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.
$2.5M
$75.4M
$11.5M
$5.3M
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.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Dekalb County Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Preference is given to 501(c)(3) organizations. Projects involving facility construction or expansion must apply through Build the Future Grants instead.
Deadline: Applications are due March 1 and September 1 each year at 11:59 p.m.; applications open two months prior to each deadline.
Who can apply: Nonprofit and public sector organizations are eligible; funding supports music education and performance initiatives. Priority is given to projects in DeKalb County.
Deadline: Applications are due March 1 and September 1 each year at 11:59 p.m.; portal opens two months before each deadline.
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 close December 15 each year; deadline is 11:59 p.m.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HOPE HAVEN OF DEKALBE COUNTY INC | DEKALB, IL | $136,559 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OAK CREST DEKALB AREA RETIREMENT CE | DEKALB, IL | $132,250 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE UNITED WAY | DEKALB, IL | $112,594 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE - FOUNDATION | MALTA, IL | $89,527 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KISHWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | DEKALB, IL | $70,239 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WE CARE PREGNANCY CLINIC | DEKALB, IL | $65,872 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY HISTORY CENTER | SYCAMORE, IL | $65,413 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY NURSING HOME FOUND | SYCAMORE, IL | $61,951 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL - DEKALB | DEKALB, IL | $58,112 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CASA-COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCA | CHICAGO, IL | $54,521 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY SOILWATER CONSERVATI | SYCAMORE, IL | $50,990 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TAILS HUMANE SOCIETY | DEKALB, IL | $50,973 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT | DEKALB, IL | $48,265 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARB FOOD MART | DEKALB, IL | $47,389 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH | SYCAMORE, IL | $38,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL ST | DEKALB, IL | $36,426 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB AREA WOMEN'S CENTER | DEKALB, IL | $35,707 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SYCAMORE EDUCATION FOUNDATION | SYCAMORE, IL | $35,211 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY REGIONAL OFFICE OF | DEKALB, IL | $33,484 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH | DEKALB, IL | $33,200 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OPEN DOOR REHABILITATION CENTER | SANDWICH, IL | $32,664 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARY LOUISE OLMSTEAD MEMORIAL | SOMONAUK, IL | $32,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PRESERVATION OF EGYPTIAN THEATRE | DEKALB, IL | $31,421 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF KINGSTON | KINGSTON, IL | $31,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NETWORK OF NATIONS INC | SYCAMORE, IL | $30,673 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PROEJCT HOPE | DEKALB, IL | $30,248 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DEKALB COUN | SYCAMORE, IL | $29,405 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF SANDWICH | SANDWICH, IL | $29,245 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FLEWELLIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY | SHABBONA, IL | $27,650 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ST MARY'S SCHOOL-SYCAMORE | SYCAMORE, IL | $26,736 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| KVAL NFP | SYCAMORE, IL | $26,310 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE | GENOA, IL | $25,210 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BARB CITY MANOR RETIREMENT HOME | DEKALB, IL | $24,449 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAGE COACH PLAYERS INC | DEKALB, IL | $22,774 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY 4-H FOUNDATION | SYCAMORE, IL | $22,730 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER | DEKALB, IL | $22,706 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WATERMAN LIONS CLUB INC | WATERMAN, IL | $21,150 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WALCAMP OUTDOOR MINISTRIES | KINGSTON, IL | $20,954 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB EDUCATION FOUNDATION | DEKALB, IL | $20,562 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF SHABBONA | SHABBONA, IL | $20,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF LEE | LEE, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TOWN OF CORTLAND | CORTLAND, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | — |
| VILLAGE OF SOMONAUK | SOMONAUK, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF SYCAMORE | SYCAMORE, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CITY OF DEKALB | DEKALB, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VILLAGE OF MALTA | MALTA, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DEKALB COUNTY GOVERNMENT | SYCAMORE, IL | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAFE PASSAGES INC | DEKALB, IL | $18,710 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY FOUND | DEKALB, IL | $17,937 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | DEKALB, IL | $16,511 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
HOPE HAVEN OF DEKALBE COUNTY INC
$136,559GENERAL SUPPORT
OAK CREST DEKALB AREA RETIREMENT CE
$132,250GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE UNITED WAY
$112,594GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE - FOUNDATION
$89,527GENERAL SUPPORT
KISHWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$70,239GENERAL SUPPORT
WE CARE PREGNANCY CLINIC
$65,872GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY HISTORY CENTER
$65,413GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY NURSING HOME FOUND
$61,951GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY CATHOLIC SCHOOL - DEKALB
$58,112GENERAL SUPPORT
CASA-COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCA
$54,521GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY SOILWATER CONSERVATI
$50,990GENERAL SUPPORT
TAILS HUMANE SOCIETY
$50,973GENERAL SUPPORT
TANZANIA DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT
$48,265GENERAL SUPPORT
SALEM LUTHERAN CHURCH
$38,200GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB AREA WOMEN'S CENTER
$35,707GENERAL SUPPORT
SYCAMORE EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$35,211GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY REGIONAL OFFICE OF
$33,484GENERAL SUPPORT
CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH
$33,200GENERAL SUPPORT
OPEN DOOR REHABILITATION CENTER
$32,664GENERAL SUPPORT
MARY LOUISE OLMSTEAD MEMORIAL
$32,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PRESERVATION OF EGYPTIAN THEATRE
$31,421GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF KINGSTON
$31,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NETWORK OF NATIONS INC
$30,673GENERAL SUPPORT
PROEJCT HOPE
$30,248GENERAL SUPPORT
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DEKALB COUN
$29,405GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF SANDWICH
$29,245GENERAL SUPPORT
FLEWELLIN MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$27,650GENERAL SUPPORT
ST MARY'S SCHOOL-SYCAMORE
$26,736GENERAL SUPPORT
KVAL NFP
$26,310GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE
$25,210GENERAL SUPPORT
BARB CITY MANOR RETIREMENT HOME
$24,449GENERAL SUPPORT
STAGE COACH PLAYERS INC
$22,774GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY 4-H FOUNDATION
$22,730GENERAL SUPPORT
CHILDREN'S LEARNING CENTER
$22,706GENERAL SUPPORT
WATERMAN LIONS CLUB INC
$21,150GENERAL SUPPORT
WALCAMP OUTDOOR MINISTRIES
$20,954GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$20,562GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF SHABBONA
$20,300GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF LEE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TOWN OF CORTLAND
$20,000VILLAGE OF SOMONAUK
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF SYCAMORE
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
CITY OF DEKALB
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VILLAGE OF MALTA
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DEKALB COUNTY GOVERNMENT
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$16,511GENERAL SUPPORT