Together, with the support of our donors, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in DeKalb County. Grants from the Community Foundation come from a variety of grant programs. 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! 

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

See this grant In action story in the 2021 Annual Report!

Finding affordable housing for senior citizens living on a fixed income is essential. Barb City Manor, a nonprofit retirement community in DeKalb, provides seniors an affordable housing option with a friendly, home-like atmosphere. Many of their residents can avoid or delay placement in assisted or long-term care facilities. Residents benefit from three daily meals, opportunities to socialize, weekly housekeeping service, 24-hour security, and the independence that living at Barb City Manor provides.

In reality, even affordable housing can stretch some residents too thin. Thankfully a program exists to help. The Barb City Manor Resident Assistance Program provides assistance to residents in financial need. Currently, 19% of their residents receive financial aid from the program, which offsets monthly room and board expenses.

In 2021, Barb City Manor applied to the Community Foundation for a Promise Grant to support the Resident Assistance Program. The goals of the Foundation’s Promise Grant program are to inspire, educate, and empower individuals who may experience extraordinary challenges due to their ethnicity, immigration status, and abilities. The funding request was an excellent fit for a Promise Grant. The grant provided timely relief to the Resident Assistance Program, allowing Barb City Manor residents to continue living in safety and security while easing their financial burden.

“This generous grant has allowed Barb City Manor to improve the quality of life for more seniors living on fixed incomes. We are very grateful!” ~ Maureen Gerrity, Administrator, Barb City Manor