To enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County, IL, by addressing community needs and expanding, managing, and distributing philanthropic resources.
A recurring pattern in the foundation’s giving is support for DeKalb County institutions that provide everyday services at scale. Hope Haven received $152,103 in 2024 and $136,559 in 2025 for general support, while Oak Crest Dekalb Area Retirement Center was funded at $148,228 in 2023 and $132,250 in 2025. Those awards sit alongside repeated grants to Kishwaukee United Way, Safe Passages Inc, and several other local organizations, showing a funding approach built around ongoing operating support rather than isolated project funding. Dekalb County Community Foundation’s recent grants also touch health and human services, education, arts, and community-based support organizations across the county. General support appears frequently in the grant descriptions, and several grantees show up in multiple years, including Hope Haven, Oak Crest Dekalb Area Retirement Center, and Kishwaukee United Way. The foundation’s grantmaking is local in scope, with nearly all grants going to recipients in Illinois. Its portfolio includes both large recurring awards and smaller programmatic grants, such as support for youth engagement and scholarship administration. The result is a profile of a community foundation funding a mix of core services, local institutions, and county-level opportunities for residents.
In human services, the foundation backed Hope Haven with $152,103 in 2024 and $136,559 in 2025, and it gave $93,751 in 2024 to Safe Passages Inc. Both grantees point to support for local service delivery and community safety net organizations. Education shows up through several channels. Kishwaukee College - Foundation received $89,527 in 2025, and the scholarship application portal is administered through a central application page for Community Foundation scholarships. The foundation also supports Essential Skills Enhancement Grants for middle school to high school aged youth. Arts and culture appear in grants such as $138,500 in 2023 to Salem Lutheran Church and $80,691 in 2024 to Preservation of Egyptian Theatre Inc. Environmental funding is reflected in Watershed Implementation Grants tied to the East Branch of the South Branch of the Kishwaukee River in DeKalb County.
Typical grants cluster in the mid five figures: the 25th percentile is $8,966, the median is $15,600, and the 75th percentile is $30,354. The recent-grants list also shows much larger operating awards alongside those smaller programmatic grants, which suggests a mixed portfolio rather than a single grant-size band. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Hope Haven, Oak Crest Dekalb Area Retirement Center, Kishwaukee United Way, and Kishwaukee College - Foundation, which points to recurring support for some local organizations. The foundation is classified as a mixed community foundation and funds individuals: False. It offers both rolling and competitive opportunities, and some programs accept unsolicited applications while others are member-based or concluded.
$4M
$85M
$6.4M
$6.5M
Most grants fall between $9K and $30K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$9K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$30K
DANIEL TEMPLIN
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Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 98% of grants go to recipients in Illinois, and the recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The strongest city concentrations in the recent grants list are DeKalb, Sycamore, and Malta, with additional awards in Minneapolis, MN. Named recipients in DeKalb include Hope Haven, Kishwaukee United Way, and Safe Passages Inc; in Sycamore, grantees include Salem Lutheran Church and Kishwaukee Family YMCA; in Malta, Kishwaukee College - Foundation appears multiple times.
Its active programs and recent grants point to local nonprofits, municipalities, public-sector organizations, and community-based groups serving DeKalb County. Cause areas include health and human services, education, arts and culture, workforce development, environment and animal welfare, nonprofit capacity, and youth engagement.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years in the recent grants list, including Hope Haven, Oak Crest Dekalb Area Retirement Center, Kishwaukee United Way, and Kishwaukee College - Foundation. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships with some local organizations.
The distribution centers on smaller awards, with a 25th percentile of $8,966, a median of $15,600, and a 75th percentile of $30,354. The recent grants list also includes much larger operating grants, so the full portfolio is broader than the median alone.
Yes, some programs accept unsolicited applications, including Emergency Grants, Essential Skills Enhancement Grants, Scholarship Application, YEP Grants, Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Grants, Community Needs Grants, and Promise Grants. Other opportunities, such as CommunityWorks, are not open to unsolicited applications.
The foundation gives locally, with 98% of grants to recipients in Illinois and all listed recipient countries in the U.S. The recent grants list shows repeated awards in DeKalb, Sycamore, and Malta.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Dekalb County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must serve the local community, involve youth in meaningful ways, and promote youth empowerment and leadership. Nonprofit organizations with youth-focused initiatives in DeKalb County are encouraged to apply.
Deadline: Applications open October 15 and are due by 11:59 p.m. on December 15 annually.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAKEN ACRES WILDLIFE CENTER | SYCAMORE, IL | $225,433 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROOTED FOR GOOD | DEKALB, IL | $180,113 | 2026 | HEALTH / ED / FOOD |
| TAILS HUMANE SOCIETY | DEKALB, IL | $170,764 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE FAMILY YMCA | SYCAMORE, IL | $149,670 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE HAVEN OF DEKALBE COUNTY INC | DEKALB, IL | $142,953 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY HISTORY CENTER | SYCAMORE, IL | $136,212 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAK CREST DEKALB AREA RETIREMENT CE | DEKALB, IL | $121,440 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER OF NORTHERN | SYCAMORE, IL | $115,289 | 2026 | MULTIPLE PROJECTS |
| KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE - FOUNDATION | MALTA, IL | $109,619 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY OF DEKALB | DEKALB, IL | $109,490 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE UNITED WAY | DEKALB, IL | $108,774 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE PASSAGES INC | DEKALB, IL | $107,460 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPPORTUNITY HOUSE | SYCAMORE, IL | $91,453 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF DEKALB | DEKALB, IL | $90,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DEKALB COUN | SYCAMORE, IL | $88,395 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY NURSING HOME FOUND | SYCAMORE, IL | $77,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY SOILWATER CONSERVATI | SYCAMORE, IL | $73,430 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELDER CARE SERVICES | DEKALB, IL | $73,219 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB PARKS FOUNDATION | DEKALB, IL | $65,000 | 2026 | FOUNDATION STARTUP |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF S WI | JANESVILLE, WI | $62,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DEKALB, IL | $59,081 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL-SYCAMORE | SYCAMORE, IL | $54,634 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA-COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCA | CHICAGO, IL | $49,746 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARB FOOD MART | DEKALB, IL | $48,419 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF JANE ADENY MEMORIAL | SYCAMORE, IL | $47,679 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER | DEKALB, IL | $44,843 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLIDDEN HOMESTEAD AND HISTORICAL | DEKALB, IL | $43,523 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE | GENOA, IL | $42,630 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL - DEKALB | DEKALB, IL | $40,222 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARB CITY MANOR RETIREMENT HOME | DEKALB, IL | $39,819 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL ST | DEKALB, IL | $38,128 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH | SYCAMORE, IL | $38,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF WATERMAN | WATERMAN, IL | $37,500 | 2026 | ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
| TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT | DEKALB, IL | $36,564 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH | DEKALB, IL | $35,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESERVATION OF EGYPTIAN THEATRE | DEKALB, IL | $31,650 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB SCHOOL DISTRICT | DEKALB, IL | $30,000 | 2026 | MUSIC INSTRUMENTS |
| WATERMAN LIONS CLUB INC | WATERMAN, IL | $26,935 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NETWORK OF NATIONS INC | SYCAMORE, IL | $26,393 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOOR REHABILITATION CENTER | SANDWICH, IL | $25,800 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF JON FOUNDATION | SYCAMORE, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | FOUNDATION STARTUP |
| PROEJCT HOPE | DEKALB, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SYCAMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY | SYCAMORE, IL | $21,649 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HINCKLEY-BIG ROCK CUSD 429 | HINCKLEY, IL | $21,490 | 2026 | MUSIC / THEATER |
| DEKALB COUNTY REGIONAL OFFICE OF | DEKALB, IL | $21,298 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WE CARE PREGNANCY CLINIC | DEKALB, IL | $21,057 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | SYCAMORE, IL | $20,613 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ELLWOOD HOUSE ASSOCIATION | DEKALB, IL | $19,612 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALCAMP OUTDOOR MINISTRIES | KINGSTON, IL | $18,793 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ADVENTURE WORKS OF DEKALB COUNTY | DEKALB, IL | $18,311 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
OAKEN ACRES WILDLIFE CENTER
$225,433GENERAL SUPPORT
TAILS HUMANE SOCIETY
$170,764GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE FAMILY YMCA
$149,670GENERAL SUPPORT
HOPE HAVEN OF DEKALBE COUNTY INC
$142,953GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY HISTORY CENTER
$136,212GENERAL SUPPORT
OAK CREST DEKALB AREA RETIREMENT CE
$121,440GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE - FOUNDATION
$109,619GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE UNITED WAY
$108,774GENERAL SUPPORT
OPPORTUNITY HOUSE
$91,453GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF DEKALB
$90,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DEKALB COUN
$88,395GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY NURSING HOME FOUND
$77,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY SOILWATER CONSERVATI
$73,430GENERAL SUPPORT
ELDER CARE SERVICES
$73,219GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB PARKS FOUNDATION
$65,000FOUNDATION STARTUP
KISHWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$59,081GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S SCHOOL-SYCAMORE
$54,634GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA-COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCA
$49,746GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF JANE ADENY MEMORIAL
$47,679GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER
$44,843GENERAL SUPPORT
GLIDDEN HOMESTEAD AND HISTORICAL
$43,523GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE
$42,630GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL - DEKALB
$40,222GENERAL SUPPORT
BARB CITY MANOR RETIREMENT HOME
$39,819GENERAL SUPPORT
SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
$38,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF WATERMAN
$37,500ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
$36,564GENERAL SUPPORT
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH
$35,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PRESERVATION OF EGYPTIAN THEATRE
$31,650GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB SCHOOL DISTRICT
$30,000MUSIC INSTRUMENTS
WATERMAN LIONS CLUB INC
$26,935GENERAL SUPPORT
NETWORK OF NATIONS INC
$26,393GENERAL SUPPORT
OPEN DOOR REHABILITATION CENTER
$25,800GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF JON FOUNDATION
$25,000FOUNDATION STARTUP
PROEJCT HOPE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SYCAMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY
$21,649GENERAL SUPPORT
HINCKLEY-BIG ROCK CUSD 429
$21,490MUSIC / THEATER
DEKALB COUNTY REGIONAL OFFICE OF
$21,298GENERAL SUPPORT
WE CARE PREGNANCY CLINIC
$21,057GENERAL SUPPORT
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$20,613GENERAL SUPPORT
ELLWOOD HOUSE ASSOCIATION
$19,612GENERAL SUPPORT
WALCAMP OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
$18,793GENERAL SUPPORT
ADVENTURE WORKS OF DEKALB COUNTY
$18,311GENERAL SUPPORT