Community Foundation DeKalb County Building

April 2023: Q1 Newsletter

Transforming Communities Program

Transforming Communities is a 12-month program series focused on supporting and teaching leaders in the nonprofit sector in NE Indiana. This program will help 32 local leaders increase their knowledge base in fundraising, management, and strategically growing their organizations, programs, and services provided. The program is being taught by the IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and participants will gain a CFRM (Certificate of Fundraising Management) upon completion of the course. The goals of the program are 1) to help nonprofit leaders learn best practices and advancements in the nonprofit sector, 2) to create a support system of learners who can stay in touch after the program has ended, and 3) to expand the program to an annual one that will extend to other counties throughout NE Indiana. A quality program like this is vital at this time when nonprofit leaders are stretched financially, resourcefully, and often emotionally. Strengthening our nonprofits strengthens our community. The program is made possible by the collaboration and funding from the Community Foundation DeKalb County, the James Foundation, the United Way of DeKalb County, the Dekko Foundation, and the Don Wood Foundation.

Spring Fundraiser

The Community Foundation DeKalb County (CFDC) has the privilege of working with many community organizations in our common goal of improving the quality of life in DeKalb County. Some of the organizations we are most passionate about are our nonprofit organizations that work hard every day to serve those needing a little extra help from time to time.

As we have all experienced the lull in the economy and the inflation of everyday items, so too have our nonprofits. At the same time, the demand for their services has greatly increased. Many funders nationwide are receiving more grants and larger asks to help nonprofits make ends meet.

In 2023 CFDC will launch our first spring fundraiser: Give Where You Live DeKalb 2023. This fundraiser will happen from May 1-5, and will support the Foundation’s Community Grantmaking Fund.

Donating to the Community Grantmaking Fund means increasing support to the local nonprofits who support those (women, children, families, veterans, animals, etc.) in the county who desperately need our help.

Please look for our social media posts, and consider donating to help those who live and work in DeKalb County.

Donations can be made May 1 - 5 on our website, in person at our office, or by sending a check to the Foundation (Please add Community Grantmaking Fund on check memo line).

Board Spotlight

Judy Hey graduated from Eastlake North High School of Ohio in 1970 and Kent State University in 1974 with a B.S. in Education, majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Physical Education. She moved to Indiana upon graduation. Judy taught four years in Fort Wayne Community Schools and 31 years in East Allen County Schools at Leo High School, where she taught mathematics and physical education.

Along with teaching, she coached girls' and boys' tennis at Leo High School for 20 years and at DeKalb High School for three years. Judy has been a DeKalb resident since 1979. Along with being a board member, Judy served on the Learning Link Committee and is currently the chair of the scholarship committee.

Combined, Judy and her husband, Mike, have 5 children and 13 grandchildren they enjoy visiting.

Q1 Grant Recipients

The Foundation would like to recognize these 10 organizations for being recipients of this year’s 1st quarter grants for a total of $68,800. All organizations are either located in or provide services in DeKalb County.

• Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum - $10,000 for emergency elevator repair

• Community Transportation Network - $5,000 for a regional transportation assessment

• DeKalb County Central United School District - $3,500 to purchase the Building Block Curriculum for early learning centers

• Eastpoint Community Church - $1,800 for food for their Dinner Church community outreach meals

• Inspiration Ministries - $5,000 to purchase appliances and an HVAC system for a new women’s and family home during their Month of Grace in March

• JAM Center - $6,000 for professional development for their JAMEE and I14 educators

• Remembering Rowan - $5,000 for DeKalb County bereavement outreach in 2023 & 2024

• St. Martin’s Healthcare, Inc. - $25,000 for their new mobile medical clinic

• Waterloo-Grant Township Public Library - $5,000 for new community room furniture

• Youth for Christ of Northern Indiana, Inc. - $2,500 for their Campus Life program at DeKalb Central United School District

Fund Spotlight: Community Grantmaking Fund

In 1998, two years after the Community Foundation DeKalb County started, a pass-through fund was created with a $10,000 grant from The Dekko Foundation with the intent of granting to local nonprofits. In the years following, with a lot of fundraising from the Foundation and generosity from the community, that fund has evolved into what we all know as the Community Grantmaking Fund. This fund is one of the largest and most important funds at the Foundation, as it supports the majority of annual grants awarded to nonprofits who do work in DeKalb County. Quarterly grants from this fund are awarded by the CFDC Grant Committee (made of Foundation board and community members), and support projects in the areas of arts & culture, community development, education, environment, health & human services, and youth development. Grants in other areas are always considered by speaking to the Foundation prior to submitting a grant. Since its inception in 1998, the Community Grantmaking Fund has awarded more than $1,750,000 county-wide to nonprofits and other charitable organizations. As previously stated, this is among the efforts that are very important to the Foundation as we work alongside our partners to support and improve DeKalb County for everyone who lives and works here.