Community Impact Funds
Community Impact Funds—also known as Undesignated Funds—offer the greatest flexibility to meet the ever-evolving needs of DeKalb County. These Funds give the DeKalb County Community Foundation's Board the ability to respond quickly and strategically to current challenges and future opportunities.
Through donor generosity, Community Impact Funds support a variety of grantmaking programs, including:
- Community Needs Grants
- Emergency Grants
- Economic Development Grants
- Give DeKalb County (incentive pool dollars)
These Funds are a powerful tool for making meaningful change across the County. We invite you to explore our grants in action stories and see the impact firsthand.
Together, we’re helping today and shaping tomorrow.
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 Community Impact Funds
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Donations to this Fund are eligible for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit!
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 >
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.
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.
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 >
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.
The Fund was originally established in memory of Marjorie A. Nelsen, sister of Fund donor and creator Ronald Nelsen. Following the passing of Ronald’s wife, Lucille, in 2020, the Fund was renamed the Lucille B. Nelsen Fund in her memory. After Ronald’s passing in 2026, the Fund was renamed the Ron and Lucille Nelsen Fund. Today, the endowed Community Impact Fund provides grant dollars to the Community Foundation Board to support its grantmaking programs. Helping today...Shaping tomorrow.
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.
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.
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.
