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Discover active funding opportunities in DeKalb County Grants for Nonprofits. 37,000+ grants are available for a wide range of missions and programs with additional grants in Fulton County, Gwinnett County, and Cobb County.
9,000+
Available grants
$3.49B
Total funding
$5K
Median grant
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Upward Mobility Grants
The Upward Mobility Grant Program supports new and creative ideas that help people and families thrive in DeKalb County. Replacing the Promise Grants Program, this pilot initiative provides funding for projects that improve quality of life and help people build better lives in DeKalb County, IL.
The Foundation created this pilot program to support good ideas from the community and help turn those ideas into action.
Focus Areas
Projects should address one or more of the following areas:
Education & Youth
Health & Well-Being
Housing & Transportation
Income & Employment
Applicants may request up to $5,000. Bilingual workshops and application support will be available throughout the process.
Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.
We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.
Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.
Scholarship Program
Scholarships are available to local students who will attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America on a full-time basis.
Steven John Duranceau Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Steven John Duranceau Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund was created to honor the life of Steven Duranceau.
The fund awards scholarships to residents of the Community Foundation’s service area who are or have been actively involved in the Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.
Steven Duranceau (1955-2006) was a graduate of St. Rita of Cascia School and West Aurora High School.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in business at Illinois State University.
He was employed at MetLife as a customer relations account manager. When MetLife merged with United Healthcare in 1996, he assumed a position as account executive at the new firm.
While attending St. Rita of Cascia School, Mr. Duranceau was active in Boy Scout Troop 53 and earned the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America. He later became scout master for a troop in Aurora.
An avid runner, Mr. Duranceau completed twelve marathons – eight in Chicago, one in Milwaukee, one in Phoenix and two in Orlando.
The fund was endowed in 2019.
Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.
Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.
If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.
Jesus Romero Scholarship Fund
The Jesus Romero Scholarship Fund supports students of Hispanic or Latino heritage who are enrolled at Kishwaukee College.
Established in 2012, this endowed scholarship honors Jesus Romero, a proud Kishwaukee College alumnus who has raised tens of thousands of dollars through his annual Cinco de Mayo celebrations to help Hispanic students pursue college degrees.
Now held at DeKalb County Community Foundation, the Fund continues his legacy by helping students overcome financial barriers and achieve their educational dreams for years to come.
The Jean Griswold Foundation
The Jean Griswold Foundation (JGF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Caregivers through educational opportunities and scholarships.
Our Mission
The mission of the Jean Griswold Foundation is to support Caregivers by providing educational scholarships* to enable them to further their training, enhance their careers, and better assist the clients they serve.
By offering educational scholarships*, our Foundation will not only make a positive impact on the Caregivers themselves, but also the clients they assist and the home healthcare agencies where they are employed, as well as help advance the overarching home-care industry.
Scholarships will be paid directly to the federally accredited educational institutions of the winning Scholars’ choosing.
Empowering Caregivers Through Education
The Jean Griswold Foundation Scholarship Program awards scholarships to deserving Caregivers who wish to further their education in a care-related field. Applicants do not have to be associated with Griswold in any way, and the funds will be paid directly to the institution where the caregiver will be receiving education.
Our Winter 2026 Scholarship Application period is now open! Applications will be accepted until 11:59pm ET August 31, 2026. Join our email list to get the first notice of all Scholarship happenings.
Where would we be without Caregivers?
Their selflessness is astounding, yet they are often overlooked and underappreciated.
The Jean Griswold Foundation is dedicated to supporting Caregivers, the backbone of the care industry. We provide educational scholarships so Care Professionals can further their training, enhance their skills, elevate their careers, and better assist the people they serve.
Our Mission
Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World
STEM and CTE Grants for Your School
PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.
We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.
PLTW Gateway
Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce.
Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
PLTW Gateway
New Program
Our Mission
Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World
STEM and CTE Grants for Your School
PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.
We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.
PLTW Gateway
Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce.
Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
PLTW Gateway
Program Expansion
Our Mission
Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World
STEM and CTE Grants for Your School
PLTW provides STEM and CTE-aligned curriculum grants for elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools to implement or expand PLTW Launch, PLTW Gateway, PLTW Computer Science, PLTW Engineering, and PLTW Biomedical Science STEM programs.
We work with companies and foundations across the U.S. to make these grants possible.
PLTW Launch
Caterpillar Foundation understands the importance of equipping individuals and communities with the skills, resources and services they need to thrive in our changing world. Investments in workforce readiness and STEM aim to create human infrastructure through an empowered, prepared and skilled workforce.
Caterpillar Foundation has worked with PLTW to expand access to STEM education. Through this collaboration, Caterpillar Foundation is supporting PLTW grants to schools interested in starting and expanding PLTW programs beginning in the 2027-2028 academic year.
: PLTW Launch
: New Program
Scholarship amounts vary depending on the scholarship applied for. Applicants are encouraged to apply for as many awards as they are eligible to increase the likelihood of receiving one or more awards.
Scholarships can be used for cost of attendance, direct education expenses, including tuition, books, and/or other school-related fees.
If you receive an award, be sure to complete your scholarship acceptance form (online portal). Scholarship awards are paid directly to the academic institution by the end of August.
DeKalb County Healthcare Professional Scholarship Fund
The purpose of the Fund is to contribute to the educational expenses for students who are permanent residents of DeKalb County, IL. currently enrolled or committed to beginning a college degree or health-related program(s) that prepare students for careers in the allied health professions, and have an immediate family member employed by Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital or Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital; or is a volunteer at either hospital.
Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a public charitable foundation based in Aurora, Illinois, dedicated to improving quality of life across the Fox River Valley, including the Greater Aurora area and Kane and Kendall counties. The Foundation partners with donors to fulfill philanthropic goals by managing charitable funds and distributing grants and scholarships that address local needs in areas such as education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community development, while ensuring responsible stewardship of resources to create lasting community impact.
Edward & Gladys (Stoddard) Arenkill Nursing & Medical Education Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund was created to assist students pursuing a pre-medical course of study or a degree in the field of nursing. Edward Arenkill (1922-2007) was a lifelong Aurora resident. He graduated from Aurora East High School. He was a medical corpsman in the United States Navy during World War II. His four years of active duty included both Normandy and Okinawa. Mr. Arenkill studied pre-medicine at Northwestern University, and later joined his father and brother in their Aurora family business. Gladys Stoddard Arenkill (1923-2004) was born in Nebraska. She was a graduate of the Copley School of Nursing in Aurora. She was a nurse at Copley Memorial Hospital and a private duty nurse providing care for iron lung patients. Following her career, she contributed over 3,000 hours of volunteer service at Copley Memorial Hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Arenkill were members of Fourth Street Methodist Church. This fund, which was established in 2007, became an endowment in 2008.
Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.
We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.
Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.
Scholarship Program
Scholarships are available to local students who will attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America on a full-time basis.
Albert W. Medernach Scholarship Endowment Fund
This fund, which was created upon the receipt of a bequest from the estate of Albert William Medernach, provides scholarships to students residing within the Community Foundation service area.
Albert Medernach (1941-2012) was born in Aurora, Illinois to John and Loretta Medernach. His father worked at the National Brush Company and his mother was a homemaker. They were blessed with twelve children.
Their son Albert attended St. Nicholas Catholic Grade School and was a graduate of Marmion Academy.
He served in the United States Army from 1964 to 1966 and was employed by Caterpillar Tractor Company for thirty years.
After retirement, he volunteered for Hesed House and St. Rita of Cascia Church, where he became affectionately known as “Mr. St. Rita.”
Mr. Medernach was a master gardener who looked forward to the springtime when he was able to resume the design of his flowerbeds and other plantings.
His devotion to family was of great importance to him as demonstrated by the special care he provided to his mother prior to her passing. He was a kind and thoughtful man who brightened the lives of others.
Albert Medernach will be remembered for generations to come for his generous provision for the educational futures of local students.
Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley of Illinois.
We are a tax-exempt public charity that allows individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations to establish permanent endowments and temporary funds within the confines of one large foundation.
Foundation funds are used to provide grants to non-profit organizations and scholarships to area students. The Foundation also hosts a Youth Engagement in Philanthropy (YEP) program, which helps high school students learn more about philanthropy and empowers them to make a difference in the community.
The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley serves the City of Aurora, Kane County, and Kendall County within the State of Illinois.
Scholarship Program
Scholarships are available to local students who will attend an accredited post-secondary institution within the United States of America on a full-time basis.
Michael David McGrath Scholarship Endowment Fund
The Michael David McGrath Scholarship Endowment Fund was established to honor the memory and celebrate the life of Michael David McGrath (1977-2003).
The fund, which was created in 2006, became an endowment in 2013.
Michael was a graduate of Downers Grove North High School and made his living repairing and refurbishing computers. He was an intelligent and inquisitive young man of unlimited potential.
As an encouragement to future generations, this scholarship is intended for students who possess both the ability and desire to increase their knowledge in a chosen field of study.
This scholarship also is designed to provide opportunities for students with limited financial resources to enhance their skills and affirm their self-worth.
Michael was a multi-talented young man who frequently benefited from the kindness of others. This scholarship is offered to recognize and perpetuate those qualities.
Looking for DeKalb County grants for nonprofits?
Read more about each grant below or start your 14-day free trial to see all DeKalb County grants recommended for your specific programs in Illinois.
What's the typical amount funded for Illinois?
Grants are most commonly $104,222.
What's the total number of grants in DeKalb County Grants for Nonprofits year over year?
In 2024, funders in Illinois awarded a total of 104,158 grants.
Among all the DeKalb County Grants for Nonprofits given out in Illinois, the most popular focus areas that receive funding are Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, and Human Services.
1. Education
2. Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations
3. Human Services
How is funding for DeKalb County Grants for Nonprofits changing over time?
Funding has increased by 16.08%.
How does grant funding vary by county?
Cook County, Lake County, and Macon County receive the most funding.
| County | Total Grant Funding in 2024 |
|---|---|
| Cook County | $6,893,460,213 |
| Lake County | $720,580,526 |
| Macon County | $544,478,272 |
| Champaign County | $541,704,331 |
| Dupage County | $496,099,366 |