From public safety and education to arts and community development, local projects addressing community needs received support through the DeKalb County Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant program this fall. Fifteen local nonprofit and community organizations benefitted from grants totaling $191,500.

Community Needs Grants are distributed to eligible organizations in DeKalb County each year in the spring and fall. Applications align with five grantmaking interest areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Community Development, Environment & Animal Welfare, and Health & Human Services.

“Our current compressed air system is a mid-80s system donated from the Kirkland Fire Department to Lee in 2000,” explained Chief Jason Aters of the Lee Community Fire Protection District. “We have to travel to Amboy during and after every call to replenish our air canisters since that is the closest system compatible to ours. With this grant, we will meet current NFPA and OSHA standards and save valuable volunteer time preparing for calls and, most importantly, keeping our volunteers safe during fires.”

Fall 2023 Community Needs Grants:

• Bethany Preschool Center, Inc. – $1,310 to purchase iPads for educational instruction
• City of DeKalb Police Department – $4,500 to obtain and train a comfort dog
• Elder Care Services of DeKalb County – $24,000 to build a senior garden and new parking lot
• Genoa-Kingston Volunteer Fire – $12,500 to purchase a (UTV) utility task vehicle
• Girls on the Run of Northwest Illinois – $1,500 to support program activities building social, emotional, and physical skills
• Glidden Homestead & Historical Center – $12,500 to aid restoration of Glidden Homestead
• Hiawatha Elementary School – $12,500 to replace school playground
• Hinckley Public Library District – $50,000 to renovate a new public library building
• Kingston Police Department – $6,790 to purchase solar-powered speed radar signs
• Lee Community Fire Protection District – $37,000 to replace SCBA compressor and filling station
• Little Lambs Preschool – $6,500 to obtain gross motor development toys
• Oaken Acres Wildlife Center – $3,300 to build a fawn protection shelter
• Stage Coach Players, Inc. – $4,100 to update seating for accessibility
• Village of Malta – $3,000 to renovate bathrooms at Malta Lions Park
• Village of Waterman – $12,000 to build an off-leash community dog park

One of several grantmaking programs at the Community 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 or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or additional information, please contact grants@dekalbccf.org.

Pictured above: A fall 2023 grant check to Lee Fire Protection District supports upgrades to the SCBA compressor and fill station.  Pictured are Community Foundation Board President Christine Johnson (2^nd from left), Chief Jason Aters (middle), and members of Lee Fire Protection District.