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DuPage Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.7M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.2M
Decision Time
2mo
Success Rate
72%

DuPage Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14,671,523 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 72% (Fall 2024 eligible applications)
  • Decision Time: 2 months
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $200,000+ (varies by program)
  • Geographic Focus: DuPage County, Illinois
  • Assets: $120 million+

Contact Details

Website: https://www.dupagefoundation.org/

Address: 3000 Woodcreek Dr Ste 310, Downers Grove, IL 60515-5436

Phone: 630.598.5292

General Inquiries: kait@dupagefoundation.org (Kait Balsewicz, Director of Donor & Community Engagement)

President & CEO: Mike Sitrick - 630.598.5285, mike@dupagefoundation.org

Social Media:

Overview

Founded in 1986, DuPage Foundation (formerly DuPage Community Foundation, EIN: 36-3978733) has grown to more than $120 million in assets and awarded more than $60 million in grants on behalf of donors and partners. The Foundation's mission is to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs, and building community partnerships. In 2024 alone, the Foundation contributed $14,671,523 in grants through 226 awards. The Foundation was named the 2025 Philanthropic Foundation of the Year by the West Suburban Philanthropic Network, recognizing its leadership role in DuPage County philanthropy. Under the leadership of President & CEO Mike Sitrick, who joined as CEO in 2023, the Foundation operates with the vision of "doing a world of good in our own backyard."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Grant Program (Two cycles annually) The Foundation's signature grant program uses a "Seed, Sustain, Strengthen" grantmaking model:

  • Seed Grants: Up to $5,000 in 1:1 matching funds for nonprofits operating as 501(c)(3) for less than three years
  • Sustain/Strengthen Grants: Streamlined application for requests of $5,000 or less; more detailed application for requests over $5,000
  • Spring Cycle Focus: Health and Human Services (affordable housing, behavioral health, healthcare access, food insecurity, financial/language literacy)
  • Fall Cycle Focus: Youth Education, Workforce Development, Environment, and Animal Welfare

Arts DuPage Grant Program (Annual fall cycle)

  • Seed Grants: Up to $5,000 in matching funds for young arts organizations (less than 3 years as 501(c)(3))
  • Sustain Grants: For established arts organizations
  • Recent awards ranged from $3,500 to $200,000 from the JCS Fund for Arts and Education

Bright & Early DuPage Initiative (Annual cycle, guidelines available March)

  • Grant amounts: $30,000 - $50,000
  • Supports creation and growth of local early childhood collaborations
  • Focus on comprehensive support for children birth to age five
  • 2025 total awards: $345,500 to eight collaborations

Capacity Building Grant Program (Inaugural cycle 2025)

  • Grant range: $2,500 - $15,000
  • Total program awarded: $100,000 to 10 local nonprofits
  • Supports organizational development and infrastructure

Glen Ellyn Fund Initiative (Annual fall cycle)

  • Community partnership between Village of Glen Ellyn and DuPage Foundation since 2017
  • $400,000 charitable endowment established
  • More than $55,000 in grants awarded to date
  • Recent grants: $5,000 - $15,400
  • Supports projects enhancing life in Glen Ellyn

DuPage Community Transformation Partnership (DCTP)

  • Major collaborative program between DuPage County and DuPage Foundation
  • $10 million grant program established in 2022
  • Two grant types:
    • Immediate Impact Grants: ~$65,000 average (52 grants totaling $3.4 million)
    • Transformational Grants: ~$219,000 average (32 grants totaling $7 million)

Priority Areas

The Foundation seeks to address broad needs of DuPage County through grants in:

  • Arts & Culture
  • Health & Human Services (affordable housing, behavioral health, healthcare access, food insecurity, financial/language literacy)
  • Animal Welfare
  • Youth Education
  • Workforce Development
  • Environment
  • Early Childhood Education (birth to age five)

What They Don't Fund

  • Public, parochial, private, or charter schools (pre-K through 12th grade), including supporting foundations
  • Religious activities (though secular activities provided by religious organizations may be eligible)
  • Food purchases (though equipment and programs provided by food distribution organizations are eligible)
  • Historical societies and related foundations for projects without broad community reach beyond a specific community
  • Organizations that have received Community Impact grants from unrestricted or field-of-interest funds for three consecutive years (must take a year off)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO

  • Michael R. Sitrick, JD, CFRE - Appointed January 2023
  • Previously served as Executive Vice President for Advancement since 2021
  • 20+ years in DuPage County, passionate about community impact

Board of Trustees (FY25 Officers)

  • Board Chair: Bill Blum, Naperville
  • Officers: Roger McDougal (Glen Ellyn), Kevin Phillips (St. Charles), Charles "Ted" Saul (Secretary, Glen Ellyn)
  • Recent Additions (2024): Supriya Jasuja (Oak Brook), Jim Mark (Plainfield)
  • Recent Retirements (2024): Nate Wasson (Board Chair, Hinsdale), Gerald Lewis (Naperville), Paul Miles (Naperville)

Leadership Philosophy

Mike Sitrick on his appointment as CEO: "It is an honor to have been selected by the search committee and Board to succeed Dave and serve as DuPage Foundation's next leader. I never imagined when I relocated to DuPage 20 years ago that I would find not only a wonderful home, but a vocation about which I am fiercely passionate. Serving our community and constituents is a privilege. I look forward to working with our phenomenal staff, volunteer leaders and partners to continue delivering on our promise of raising the quality of life throughout DuPage County and seeing even greater impact for our residents."

On the DCTP partnership: "We are incredibly proud of the impact this partnership is having on our community. Despite being a county of tremendous resources, the needs in DuPage remain significant and urgent. We are honored to be leading with DuPage County in addressing them on behalf of our residents. The DCTP partnership is an outstanding example of the power of coordinated impact."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online only through the DuPage Foundation website by 5:00 p.m. on specified deadlines. Late applications will not be accepted.

Community Impact Grant Program:

  • Organizations may submit one application per calendar year for either Community Impact or Arts DuPage grant program (not both)
  • Spring cycle applications available by January for March deadline
  • Fall cycle applications available by January for September deadline

Arts DuPage Grant Program:

  • Fall cycle only, applications available by January

Bright & Early DuPage:

  • Grant guidelines available in March
  • Annual application cycle

Glen Ellyn Fund:

  • Guidelines available in January
  • Fall cycle only

Decision Timeline

Community Impact Grants:

  • Spring Cycle: March 6 deadline → Mid-May notification (approximately 2 months)
  • Fall Cycle: September 5 deadline → Mid-November notification (approximately 2 months)

All Programs:

  • All applicants notified via email whether or not grant has been awarded
  • Grants awarded for a one-year period

Success Rates

Fall 2024: 72% of eligible grant applications received funding, according to Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation Vice President for Programs. This represents a significantly high success rate for eligible applications.

Recent Grant Activity:

  • Fall 2024: $579,550 awarded to 56 organizations through Community Impact, Arts DuPage, and Glen Ellyn Fund
  • Spring 2025: Over $519,520 granted for animal welfare, workforce development, youth education, and environmental sustainability
  • 2024 total: 226 awards

Reapplication Policy

Organizations that have received grants from unrestricted or field-of-interest funds through the Community Impact grant program for the past three consecutive years are not eligible to apply and must take a year off. The Foundation does not specify restrictions for unsuccessful applicants to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate DuPage County Focus: Organizations must have a demonstrated presence in DuPage County including:

  • Existing track record of programming with specific DuPage-focused outcomes
  • DuPage-specific budget
  • Board members located in DuPage County

Choose the Right Grant Tier:

  • Newer organizations (less than 3 years as 501(c)(3)): Apply for Seed Grants with 1:1 matching funds
  • Established organizations requesting $5,000 or less: Complete streamlined application
  • Organizations requesting more than $5,000: Provide additional financial information and responses about sustainability, collaboration, and specific program outcomes

Align with Cycle-Specific Focus Areas:

  • Spring: Health and Human Services only
  • Fall: Youth Education, Workforce Development, Environment, Animal Welfare, Arts & Culture

Emphasize Community Impact and Collaboration: The Foundation values "coordinated impact" and community partnerships. President Mike Sitrick emphasizes the Foundation's commitment to "raising the quality of life throughout DuPage County" through collaborative approaches. The DCTP partnership exemplifies this philosophy.

Understand the "Seed, Sustain, Strengthen" Model: Applications are evaluated based on organizational maturity:

  • Seed (new organizations): Focus on building donor base and fundraising capacity
  • Sustain (growing organizations): Focus on program delivery and sustainability
  • Strengthen (established organizations): Focus on collaboration, outcomes, and long-term impact

Leverage Additional Donor Support: In Fall 2024, the Foundation received $217,550 in additional support for grants from local funders and donor-advised fund partners, demonstrating the value of building relationships with multiple funding sources within the DuPage Foundation ecosystem.

Show Broad Community Reach: The Foundation does not fund projects that serve only a narrow geographic area within DuPage County. Demonstrate how your project benefits a broader community beyond a single municipality.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Excellent success rate: 72% of eligible applications funded in Fall 2024 makes this an attractive funder for qualified DuPage County nonprofits
  • Geographic restriction is strictly enforced: Must demonstrate clear DuPage County presence with outcomes, budget, and board members
  • One application per year limit: Choose carefully between Community Impact and Arts DuPage programs; you cannot apply to both
  • Two-month decision timeline: Plan your cash flow accordingly; expect notification approximately 2 months after deadline
  • Matching grants for new organizations: If you're under 3 years old, the 1:1 matching Seed Grant can be an excellent capacity-building opportunity
  • Collaboration is valued: The Foundation's partnership with DuPage County on the DCTP demonstrates their commitment to "coordinated impact"
  • Don't apply if you've been funded three years straight: Organizations must take a year off after three consecutive years of funding from unrestricted or field-of-interest funds
  • Strong relationship-building opportunities: With $120 million in assets and multiple donor-advised funds, building relationships with Foundation staff can open doors to various funding streams beyond competitive grants

References

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