Since its creation in 1993, the DeKalb County Community Foundation has sought opportunities to promote and support collaboration among nonprofits and to enhance their individual and collective capacity.

In 2012, after spending a great deal of time planning with community partners, the Community Foundation Board of Directors formalized their commitment to community leadership and proactive grantmaking by allocating $12,000 to help launch and coordinate the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP). Administered through its 14-member steering committee composed of nonprofit leaders and resource providers, DCNP provides training, programming, and advocacy for the DeKalb County nonprofit community.

DCNP is now in its fourth year as a membership based network of partners and has seen tremendous growth and new opportunities made possible by the generous support of the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation.

In 2014, two unique programs were added to the suite of benefits. Recognizing the vital role that effective boards play in the success of nonprofit organizations, the Board Excellence Program was created to provide training and resources to board members and executive directors. To incentivize the value of attending these trainings, a monetary award was distributed to those organizations that had board members attend at least five designated Board Excellence trainings throughout the year. At the same time, the NGOLD-DCNP Undergraduate Internship Program was created to provide internship opportunities for Northern Illinois University undergraduate students interested in gaining nonprofit experience. Over the course of a semester, students work on a variety of projects as they complete 120 hours as interns with DCNP member organizations. All students receive a $575 stipend for their efforts and participating DCNP members benefit from the interns’ assistance. Since the program was created, interns have completed more than 6,240 hours of service with nonprofits in DeKalb County.

In 2015, DCNP continued to mature and became a formal program of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. This evolution has brought the expansion of programs and services. To lead these efforts, Ben Bingle was hired as DCNP Manager, becoming the sixth full-time staff member of the Community Foundation.

DCNP has grown membership to over 80 local nonprofits and continues to offer high-quality professional development, unique programming, and opportunities for the nonprofit sector in DeKalb County to collaborate.

If you would like to take part in strengthening our nonprofit community or wish to discuss your charitable interests through partnering with the Community Foundation, please contact Dan Templin, Executive Director, at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

There is Strength Through Partnership!

Pictured from left – Jill Olson (CASA of DeKalb County – DCNP Member), DCNP Steering Committee Chair; DeKalb County Community Foundation Board Members – Amie Carey, Donna Larson, Micki Chulick (DCNP Liaison), Kristina Garcia (Conexion Comunidad – DCNP Member).