The mission-driven DeKalb County Community Foundation is striving to make an impact in DeKalb County according to Executive Director Dan Templin who was featured speaker at this week’s Rotary meeting. Established in 1993, the Foundation had over $3 million in grants and distributions awarded over the past year. Their mission statement reads: “To enhance the quality of life in DeKalb County by proactively addressing community needs and expanding, managing, and distributing philanthropic resources.” Rotarians Sally Bruch and Jim Stoddard serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
Foundation activities center around four roles. These are Endowment and Donor Services, Stewardship of approximately $60 million in assets, Grantmaking, and Community Initiatives. Grantmaking covers the general categories of Arts and Culture; Community Development; Education; Environment and Animal Welfare; and Health and Human Services. Community Initiatives include the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership (DCNP – described as filling the role of a “Chamber of Commerce” for non-profit agencies); Youth Engaged in Philanthropy (which lets 70 students from nine high schools decide how grant money will be used for youth-focused initiatives); and Community Economic Development Grants (to fund planning and project implementation in municipalities in the County).
Templin mentioned there exists the Sycamore Rotary Charitable Impact Fund as a pass-through fund at the Foundation. It currently has a balance of just over $1,300. Templin encouraged Rotarians to think of ways to use it to enhance future fundraising for specific projects.
More information about the DeKalb County Community Foundation is available at their website: www.dekalbccf.org.