Our Story
From a Commandant's vision to Illinois communities — how Marine Corps Coordinating Councils came to be.
A Commandant's Vision
In the mid-1990s, General Charles C. Krulak, the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps, recognized a gap in how the Marine Corps community was organized at the local level. Active duty units, reserve units, veteran organizations, and community groups all served Marines — but they often worked in isolation, without a coordinating body to connect their efforts.
General Krulak initiated a dialog asking veteran organizations to begin forming Coordinating Councils in communities across the country. His vision was to create local organizations that would enhance the standing of the USMC in the community and offer assistance to Marines, Reservists, and family members where often no other help was available.
That vision gave rise to the Marine Corps Coordinating Council movement — a nationwide network of volunteer-run nonprofits that coordinate Marine Corps entities at the state and regional level. Today, Coordinating Councils operate in at least ten states, all affiliated with the National Marine Corps Council.
MCCCIL's Founding
The Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Illinois was founded in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) public charity, making it the only Marine-specific, Illinois-specific, state-backed nonprofit dedicated to connecting Marines with resources, community, and support.
MCCCIL's primary funding mechanism was already in place — the Illinois Marine Corps License Plate Program, authorized by the Illinois General Assembly through Public Act 92-0467. Revenue from Marine Corps license plate sales flows into the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund, which MCCCIL administers to support scholarships, emergency assistance, youth programs, and community events for Marines and their families across the state.
From its founding, MCCCIL set out to serve as the coordination driver for Marine Corps active duty, reserve, and veteran entities across Illinois — collecting and distributing information between Marines and Marine organizations operating throughout the state.
Key Milestones
General Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant, initiates the Marine Corps Coordinating Council concept nationwide, calling on veteran organizations to form local coordination bodies.
The Illinois General Assembly passes Public Act 92-0467, amending the Vehicle Code to authorize U.S. Marine Corps license plates. Revenue is directed to the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund.
The Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Illinois is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) public charity (EIN 81-3582497), becoming the official administrator of the Marine Corps Scholarship Fund in Illinois.
MCCCIL operates a statewide network of participant organizations, an online scholarship application portal, a searchable Illinois Resource Directory, and serves as a subchapter of the National Marine Corps Council.
Organization
MCCCIL is a 100% volunteer organization — every dollar raised goes directly to programs and services for Marines and their families. The organization is led by a Board of Directors and governed by standard nonprofit bylaws.
Learn More
Explore what MCCCIL does today and the national network we're part of.