Dekalb County Community Foundation
The DeKalb County Community Foundation is a public charity based in Sycamore, Illinois, serving DeKalb County. Established in 1993, it manages charitable funds and awards grants and scholarships to support community needs. Its website reports more than 475 charitable funds and over $85 million in charitable assets.
Key facts about Dekalb County Community Foundation
In short: Dekalb County Community Foundation gave $4.0M across 119 grants in 2025 (avg $34K), mostly in Illinois. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-3788167
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,018,554
- Grants made (2025)
- 119
- Average grant
- $33,769
- Median grant
- $14,372
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (23 of 119, 2025)
- Total assets
- $85,042,189
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The available program information describes program-specific steps, including a project appointment and letter of intent for Build the Future Grants. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$85.0M
+12.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$4.0M
+59.8% YoY
Grant Count
119
+15.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+38.3% YoY
Is Dekalb County Community Foundation open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 23 of 119 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $35K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $16K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s website states its mission is “to enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County, IL, by addressing community needs and expanding, managing, and distributing philanthropic resources.” Its 2025 filing describes its purpose as serving donors’ philanthropic objectives, building a lasting source of revenue to benefit community residents, and providing leadership and resources to address community needs. The filing also notes that signed agreements specify the purposes for which endowed funds may make grants or scholarships.
The Foundation’s grants support organizations working in areas including wildlife rehabilitation and education, companion-animal rescue and advocacy, community services, history, and music education. For example, Oaken Acres Wildlife Center describes its mission as rehabilitating native Illinois wildlife and providing community education; Tails Humane Society says it works to save companion animals through rescue, adoption, and spay/neuter; and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA describes its work as providing programs and services to enrich participants’ spirit, mind, and body. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
The 2025 filing reports 119 grants totaling $4,018,554. Grant amounts ranged from $5,272 to $225,433, with a median of $14,372. Among the largest awards were $225,433 to Oaken Acres Wildlife Center, $170,764 to Tails Humane Society, $149,670 to Kishwaukee Family YMCA, and $142,953 to Hope Haven of DeKalb County. The filing lists the respective purposes as general support for Oaken Acres, Tails, the YMCA, and Hope Haven.
The Foundation’s website describes several programs, including Community Needs Grants for capital assets, equipment, renovations, and services; Build the Future Grants for facility construction or expansion, with awards of up to $100,000 in multi-year installments; and Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Grants for music education. The Promise Grants program description says it supports organizations serving underserved populations in DeKalb County. The website also lists ongoing programs for emergency grants, professional-development microgrants, and Future Leaders Internship grants.
For Build the Future Grants, the published process begins with a project appointment and a letter of intent; applicants may then be invited to submit a full application. Presentations or site visits may be requested. Community Needs Grant guidelines identify 501(c)(3) nonprofits and public-sector organizations as eligible applicants, with preference for nonprofits that directly benefit DeKalb County residents. They set a maximum request of $20,000 and include limits on repeat awards. The Foundation’s published 2026 spring deadlines and the listed 2026 Build the Future deadlines have passed as of October 2, 2026. Its listed fall Community Needs, Farny R. Wurlitzer, and Upward Mobility deadlines also passed on or before September 1, 2026.
How to Apply
The available program information describes program-specific steps, including a project appointment and letter of intent for Build the Future Grants.
Open Grants
11 open opportunities from Dekalb County Community Foundation
DCCF: Build the Future Grant
Dekalb County Community Foundation
Amount
Up to US $100,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
DCCF: Community Needs Grants
Dekalb County Community Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
DCCF: Emergency Grants
Dekalb County Community Foundation
Amount
US $250 - US $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Ready to take the next step with Dekalb County Community Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website describes its work as serving DeKalb County, Illinois. In the 2025 filing, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 2% to Wisconsin, and less than 1% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 119 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.4M (2019) to $4.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 119 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Oaken Acres Wildlife Center ($225K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
556 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 470 grants of 556 (85%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oaken Acres Wildlife Center Sycamore, IL | General Support | $225,433 |
| Rooted for Good Dekalb, IL | Health / Ed / Food | $180,113 |
| Tails Humane Society Dekalb, IL | General Support | $170,764 |
| Kishwaukee Family YMCA Sycamore, IL | General Support | $149,670 |
| Hope Haven of Dekalbe County Inc Dekalb, IL | General Support | $142,953 |
| Dekalb County History Center Sycamore, IL | General Support | $136,212 |
| Oak Crest Dekalb Area Retirement Ce Dekalb, IL | General Support | $121,440 |
| Voluntary Action Center of Northern Sycamore, IL | Multiple Projects | $115,289 |
| Kishwaukee College - Foundation Malta, IL | General Support | $109,619 |
| Family Service Agency of Dekalb Dekalb, IL | General Support | $109,490 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $85,042,189 | $6,397,063 | $6,500,007 | $4,018,554 | 119 |
| 2024 | $75,444,186 | $11,516,366 | $5,289,347 | $2,514,826 | 103 |
| 2023 | $62,806,536 | $8,320,407 | $4,563,062 | $3,069,670 | 113 |
The Foundation’s website reports more than $4.5 million awarded annually in grants and scholarships.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $85,042,189 | $75,444,186 | $62,806,536 |
| Revenue | $6,397,063 | $11,516,366 | $8,320,407 |
| Expenses | $6,500,007 | $5,289,347 | $4,563,062 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,942,246 | $1,093,570 | $957,764 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 20, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 21, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 6, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS September 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 8, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Daniel Templin as executive director and James Stoddard as president. It also lists Manuel Pena as vice president, David Castle as treasurer, and Christine Johnson, Kris Aves, Shawn Blobbaum, Jason Goode, Karen Grush, and Michael Haines as directors.
Dekalb County Community Foundation is led by Daniel Templin, Executive Director & S since 2024 (on filings since 2019); 3 of 22 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Daniel Templin
Executive Director & S
Executive Director & Secretary → Executive Director & S, 2024
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$114K (2019) → $146K (2025)
James Stoddard
President
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jolene Willis
Grants Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$105K (2025)
Christine Johnson
Director
Vice President → President, 2023
President → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Grush
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Regina Parker
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brenda Jergens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin Wegener
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Lehan
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Goode
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kris Aves
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Blobaum
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mohammed Labadi
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dahlia Roman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jane Lux
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jerry Wright
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Melissa Stoffregen
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Haines
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brad Meyer
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Noah Nordbrock
Marketing Di
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$100K (2024) → $103K (2025)
David Castle
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Manuel Pena
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Lisa Gudmunson (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: Photine Liakos (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Mike Constant (2024) — Director
- Former: Jim Stoddard (2019–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Todd Hughes (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: G. Joseph Mitchell (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Manny Pena (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Micheal Haines (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Michael Constant (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Amie Carey (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Micki Chulick (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Roger Maas (2019–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Sally Bruch (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Timothy Suter (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Benjamin Bingle (2022) — Grants & Dcnp Director
- Former: Jesus Romero (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Tho Pham (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Beth Prestegaard (2020) — Director
- Former: Beth White (2019) — Director
- Former: Joe Mitchell (2019) — Director
- Former: Kevin McArtor (2019) — Director
- Former: Kristina Garcia (2019) — Director
- Former: Laverne Gyant (2019) — Director
- Former: Rick Mamoser (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $146K, to Daniel Templin (Exec DIR / S). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 475 Dekalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178
Phone: (815) 748-5383
Website: https://dekalbccf.org
Frequently asked questions about Dekalb County Community Foundation
How much does Dekalb County Community Foundation give each year?
Dekalb County Community Foundation gave $4.0M across 119 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 103 grants.
What is Dekalb County Community Foundation's typical grant size?
Dekalb County Community Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $14,372, and its average grant was $33,769, across 119 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dekalb County Community Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Dekalb County Community Foundation give grants?
Dekalb County Community Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Dekalb, IL (50 grants), Sycamore, IL (29 grants), Hinckley, IL (6 grants) and Sandwich, IL (5 grants).
Does Dekalb County Community Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of Dekalb County Community Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (94 of 119) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Dekalb County Community Foundation's largest grantees?
Dekalb County Community Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Oaken Acres Wildlife Center ($225,433), Rooted for Good ($180,113) and Tails Humane Society ($170,764), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Dekalb County Community Foundation?
Dekalb County Community Foundation reported $85.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $6.4M.
What does Dekalb County Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s website states its mission is “to enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County, IL, by addressing community needs and expanding, managing, and distributing philanthropic resources.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dekalb County Community Foundation?
The available program information describes program-specific steps, including a project appointment and letter of intent for Build the Future Grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dekalb County Community Foundation's EIN?
Dekalb County Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3788167. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Here's the math on researching Dekalb County Community Foundation by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dekalb County Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Dekalb County Community Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?