# Community Foundation of Grundy County

Community Foundation of Grundy County is a Community Foundation based in Morris, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Community Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Morris, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Morris, IL, United States
- **Founded:** 1999
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** www.cfgrundycounty.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/communityfoundationofgrundycounty

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Community Foundation of Grundy County launched in 1999 as the Morris Community Foundation with a grant from the estate of George H. Baum. Original Board President Jim Baum led the early effort to create a vehicle for local philanthropy in Grundy County, Illinois. The foundation's core work channels donor-advised funds and estate gifts into grants for nonprofits serving the county's communities. Grantmaking addresses health, education, and basic needs across Grundy County. The foundation also stewards a portfolio of real assets, including the Coleman Hardware Building in Morris, a farm property known as the Peg Davis Farm in Seneca, and the South Grundy Resource Center in Gardner. These properties generate programmatic space and, in some cases, revenue. The foundation's endowment assets support its long-term grantmaking capacity, though the foundation does not publicly report its total assets under management. Julianne Buck serves as Executive Director and holds the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation. She also serves on the Illinois Attorney General's Charitable Advisory Council. The foundation participates in the Council on Foundations and meets National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations. In May 2023, the foundation convened donors through its 100+ Women Who Care of Grundy County program and continued its annual scholarship selection process for local high school seniors. The foundation operates as a geographically focused community foundation rather than a private family office, pulling its capital from multiple local donors rather than a single family. Its hybrid model — grantmaker, landlord of community properties, and donor-convening platform — differentiates it from a donor-advised fund sponsor like Fidelity Charitable. The regulatory posture of a public charity, subject to Illinois Attorney General oversight, imposes transparency requirements that a private foundation would not face.

## Sectors

- Education
- Healthcare Services
- Real Estate

## People

- Julianne Buck — Executive Director
- Stephen Kezerle — President, Board of Trustees
- Robert C. Marsaglia — Vice President, Board of Trustees; Counsel, Mahoney, Silverman & Cross, LLC
- Jim Baum — Original Board President and Founder

## Questions

### How does the Community Foundation of Grundy County source its donor-advised funds?

The foundation cultivates local donors through convening vehicles like 100+ Women Who Care of Grundy County, estate planning relationships, and its status as the county's primary community foundation. It accepts bequests, non-cash assets, and donor-advised fund contributions from individuals and families in Grundy County.

### Does the Community Foundation of Grundy County manage only liquid endowment assets, or does it hold real estate?

The foundation holds physical property in addition to its endowment. Real assets include the Coleman Hardware Building in Morris, a farm in Seneca known as the Peg Davis Farm, and the South Grundy Resource Center in Gardner. The Gardner property specifically serves as a programmatic center for the southern part of the county.

### What is the relationship between the George H. Baum estate and the Community Foundation of Grundy County?

The George H. Baum estate provided the founding grant that established the foundation in 1999. The foundation was initially called the Morris Community Foundation. Jim Baum served as the original Board President.

### How is the Community Foundation of Grundy County regulated?

It operates as a public charity and meets the National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations set by the Council on Foundations. It is a member of Forefront, Illinois's statewide association for nonprofits and grantmakers. Its Executive Director serves on the Illinois Attorney General's Charitable Advisory Council, further embedding it in the state's regulatory framework.

## Related profiles

- [Community Foundation of Greenville](https://altss.com/profile/community-foundation-of-greenville)
- [Community Foundation of Morgan County](https://altss.com/profile/community-foundation-of-morgan-county)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

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