Field of Interest Funds
Field of Interest Funds target specific areas of need—whether it’s youth development, literacy, food security, or a particular geographic region. The DeKalb County Community Foundation works closely with donors to ensure these Funds reflect their unique passions and charitable goals, making a focused, lasting impact where it matters most.
Ready to make a difference?
Let’s talk about your charitable goals and how you can create a Fund that reflects your values and vision. Contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.
List of Field of Interest Funds
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
In 2003 the DeKalb County Community Foundation was one of 18 Illinois community foundations invited by the Grand Victoria Foundation to participate in an endowment building program aimed at grant making. The CommunityWorks initiative is designed to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use that impact DeKalb County.
By 2011, the CommunityWorks initiative had generated $3.7 million in support from Grand Victoria Foundation which included a dollar for dollar match, leveraging $1,045,547 from generous community donors. These donations launched the creation of 20 different CommunityWorks Funds. The purpose of these Funds are to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County.
- William H. and Mary M. Awalt Communityworks Fund
- Nancy D. Castle Communityworks Fund
- Tony and Micki Chulick Communityworks Fund
- Cinco De Mayo Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Communityworks Fund
- CommunityWorks Leadership Endowment Fund
- Curran Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Steve and Pat Faivre Communityworks Endowment Fund
- First National Bank CommunityWorks Fund
- Dr. Gordon and Joan Graham Communityworks Fund
- Lana and Michael Haines Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Jerry and Annette Johns Communityworks Fund
- Kishwaukee Kiwanis Club Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Karen Lee Klein Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Bill and Bonnie Mullins Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Howard and Martha Mullins Memorial Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Northern Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Communityworks Fund
- Robert and Mary Pritchard Communityworks Endowment Fund
- Barbara J. Rauman Family Communityworks Fund
- Daniel and Kristal Templin Communityworks Fund
Please visit the alphabetical Fund listing on this page to donate to a specific CommunityWorks Fund.
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
Created in 2018, this Fund provides administrative, operating, and/or programmatic support to programs and/or organizations that increase the capacity, effectiveness, and efficiency of nonprofit organizations serving DeKalb County. Learn more about DCNP >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
This Fund supports the programmatic needs of the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP), a membership-based program of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. DCNP works to strengthen nonprofit organizations in DeKalb County through training, programming, collaboration, access to resources, and professional development opportunities. Learn more about DCNP >
This Fund provides support to DeKalb County organizations serving two areas of need: food insecurity and victims of domestic violence. Learn more about the Deborah and Colin Booth Fund >
This Fund was established in 2008 as a gift from Helen Bozivich in her passing. This gift was partially used to create the Youth Grantmakers Fund, which has become the major funding support of the Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP). Grants from this Fund support the YEP Grants program for DeKalb County. Learn more about YEP Grants >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
This 2012 Fund allows the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Board of Advisors to make grant recommendations to nonprofit and public sector organizations throughout the greater Chicagoland area involving music education. Learn more about the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
This Fund provides support to public and nonprofit entities in the Genoa-Kingston area of IL. The Fund was established in 2025 by Foundation Board member Melissa Stoffregen. Through ongoing community support and generosity, the Fund continues to grow and provide impact where needed most. Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
Established in memory of Community Foundation Board member and Hinckley community leader Mike Constant, this endowed Fund provides grants to organizations located in or serving Hinckley, IL, with a preference for those based in Hinckley. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
A charitable remainder trust gift established this Field of Interest Fund to support projects related to health care and affordable housing within DeKalb township. Learn more about the Howard and Mildred Eychaner Fund >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
This Fund provides emergency assistance to local human service agencies in times of need. Such grants should not be awarded for routine capital needs of organizations; rather, should prioritize needs that occur as a result of an unexpected/unplanned emergency (i.e. natural disaster, significant loss of funding due to no fault of their own, sudden breakdown of critical equipment).
Established in December 2025 by Jon and Briana Lehan, this endowed Fund provides support to nonprofit and public sector organizations working to strengthen communities and improve quality of life. The Fund focuses on efforts to combat food insecurity, expand access to affordable housing, support underserved and minority populations, and enhance mental health services. It also supports initiatives related to nature, land and forest preservation, and outdoor education. Grants from the Fund are awarded annually as determined by the Foundation Board. Learn more about this Fund >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
This Fund was created by the residents of Kirkland and Fairdale to specifically support public and nonprofit entities that have a direct benefit to Kirkland and Fairdale residents. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
Created as an endowment for the community, this Fund provides support to organizations and nonprofit entities serving Malta, IL. Through ongoing community support and generosity, this Fund continues to grow and provide impact where needed most. Learn more about the Malta Community Endowment Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The Pay It Forward Health & Human Services Fund supports public sector and nonprofit organizations that provide health and human services benefiting residents of DeKalb County, IL. Established in 2025 following the dissolution of Pay-It-Forward House, the Fund honors the organization’s 20-year legacy of offering comfort and care to families of patients receiving medical treatment in the area. Learn more about this Fund >
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
The Fund reflects the Samardzija-Gutesha family’s values and interest of giving back and supports education and hands-on experiences in farming and soil and water conservation, with a focus on FFA members and associate-level college students. Learn more about this Fund >
Created as an endowment for the community, this Fund provides support to organizations and nonprofit entities in Shabbona and Lee, IL. Through ongoing community support and generosity, the Fund continues to grow and provide impact where needed most. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
Established by Jack & Eloise Kaeck in 2001, the primary purpose of this Fund is to provide support for underserved minority populations in the DeKalb County community. Grants from this Fund are used to support the Promise Grant program for DeKalb County. Learn more about Promise Grants >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
Created as an endowment for the community, this Fund provides support to organizations and nonprofit entities in Waterman, IL. The Fund was established in 2024 by former Foundation Board members representing Waterman. Through ongoing community support and generosity, the Fund continues to grow and provide impact where needed most. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The purpose of this Fund is to provide grantmaking support to enhance programs and address issues concerning early care and education, workforce development, and land use in DeKalb County. Learn more about CommunityWorks >
Established in 2025, the YEP Alumni Endowment Fund provides grants to eligible organizations in DeKalb County as recommended by current members of Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP).
Fund History: Originally created in 2012 as the Karsten Larson Fund, this Fund reflects the donor’s strong connection to the Foundation’s YEP program and her commitment to supporting youth-led grantmaking. In 2025, following conversations with Foundation staff, the Fund was reclassified as a Field of Interest Fund and renamed to honor the ongoing impact of YEP alumni. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
The YEP Forever Fund ensures the long-term sustainability of Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) and its lasting impact on DeKalb County youth by supporting the ongoing operations of YEP.
The Fund was established by donors Karen and her late husband, Joe Grush, to create a lasting source of support for YEP. Today, the Fund continues to grow through the ongoing generosity of donors of all sizes, strengthening its ability to empower young leaders through philanthropy. Learn more about this Fund >
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
Created in January 2021, this Fund supports the proactive grantmaking efforts of Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP). Such efforts are currently led by the YEP 2.Pro Subcommittee who continue to explore and seek to proactively address key youth issues in DeKalb County, IL. This Fund is not intended to add grant resources to YEP’s responsive grantmaking program(s). Learn more about the YEP 2.Pro Committee >
The Fund was originally established as the Horizons Unlimited Castle Advised Fund in May 1995. The purpose was to support the Community Foundation in its early/start up years and to allow for Nancy Castle and her children to have a locally managed charitable Fund and resource to provide grants to local organizations. When the Fund transitioned to individual Donor Advised Funds, Nancy and her children generously donated a portion to support YEP in their proactive grantmaking efforts.
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
