DuPage Foundation: Raising The Quality Of Life In DuPage County

This Patch article is sponsored by DuPage Foundation.

DuPage Foundation is a community foundation and DuPage County’s philanthropic leader. As a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) charity, the Foundation helps area residents and organizations realize their unique charitable goals, provides impactful support to not-for-profit organizations and fosters key partnerships to address critical issues affecting the community. The Foundation receives contributions and bequests from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations seeking to make a difference for the causes that matter most to them.

Patch had the opportunity to chat with DuPage Foundation about their role in the community.

Patch: How does the work of DuPage Foundation benefit not-for-profit organizations?

DuPage Foundation: Since its inception in 1986, DuPage Foundation awarded more than $60 million in grants to not-for-profit organizations serving the residents of DuPage County and beyond. Through strategic grantmaking and special initiatives, not-for-profits are able to reach more people in the community, fulfill requests that enable enhanced services and provide programs to inspire local volunteerism and philanthropic actions. Not-for-profit organizations can also partner with the Foundation to more effectively manage their reserves and project funds or build an endowment to secure their future.

Patch: How did DuPage Foundation respond to the COVID-19 pandemic?

DuPage Foundation: At the onset of the pandemic, DuPage Foundation recognized the not-for-profit sector was facing an immense surge in demand for essential services as the community suffered a multitude of economic hardships. Poised to ask the local philanthropic community for immediate assistance, the Foundation promptly created a COVID-19 Response Fund to support the local not-for-profits responding to the repercussions of the global emergency. The Fund was set up to receive contributions from those looking to give locally during a time of crisis as part of a powerful, coordinated response. Since the Fund’s inception on Mar. 19, 2020, the Foundation raised and granted $1.8 million to not-for-profit organizations in DuPage County over six rounds of grantmaking, thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors.

Patch: What are the different ways someone can make a donation through DuPage Foundation?

DuPage Foundation: DuPage Foundation’s knowledgeable staff works closely with donors to maximize charitable giving and receives contributions and bequests from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations seeking to make a difference for the causes that matter most to them. Gifts in the form of cash, securities, real estate, life insurance, retirement plans, charitable gift annuities, charitable lead trusts, charitable remainder trusts or transfers from an existing private foundation are invested with care to generate grant funding to organizations locally and beyond. DuPage Foundation offers donors a variety of tax-effective ways to make charitable gifts that achieve individual giving goals. Donors seeking to give through DuPage Foundation can open a donor-advised fund and recommend grants to the agencies and programs they wish to support. Donations to other DuPage Foundation funds can be made any time at dupagefoundation.org/donate.

Patch: Does the foundation host any fundraising events?

DuPage Foundation: Each fall, DuPage Foundation hosts an Annual Benefit to raise the critical support needed to advance the work of the Foundation. With the generous support of sponsors, community partners and Foundation friends, the 2021 Annual Benefit: A Starry Night in DuPage, held on Nov. 13, grossed more than $500,000 for Foundation operations and programs. While the Benefit was held in a virtual format this year and in 2020, the event is typically held at a DuPage County venue in a gala-themed format with a cocktail hour, dinner, live music and dancing. The Foundation’s Next Generation Initiative (NGI) hosts quarterly social events that feature DuPage County not-for-profits and provides charitable giving opportunities for attendees. In the last fiscal year, NGI granted more than $8,000 thanks to contributions, corporate sponsorships and matching gifts.

Patch: Are there other ways people can get involved with DuPage Foundation to help their community?

DuPage Foundation: Community members looking to volunteer at DuPage Foundation can inquire about serving on the Board of Trustees or joining a committee suited to their individual fields of expertise. From financial operations to marketing, there are 15 advisory committees that work with staff to advance the Foundation’s mission. Office volunteers and interns are welcome throughout the year and help staff with day-to-day operations. To learn more, call 630.665.5556.

Patch: How does DuPage Foundation help professional advisors?

DuPage Foundation: DuPage Foundation’s broad expertise in charitable giving strategies helps professional advisors better serve their clients. The Foundation provides advisors and their clients with consultations and advice, introductions to local charities and customized charitable plans with maximum flexibility and tax efficiency.

Patch: What are the advantages of giving through a community foundation?

DuPage Foundation: Community foundations are excellent vehicles for donors to support their favorite causes and charities, locally and beyond. Community foundations’ knowledgeable staff provide donors with information about critical community needs, connect donors to opportunities that align with their unique interests, and help them properly vet organizations to ensure their charitable dollars are utilized effectively and efficiently. By partnering with a community foundation, donors can also maximize their impact by pooling their charitable dollars into community-focused funds to meet pressing needs and benefit specific areas of interest, establish their own funds to give flexibly on their timetable, and create an enduring charitable legacy for themselves, their loved ones, and the community—all while enjoying maximum simplicity and efficiency.