiatives including the Youth Initiative, the Early Childhood Initiative, the Building Organizational Effectiveness (BOE) Initiative and Aging.

Philosophically, CMF believes that grantees are its partners. By utilizing and building on existing community assets, CMF is guided by the changing needs of the 27 communities that it serves in order to be responsible and responsive. Conducting community needs assessments, analyzing demographic research and convening community stakeholders have influenced CMF’s strategies from the very beginning. Today, CMF carries out its mission and vision through three strategies: Responsive Grant Program, Building Organizational Effectiveness (BOE) Program, and Healthcare Access Program.

To date, CMF has awarded more than $47 million to area non-profit organizations. CMF is governed by a 11 member volunteer board of directors and continues to serve the 27 communities in the western suburbs of Cook County and southeastern part of DuPage County.

A Look Back at CMF’s History

1995 – Community Memorial Foundation (CMF) is established with proceeds from the sale of nonprofit La Grange Memorial Hospital to Columbia HCA.

1996 – CMF conducts a community needs assessment to guide its initial grant making efforts. CMF participates, as a local funder, in the Healthy Steps Project, a national early childhood development effort funded by The Commonwealth Fund in New York.

1997 – CMF launches the Youth Initiative, committing up to $1 million annually for three years to support youth development programs in Lyons Township. CMF sponsors a series of workshops for grantees focusing on fund development, board development and public relations.

1999 – CMF begins work with area congregations as a means to assist isolated older adults and link them to needed services.

2001 – More than 8,000 students from grades 5-12 in Lyons Township complete the Search Institute’s Survey of Student Resources and Assets. As a result, CMF announces the continuation of the Youth Initiative, committing an additional $1 million annually for five years. The Leadership for Excellence Series is inaugurated in collaboration with the Donors Forum of Chicago.

2001 – CMF becomes involved with the National Community Program for Older Adults (CPFOA) Initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through Aging Well, an initiative of Greater Lyons Township. Aging Well is a partnership of hundreds of older adults and more than 130 community organizations, dedicated to working with communities to create an environment in which people can age well.

2002 – CMF commits up to $750,000 annually for five years for the Early Childhood Initiative.

2003 – CMF awards a leadership grant of up to $10 million to Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital for its new patient care center. Families and Schools Together(FAST) begins implementation in four public school districts and two community organizations.

2004/2005 – Evaluation of the Early Childhood Initiative, Youth Initiative and Building Organizational Effectiveness Initiative (BOE) is conducted. The first Organizational Assessment and Action Plan grants are awarded.

2005 — CMF celebrates its 10th anniversary.

2006 —The Annual Fund Achievement Awards program is inaugurated as part of the 10th anniversary year, awarding up to $400,000 to organizations successful in raising new and increased annual fund support from individual donors.

2007 — CMF establishes Learning Circles for executive directors of local nonprofit organizations as part of the Building Organizational Effectiveness program.

2009 — CMF launches the Community Healthcare Network of the Western Suburbs, efficiently delivering coordinated health services to low-income, medically-uninsured adults between the ages of 19 and 64 in fourteen designated communities in western Cook County. Organizations exceed the four-year cumulative $5M mark in new and increased contributions raised through fund development challenge grants. CMF collaborates with (IFF) and Lyons Township to break ground on the Countryside Senior Apartments of Lyons Township, a 70 unit affordable housing project in Countryside which will serve adults age 62 and over.