Over the last 30 years, the DeKalb County Community Foundation has witnessed an inspiring amount of generosity throughout DeKalb County. Some generosity came as a planned gift from a will or trust. Other times it was mailed as a memorial or in honor of a loved one. Still other times it was walked into our door in the hands of a small child. The best part, we know EACH GIFT comes from a desire to help others.

Read this story (pages 4-5) in the 2022 Annual Report!

In 2022 we focused on donors who wanted to leave a legacy of love and support for generations to come. Generosity across generations is powerful and can impact entire communities.

One excellent example of generational generosity is the story on page 22 of the 2022 Annual Report, featuring the legacy of Joan Hoffman. Joan’s estate created two Funds providing educational support for students at DeKalb and Sycamore St. Mary’s Catholic Schools. The Funds are a lasting tribute to Miss Hoffman and the past, present, and future lives she impacts.

Planned Giving

A new webpage was created in 2022 to detail options for planned giving. In addition, it discusses how the Foundation partners with donors and professional advisors to help donors express their legacy and achieve their goals. Planned giving options include bequests, life insurance policies, IRA/401K plans, charitable lead trusts, and charitable remainder trusts.

DeKalb County Transfer of Wealth

As we furthered our examination of planned giving, we contributed funding to a 2021 Transfer of Wealth Study conducted for the State of Illinois. The study details the potential for generosity across generations within the next 10 and 50 years.

In DeKalb County specifically, the study estimates that $2.5 billion will transfer over the next 10 years and $19 billion will transfer over the next 50 years. Retaining a portion of this wealth for the betterment of our local communities has the potential to produce even more economic vitality and opportunities for all in DeKalb County. Full study results are found on the Foundation’s planned giving webpage.

Dinontas Society

Many donors have already left a legacy of love and support through a planned or memorial designation to the Community Foundation. To honor these individuals, we created the Dinontas Society and launched a special website in 2022 to tell their stories. There are nearly 100 members in the Dinontas Society.

Thank you to the many generous donors of all ages who have given over the years to enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County!