Photo caption: Sharing Connections was awarded a $20,000 grant, presented by Grant Committee member Dianne Engram (right), to support the Good Night's Sleep Program-Beds for At-Risk Children by providing beds to children and cribs to babies who do not have their own.

For nearly 33 years, the Foundation’s Community Needs grant program has supported programs and projects that enrich the quality of life for DuPage County residents. That trend continued this past spring with $523,880 awarded to 38 local not-for-profits doing impactful work in the area of Health and Human Services. Grants were distributed and grantees were celebrated at the June 12 Spring Grant Open House. 

“Community Needs is our flagship grant program through which we support the great work of local organizations that are directly helping those in need,” said Barb Szczepaniak, Foundation vice president for programs. The grant process also serves as a research and development tool for the Foundation, as we learn about and track the effectiveness of the services offered in various issue areas. “This ultimately helps us connect local donors, who seek our guidance, to the organizations doing work that aligns with their interests and passions,” Szczepaniak said. 

As DuPage County’s leader in connecting donors with causes they are passionate about, the Foundation engages individual donors to supplement the annual Community Needs budget. This cycle, their support helped boost our grant awards by $153,980.

A 2018 Impact DuPage assessment identified the most pressing issues currently affecting the health of DuPage County as drug abuse, mental health, technology use, affordable housing, healthcare access, and obesity, among others. It was through this needs-based lens that the Grant Committee reviewed applications. Approximately 58% of the grants funded in the spring grant cycle align directly with the top health concerns identified by Impact DuPage. “The Foundation is committed to creating positive change in our community,” said Megan Shebik, Grant Committee member. “A data-driven understanding of what the most prevalent issues are helps ensure our funds are supporting impactful community programs.”

The following organizations were selected to receive funding through the Foundation’s spring Community Needs cycle and recommendations from representatives of Foundation donor-advised funds:

• 360 Youth Services (Funded by the Betty M. Bock Fund): $15,000
• Bridge Communities, Inc. (Funded by the Snodgrass Family Fund): $20,000
• Care for Cars (Funded by Betty W. Smykal): $10,000
• CASA of DuPage County, Inc. (Partially funded by the McWethy Foundation): $20,000
• Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet (Partially funded by the Betty M. Bock Fund): $20,000
• Chicago Dental Society Foundation: $15,000
• Community Adult Day Center (Funded by the Edward & Minnie Ceragioli Fund): $2,880
• Donka, Inc.: $7,500
• DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform: $20,000
• DuPage Health Coalition: $20,000
• DuPagePads: $20,000
• DuPage Senior Citizens Council: $10,000
• DuPage Sponsors: $2,500
• Easter Seals DuPage & Fox Valley: $10,000
• Elmhurst Walk-in Assistance Network: $10,000
• Evangelical Child & Family Agency: $7,500
• Friends for Therapeutic Equine Activities: $15,000
• HCS Family Services (Funded by the Robert and Laurie McMahon Family Fund): $2,500
• Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc.: $5,000
• H.O.M.E. DuPage, Inc. (Funded by Betty W. Smykal): $20,000
• Hope's Front Door: $2,000
• Loaves & Fishes Community Services: $28,000
• Mayslake Village (Funded by the Edward & Minnie Ceragioli Fund): $5,000
• Metropolitan Family Services DuPage: $20,000
• Neighborhood Food Pantries (Funded by the Snodgrass Family Fund): $20,000
• Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services: $20,000
• Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association: $20,000
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: $20,000
• Riverwalk Adult Day Services: $10,000
• SamaraCare: $20,000
• Serenity House Counseling Services, Inc.: $2,500
• Sharing Connections (Funded by the Betty M. Bock Fund): $20,000
• Special Kids Day (Funded by the Andi Stelzner Fund): $6,000
• Teen Parent Connection (Funded by the Betty M. Bock Fund): $20,000
• Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Service: $2,500
• World Relief DuPage: $15,000
• Youth Outlook: $20,000
• YWCA Metropolitan Chicago: $20,000

See project descriptions for each of the grantees here.

View pictures from the June 12 Spring Grant Open House.

Total Spring Community Needs Grant Funding Awarded: $523,880

The fall Community Needs cycle awarded $268,275 to organizations working in the areas of Animal Welfare, Arts and Culture, Education, and the Environment. Applications for the Community Needs grant program are accepted twice per year. The next deadline is Friday, September 6, 2019. See more information and apply here. During this past fiscal year, $4.8 million was awarded from the Foundation’s more than 300 funds on behalf of our donors and community. 

About the DuPage Foundation

The DuPage Foundation is DuPage County’s philanthropic leader. Established in 1986 to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County, the Foundation serves our community by helping area residents and organizations realize their unique charitable goals, providing impactful support to our community’s not-for-profits, and fostering key partnerships to address critical issues affecting DuPage County.

As a 501(c)(3) public charity, the Foundation receives contributions and bequests from individuals, corporations, organizations, and foundations looking to make a difference for our community and the causes about which they are most passionate. Since its inception, the Foundation has grown to more than $95 million in assets and awarded nearly $45 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of DuPage County and beyond.

For more information about the Foundation, visit dupagefoundation.org. To arrange future media opportunities, contact Melissa Fischer, marketing manager, at 630.598.5290, or melissa@dupagefoundation.org.