McCormick Foundation History & Mission

Our Mission
Our mission is to advance the ideals of a free, democratic society by investing in our children, communities, and country.

We believe civic health is essential to building the real power of society. Therefore, it's not just part of the Foundation, it is the Foundation. For this reason, civic health is our common purpose. It unites all aspects of the McCormick Foundation’s work, from investments in human services, journalism, citizenship, and early childhood education, to investments that deliver programs and services to hundreds of thousands of people through Cantigny – our public park – and the Foundation’s museums.

Philanthropy has always been about believing that a better life is possible. The power of our approach lies in our partnerships, our program and facility integration, and our passion to serve. We strive to be a catalyst for change. Every action we take is intended to inspire meaningful dialogue and deliver results that will improve our country’s civic health and make things better for our children, our communities, and our country for years to come.

History
For more than 50 years, the McCormick Foundation has been serving the needs of our children, communities, and country. As one of the nation’s largest public charities, we’ve granted more than $1 billion to organizations in local communities across the country.

The Foundation is more than just a grant making organization. We fundraise and offer many programs and services to the public through Cantigny, our 500-acre park and golf course in Wheaton, Ill., and three museums: First Division Museum at Cantigny, Robert R. McCormick Museum, and McCormick Freedom Express mobile museum experience.

In 2005, the Foundation raised more than $9.4 million from nearly 47,000 donors as part of the Foundation’s Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign. The Foundation matched the first $2 million raised at 50 percent and covered all administrative costs.