Carroll H. Starr Endowment

Carroll H. Starr Biography
  • Founder of the Rockford Community Trust – today known as the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois.
  • A prominent businessman who was partial owner of the first Ford Motor Car dealership in Rockford, a banker, and manager of a local investment firm
  • Chairman of the City Planning Commission
  • A leading advocate for families, with thirty years of service on the Family Welfare Service Board
  • Head of the United War Fund during WWII, raising more than $1,000,000 in annual funds
  • One of only nine founding members of the National Committee on Community Foundations

Mr. Starr guided the Trust during its formative years with an abiding conviction in its future growth and benefit to Rockford. He served the Trust faithfully until his death on November 10, 1963.

 
Endowment Overview
The Cosmopolitan Club of Rockford is a participant of the Carroll H. Starr endowment challenge.  Our goal is to create an endowment of $100,000.  We have pledged to raise $75,000.  In return the endowment challenge will award us the additional $25,000.  
 
Here is how it works:
 

The Carroll H. Starr Endowment Challenge is a unique opportunity for nonprofits in Boone, Ogle, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties to build a permanent endowment at the Community Foundation and receive $1 for every $3 raised.

For CHS Endowment Challenge VII, nonprofits must pledge to raise between $15,000 and $150,000 (the amount is up to the nonprofit) toward an endowment at the Community Foundation over a three-year period. For example, if a non-profit pledges to raise $15,000 during the three-year period and meets their goal, the Community Foundation would contribute $5,000 to that organization’s endowment. If the goal was set at $150,000 and the non-profit meets their goal, the Community Foundation would contribute $50,000 to that organization’s endowment.