Lombard's DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform receives $20,000 Community Needs Grant from DuPage Foundation
The DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform in Lombard was one of 31 nonprofit organizations to receive a grant through DuPage Foundation's Community Needs Grant Program.
During the fall, 2021, Community Needs cycle, DuPage Foundation awarded $432,193 to organizations working in the areas of education, arts and culture, environment and animal welfare.
DuPage Federation received a grant in the amount of $20,000 to support the public benefits "Train the Trainer" program to train provider staff to educate and empower clients to effectively link to public benefits and community resources.
DuPage Federation's mission is to generate cross-sector solutions that leverage expertise to address the human service needs of the DuPage region. Founded in 1995 by a governor's office initiative as one of five learning laboratories, DuPage Federation's role was to demonstrate a new approach to collaboration between government and community in the implementation of welfare reform.
Today, the federation is a non-profit planning and change management organization that has been intimately involved in the development of the health care safety net and has helped expand the health and human service system to better meet the needs of the area's changing population.
"Our organization is grateful to DuPage Foundation and its donors for their generosity," said Kristin Hartsaw, program director for DuPage Federation's Training and Technical Assistance program. "The Community Needs grant will allow us to develop a program that will support other organizations in their efforts to educate and assist clients in navigating the public benefits system and community resources as they strive for self-sufficiency."
During the past fiscal year, DuPage Foundation granted nearly $9 million through Community Needs, donor-advised grants, special initiatives and designated grants. Thanks to additional donations from DuPage Foundation's donors and donor-advisors, the Foundation was able to grant $179,393 above its regular Community Needs grant budget.
"We are proud to deploy these much needed grants to the nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to serve our community, especially as the lingering effects of the pandemic have forced many to reimagine and rebuild their operations and programs," said Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation vice president for programs. "We are grateful to our donors for their generosity and desire to expand funding to support these organizations."
Applications for DuPage Foundation's Community Needs Grant Program are accepted twice per year. The spring cycle delivers grants to organizations working in health & human services with applications due on March 4, 2022.
DuPage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) community foundation, is the philanthropic leader in DuPage County, Illinois. DuPage Foundation manages more than $125 million in assets and has awarded more than $60 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving the residents of DuPage County since its founding in 1986. Individuals and organizations seeking to provide impactful support to address critical issues in DuPage County and beyond can create powerful customizable gift solutions and partnerships through DuPage Foundation. More at dupagefoundation.org. Doing a world of good in our own backyard.