Past presidents of the DeKalb County Community Foundation have a unique place in the Foundation’s history as they have held the highest position of leadership in the organization. During their tenure, they worked with fellow board members and staff to fulfill the mission of the Foundation through duties of care, loyalty, and obedience. The experiences of Foundation leadership and on-going community activity and stewardship can serve as valuable ‘counsel’ to the current Foundation board president and executive director. The Community Foundation’s Presidents Council was established in 2014 as a way to formalize the support that past board presidents were already giving to the current staff and board of the Foundation.

The Presidents Council, which meets at least once per year, consists of all past board presidents as well as the current board president, vice president, and treasurer. Community Foundation staff also attend meetings to serve as a resource and contribute to the discussion as needed. The current Community Foundation board past-president serves as chair of the council.

Members of the Community Foundation’s Presidents Council are:

• Ronald Klein, DeKalb, 1993-1994
• David Juday, Sycamore, 1995-1996
• Mary Krupp, DeKalb, 1997-1998
• Gordon Melms, DeKalb, 1999-2000
• Michael Cullen, Sycamore, 2001-2002
• William Nicklas, Sycamore, 2003
• Suzanne Juday, Sycamore, 2004-2005
• William Mullins, Shabbona, 2006
• Bradley Brown, DeKalb, 2007-2008
• Thomas Matya, DeKalb, 2009-2010
• Timothy Dunlop, DeKalb, 2011-2012
• Timothy Suter, DeKalb, 2013-2014
• Donna Larson, Sycamore, 2015-2016
• Frank Roberts, DeKalb, 2017-Present

The Community Foundation Presidents Council members, individually and collectively, fulfill the following roles and responsibilities:

1.) Advisor – Providing sound advice in the best interest of the Foundation to its leadership. Such advice may be in response to a challenge or opportunity that the Foundation is facing. Maintaining confidentiality, members connect the Foundation’s activities to the feedback in the community.

2.) Sounding Board – Allowing the Foundation leadership to have a trusted conversation with council members when challenges or opportunities exist. Such conversations may be formal (through a meeting) or informal based on the timing and needs of a given circumstance.

3.) Connected – Remaining educated on what is happening in the various facets of the Foundation (i.e. operating plans, advocacy efforts, short term and long term goals).

4.) Ambassador and Advocate – Serving as ongoing stewards of both the Community Foundation and the needs of the community, council members support the mission of the Foundation and advocate among stakeholders to build and maintain positive mutual relationships.

“The wisdom and experience of these outstanding individuals provides a great sounding board for the work of the Foundation in fulfilling our mission in DeKalb County,” said Community Foundation Board President Frank Roberts, “I look forward to these meetings with past leadership to connect and hear advice about our future priorities.”

Pictured: Members of the Presidents Council met recently with the Foundation’s leadership to contribute to an updated strategic plan.