Through generous donor support, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is excited to announce and award $145,000 in Community Needs Grants this spring. This support impacts 19 nonprofit and community organizations for a variety of programs and projects.

Applications for Community Needs Grants are available to nonprofits and eligible community organizations in the spring and fall each year. Grant applications align with five grantmaking interest areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Community Development, Environment & Animal Welfare, and Health & Human Services. Each application is reviewed by the Grants Committee, which includes Community Foundation volunteer board members and staff. The committee’s grant recommendations receive final approval from the full DeKalb County Community Foundation Board of Directors.

Spring 2018 Community Needs Grants:

• Children’s Learning Center Inc. – $17,000 to upgrade safety and security at the CLC and The Growing Place
• Cor Cantiamo – $1,950 to purchase music for the 2018-19 concert season
• DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association – $2,000 to create mini-documentaries for 28 historical markers in DeKalb County
• DeKalb County History Center – $75,000 distributed over three years to construct a new building that will house the former Sycamore History Museum and Joiner History Room and serve all county historical museums
• DeKalb School District, DeKalb High School – $4,000 to purchase new marching band uniforms
• Family Service Agency of DeKalb County – $17,000 to defray the cost of roof repairs and refurbish therapeutic spaces
• Junior Achievement of Chicago – $1,000 to provide financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship programs at Malta Elementary School
• Genoa Township Park District – $1,500 to purchase AED’s for the swimming pool and childcare area
• Indian Valley Vocational Center – $4,500 to purchase capital to support the Construction Trades program
• Kirkland Community Fire District – $5,000 to purchase a defibrillator
• Kishwaukee College – $3,000 to purchase GPS equipment needed for a new Agribusiness program
• Network of Nations – $1,500 to purchase a sound system
• Northern Illinois Food Bank – $15,000 to acquire equipment for member pantries and for a Take 50 Foods2Encourage fund for increased access to highly nutritious foods
• Open Door Rehabilitation Center – $10,000 to purchase portable lift systems, slings, reacher bars, and batteries for DeKalb County clients
• Preservation of Egyptian Theatre, Inc. – $5,000 to purchase a new HD digital projector
• Sandwich Area Chamber of Commerce – $1,000 to purchase Christmas wreaths for display in downtown Sandwich
• Sandwich Opera House (ARCH) – $15,000 to rebuild, replace, and restore windows
• Somonauk Fire Protection District – $5,550 to purchase an ambulance cot to meet current safety standards
• Waterman Enhancement Group – $5,000 to continue the improvement of Muingan Park in Waterman with an enhanced play area and walking path

One of several grantmaking programs at the Foundation, Community Needs Grants receive funding through community impact funds, field of interest funds, and donor advised funds. Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate, or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or additional information on grants, please contact Program Director Anita Zurbrugg at 815-748-5383 or anita@dekalbccf.org.

Pictured: Community Foundation Board member Mark Mannebach presents a spring Community Needs Grant to the Michelle Donahoe and Sue Breese of the DeKalb County History Center. Funding will support the construction of a new building that will house the former Sycamore History Museum and Joiner History Room, serving all county historical museums.