Together, with the support of our donors, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in DeKalb County, IL. Grants from the Foundation come from a variety of grant programs we offer. Each program is unique in how to apply, who it supports, and the impact it creates. So how do these grants impact the community in which we live? Learn more in this grant in action story below! 

In mid-March 2020, the world came to a halt as the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic. Over the next few days, stay at home orders went into effect and what many of us thought would last days or weeks turned into months with no immediate end in sight.

It was during this time that local organizational funders began working together in an effort to respond to needs in DeKalb County from this crisis. This togetherness formed the DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund advisory committee and included the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Kishwaukee United Way, Douglas C. & Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation, DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board, IDEAL Foundation, Horizons Unlimited Foundation, and the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP).

To assist local nonprofit and charitable organizations in need, a DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund was created. Over $350,000 in grants was distributed from June-December to more than 30 organizations serving DeKalb County. Grants were used for personal protection equipment (PPE), care packages, emergency shelter, financial assistance, software and technology for remote connectivity, mobile food pantries, other food assistance, education, and more.

“The ability to provide immediate and timely support was crucial to our local community. During a time of such uncertainty, grants like these had an immense impact.”
~ Tiffany McQueen Lewis, Community Foundation Grants Director

Funding for the DeKalb County COVID-19 Grant program is made possible by a grant from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund and through the ongoing generosity of donors and funders to the DeKalb County COVID-19 Response Fund (Pass Through Fund).

Thank you to the donors whose gifts make grants like these possible!