Community Impact Funds (Undesignated Funds)

Community Impact Funds provide the DeKalb County Community Foundation's Board with the greatest flexibility to help today and shape tomorrow. Through grantmaking, these Funds allow the Foundation to give where the need is most and support a variety of grantmaking mechanisms/programs including Community Needs Grants, Emergency Grants, Economic Development Grants, and Give DeKalb County (incentive pool dollars).

Through donor generosity and grantmaking, we impact the community all around us. Check out these inspiring grants in action stories to learn more! Together, we are Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

To discuss your charitable interests or to give back to the community by establishing a Fund of your own, please contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

Albert Kerby and Helene Tink Endowment Fund

This Fund was established through a gift of stock in 1999, following Albert’s death in August of that year. The Tinks have been generous to the DeKalb-area community, where they resided while Albert worked at Northern Illinois University. Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Albert Kerby and Helene Tink Endowment Fund >

Bothe Family Endowment Fund

This endowed Fund was created in 1998 as a way for Joe and Robin Bothe to give back to their community. This Fund enhances many Foundation programs in addition to supporting the ever-changing needs of DeKalb County residents. Through grantmaking, support from this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Bothe Family Endowment Fund >

Charles and Mary Roberts Family Endowment Fund

This Fund was created in 2002 to keep the philanthropic spirit of DeKalb County Community Foundation founders Charlie and Mary Roberts alive and well in DeKalb County. Thank you to Douglas Roberts, John Roberts, and Virginia Roberts Holt for honoring their parents in this way.

Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Charles and Mary Roberts Family Endowment Fund >

Charles W. Otto Undesignated Fund

This DeKalb resident left part of his estate to the Community Foundation, realizing that it would distribute a portion of its proceeds to needy community causes. Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Charles W. Otto Undesignated Fund >

Community Stewardship Fund in Memory of Charles C. Roberts

This Fund was established in 2005, following the death of Charlie Roberts, with an initial gift of $250,000 from Richard Ryan, who had worked with Charlie when the two were at DeKalb AgResearch, DeKalb Genetics, and Monsanto. Mr. Ryan then challenged the community during 2006, with a dollar-for-dollar match, resulting in another $250,000 raised for this unrestricted Fund. The effort was a wonderful way to memorialize Roberts, the Community Foundation's "founding father."
Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Community Stewardship Fund in Memory of Charles C. Roberts >

DeKalb County Building & Development Association Endowment Fund

This organization of area homebuilders and trade contractors established this Fund during 2003, to support the Foundation's general grantmaking. Ultimately, the DCBDA hopes to focus the Fund's yearly distribution to causes matching its major interests, such as vocational education and other civic purposes. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the DeKalb County Building & Development Association Endowment Fund >

DeKalb County Community Endowment Fund

Established in 1993 by Charlie & Mary Roberts as a means of starting the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Grantmaking from this Fund is flexible, strategic, and directed in both responsive and proactive ways to invest in communities throughout DeKalb County. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the DeKalb County Community Endowment Fund >

Don and Faith Cook Community Fund

Created in 2021 through the generosity and Don and Faith Cook, this Fund provides grant resources to the Foundation's Board-directed grant programs, allowing them to respond to needs and opportunities throughout DeKalb County. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow. Learn more about the Don and Faith Cook Community Fund >

Donate to the Don and Faith Cook Community Fund >

E. T. and Jean B. Juday Fund

This Fund started as a Donor Advised Fund in 1997 to align with the charitable interests of E.T. (Tug) and Jean Juday. E.T. Juday, the last surviving successor advisor to the Fund, passed away in March 2013 at which time the Fund was renamed and became a Community Impact Fund to continue supporting charitable causes in DeKalb County. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the E. T. and Jean B. Juday Fund >

George E. and Betty B. Dutton Undesignated Fund

This prominent Sycamore couple established this Fund in 1998. George Dutton passed away in late 1999 and Betty in April 2011. The Fund creates a lasting legacy of the love and support they showed to a community that they cherished. Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the George E. and Betty B. Dutton Undesignated Fund >

Gordon and Lucy Melms Fund

This Fund was started in late 2000 by Gordon and Lucy Melms, shortly before Gordon completed his term as President of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Their support allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Gordon and Lucy Melms Fund >

James & Loretta Hipple Community Fund

Established in 2017 through the generosity of Jim and Loretta Hipple, this Fund provides the Community Foundation Board of Directors with additional support to use for needs and opportunities in the community. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the James & Loretta Hipple Community Fund >

Jerome and Blanche Cerny Undesignated Fund

Initiated in the latter part of 1999, this Fund will benefit the greater community and exists through the generosity of a former DeKalb couple who spent many years here as previous owners of WLBK-WDEK, DeKalb Radio Studios, Inc. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Jerome and Blanche Cerny Undesignated Fund >

Joel and Helen Maurer Family Fund

This Fund reflects the Maurer family values of community and service. It adds resources to the Foundation's Board-directed grant programs, allowing them to respond to needs and opportunities throughout DeKalb County. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow. Learn more about the Joel and Helen Maurer Family Fund >

Donate to the Joel and Helen Maurer Family Fund >

Lt. Col. John R. and Phyllis McCormick Fund

This Fund was established by the donors' will to create an endowment at the Foundation. Support from this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Lt. Col. John R. and Phyllis McCormick Fund >

Richard and Carol Ubl Fund

This Fund was started through generous gifts from present and former Board members of the DeKalb County Community Foundation, to honor the Foundation’s first Executive Director, Dick Ubl, and his wife upon his retirement in 1999. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Richard and Carol Ubl Fund >

Rodney A. and Dorothy Thiele Wright Fund

Established in 1996 with a bequest of a large farm, this Fund provides support that allows the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. The intent of the donors was to give something back to the community that had been so good to them and their parents. Within the subdivision that was built on this farmland, there is a park that pays tribute to this generosity. Wright Park is a standing reminder of a family who is leaving a lasting legacy of love and support. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Rodney A. and Dorothy Thiele Wright Fund >

Ronald G. Klein Community Fund

Honoring the DeKalb County Community Foundation's first Board President Ronald Klein, allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Ronald G. Klein Community Fund >

Sally Stevens Community Fund

This retired Northern Illinois University secretary chose to use a life insurance policy to provide support to the Foundation. Ultimately funded from the policy's proceeds, it will allow the Foundation to support many of the causes that Sally has supported during her lifetime in the DeKalb-Sycamore area. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

S.B. and Eloise Watson Community Impact Fund

This Fund was established through a Charitable Remainder Trust to align with the mission of the Community Foundation and support causes in DeKalb County. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Stephen R. and Betty L. Brown Endowment Fund

This Fund, established in 1999, honors lifelong Sycamore resident and founder of Brown's Supermarket, Steve Brown, who died in early 1999 and his wife Betty Brown who passed away in 2011. Through grantmaking, this Fund allows flexibility for the Community Foundation Board to give where the need is greatest. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Stephen R. and Betty L. Brown Endowment Fund >

Steven G. Anderson Community Fund

This Fund was established by Steven Anderson to provide grant resources that are directed by the Community Foundation Board. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.

Donate to the Steven G. Anderson Community Fund >

Donate online to any Fund at the Community Foundation in a few easy steps. Gifts of all sizes are welcome. Together we are leaving a legacy of love and support.

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Fundholders have 24/7 access to their Fund through the Fund Portal. The portal provides you the ability to interact with your Fund via a secure, password protected website.

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