Organizations receiving Community Needs Grant funding attended a fall 2019 grants reception to receive their check in person. A total of $150,360 was distributed to local organizations serving the communities of DeKalb County.

Through generous donor support, the DeKalb County Community Foundation has announced the distribution of $150,360 in Community Needs Grants to help support 32 organizations for a variety of programs and projects that impact DeKalb County.

Grants awarded this fall include:

• Adventure Works of DeKalb County, Inc.– $10,000 to support phase two of program and property expansion for an outdoor therapeutic area
• Ben Gordon Center– $6,240 to provide expanded curriculum and educational supplies to assist in mental health treatment
• CASA DeKalb County Inc.– $2,500 to purchase supplies needed to expand the number of trained advocates for abused and neglected children
• Children’s Home + Aid– $2,600 to purchase training items and other resources for the Healthy Families Illinois program
• Consumer Advocacy Council of DeKalb County– $1,050 to purchase updated office equipment
• DeKalb Area Alano Club– $3,440 to provide a new roof
• DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation – $11,000 to support a campaign to increase economic growth in DeKalb County
• DeKalb Fire Department– $20,000 to provide motor vehicle accident rescue equipment
• Elder Care Services of DeKalb County– $3,500 to support a campaign to promote organizational services
• Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project– $2,500 to purchase supplies and materials for legal advocacy and education
• Fox Valley Older Adult Services– $5,000 to purchase a new electronic sign
• Genoa Township Park District– $1,000 to purchase new and improved training tools for lifeguards
• Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois– $1,400 to assist with program supplies in the implementation of Project Opportunity, a Girl Scouting experience geared towards at-risk, low income girls
• Greater Elgin Family Care Center – $3,440 to purchase a hemoglobin test machine for diabetes management
• Hinckley-Big Rock High School– $5,940 to assist in the construction of a new agricultural building
• Hinckley-Big Rock CUSD #429– $1,800 to provide digital community signs
• JourneyCare Foundation – $1,300 to update interior and exterior building signage
• Kishwaukee Family YMCA– $12,000 to assist with the costs of facility renovations and improvements
• Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra– $1,000 to provide technology upgrades to administration and ticketing systems
• Kishwaukee United Way– $750 to assist with creating a report to quantify basic living costs
• Malta Township Public Library– $2,200 to upgrade computer work stations
• Oaken Acres Wildlife Center– $3,800 to purchase a commercial dryer
• Preservation of Egyptian Theatre, Inc.– $25,000 to assist in the theatre expansion project ($75,000 over three years)
• RAMP– $3,000 to support a work immersion program for at-risk teenagers with developmental disabilities
• Sandwich School District-Herman E. Dummer School– $2,500 to provide upgraded educational tools
• Shabbona-Lee-Rollo Historical Museum– $2,000 to assist with making repairs to the front of the building
• Somonauk CUSD #432– $4,200 to provide upgraded digital art tools
• Somonauk Public Library District– $2,600 to provide upgraded internet access
•  Sycamore Fire Department– $2,300 to continue the Residential Knox Box program
• Sycamore Police Department– $2,100 to purchase utility boxes and supplies for patrol officers
• TAILS Humane Society– $2,000 to purchase a new anesthesia machine for a spay/neuter clinic
• Waterman Police Department– $2,200 to purchase an in-car video camera for a police car

Each spring and fall, organizations that benefit community residents, collaborate with others, and meet unmet needs receive Community Needs Grants. They are given as part of a mission to enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County by proactively addressing community needs and expanding, managing, and distributing philanthropic resources.

Applications are available to nonprofits and eligible community organizations in the beginning of January and July each year.

Community Needs Grants receive funding through community impact funds, field of interest funds, and donor advised funds at the Community Foundation. Donations to any of these Funds can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate, or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or additional information on grants, please contact Grants Director Tiffany McQueen Lewis at 815-748-5383 or tiffany@dekalbccf.org.