Growing a Family Tradition of Giving

We are pleased to announce the Dan and Kathy Schewe Family Fund, a new Donor Advised Fund at the Community Foundation. The Schewes are committed to supporting local nonprofits, keeping their giving close to home, and building a lasting family legacy.

👉 Explore their story >

Welcome, Frank Roberts!

DeKalb representative Frank Roberts returns to the Community Foundation Board of Directors as Board Treasurer, bringing valuable leadership and longtime community experience to the role.

👉 Learn more about Frank >

Welcome, Justin Gifford!

Please join us in welcoming Justin Gifford, Sandwich representative, to the Community Foundation Board of Directors. He brings a strong commitment to community and service.

👉 Get to know Justin >

Grant Supports Malta Library

Thank you to Rene McCollum (second from left) for participating in our Community Gathering Grant drawing and supporting charitable causes in the Malta community. She directed the $1,000 award to the Malta Township Public Library. The drawing took place during the Malta Community Gathering on April 30, 2026.

$19,200 Powered by Youth, for Youth

Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (YEP) awarded $19,200 in grants to 13 local organizations supporting youth-focused programs across DeKalb County. Organizations were recognized during the May YEP meeting.

👉 Meet this year's YEP Grant recipients >

Record Breaking Give DeKalb County!

Thanks to incredible donor generosity, this year’s Give DeKalb County event raised more than $2.5 million in support of local nonprofit organizations and Funds serving DeKalb County. The final grand total will be announced later this month.

👉 View current total and participating organizations >

Special thanks to our Community Partners and Media Sponsors for their amazing support.

Internship Program Spotlight

Meet Nicholas Grdina, a time arts major at Northern Illinois University. Through the Internship Program, he gained hands-on experience supporting Opportunity House while building skills for his future career.

👉 Read Nicholas's update >

The Internship Program is a collaboration between the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, the Center for Nonprofit Studies, and Career Services at Northern Illinois University, as well as the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation.

What Will Your Legacy Make Possible?

More donors are using estate plans to support the causes and communities they care about most. Thoughtful planning today can create lasting impact for future generations.

👉 Explore current trends in estate planning >