2021 Grants Accepted through October the 15th

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✨New Grant Portal Opens  Jan. 2, 2025 ✨

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Grant Recipient

A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools

In partnership with the West Aurora School District (WASD), Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) and the WAHS class of ’68, the Dunham Fund provided a $3,250 grant and $25,000 of a $1 for $1 challenge grant. WASD and FVPD both also contributed $50,000 towards this project.

The grant will provide for the creation of the new Wally Smith Playground at Hill Elementary in the Illinois School District 129. Hill school currently has a playground for younger children. The new playground will be designed for 3-5th-grade children.

Wally Smith grew up across from and attended Hill Elementary. Upon graduating from Aurora University, he taught in the West Aurora School District for 30 years before his passing in 2015. This playground will honor his legacy and leave a lasting impact on West Aurora students at the school where Smith faithfully taught.

All Recipients

  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Wayside Cross Ministries

This grant was approved through the Dunham Foundation’s Ready for the Future RFP Grant and supports Wayside Cross Ministries’ Urban Youth Ministries (UYM) Program. The UYM program provides tutoring and mentoring support to Aurora-area students during the school year and summer programming. UYM will also engage other partners through this funding to broaden tutoring and programming offers for their students.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

TriCity Family Services

This sponsorship grant from the Dunham Foundation provided support for TriCity Family Services’ 34th Annual Inspiring Hearts and Minds Gala.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

The Wong Center for Education

This grant was approved through the Dunham Foundation’s Ready for the Future RFP Grant and supports after-school STEM programming in 17 East Aurora School District elementary and middle schools. The Wong Center for Education’s STEM Ignition program will provide after-school programming four days a week at East Aurora schools, engaging a number of community partners to provide multiple programming components.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Sarah’s Smile of Illinois

This sponsorship grant from the Dunham Foundation provided support for Sarah’s Smile of Illinois’ Prom Part Duex! event.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Pigment International

This grant provides sponsorship support for Pigment International Foundation’s Black Fine Art Month.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Neighbor Project

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provided sponsorship support for the Neighbor Project’s 2024 Benefit Concert.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Musician’s Enduring Legacy Organization

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Musician’s Enduring Legacy Organization’s installation and programming for “The Musicians’ Green Book – An Enduring Legacy” cultural education initiative. This traveling exhibit opens in Washington, D.C. in November 2024 and runs through February 2025. The exhibit will travel to Aurora, IL for the first stop on its national tour visiting towns along the Chitlin’ Circuit. During the exhibit’s time in Aurora, there will be various film screenings, community conversations, and educational sessions that explore the exhibit and documentary’s themes and their relevance to our community today.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

This grant provides sponsorship support for Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry’s Fill-The-Bowls Fundraiser.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Joshua Tree Community

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Joshua Tree Community’s campaign to purchase a new van to safely transport their participants to daily outings.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Lutheran Child and Family Services

This grant was approved through the Dunham Foundation’s Ready for the Future RFP Grant and supports the Best Start After-School Support Programming at East Aurora School District’s Resilience Center. This programming engages students in social and emotional learning, community service projects, and homework help to address the academic and social-emotional needs of our youth.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Illinois Bar Foundation

This grant provides support for the Illinois Bar Foundation to serve individuals in the Aurora Service Area.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Forefront

This grant provided sponsorship support for Forefront’s 50th Anniversary & Annual Summit.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Diamond Youth Foundation

This grant supports Diamond Youth Foundations’ Guide Right Mentoring Program to expose underprivileged students to higher education through visits to college campuses.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Community Foundation of the Fox River

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provides a matching opportunity for CFFRV’s Youth Engagement in Philanthropy program’s grantmaking program.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

CASA Kane County

This grant provided sponsorship support for CASA Kane County’s Annual Superhero Luncheon.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Aurora East Educational Foundation

This sponsorship supports the 4th annual Tom-A-Hawk Turkey Trot, an event benefitting both East and West Aurora School Districts.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools

This grant was approved through the Dunham Foundation’s Ready for the Future RFP Grant and allows the West Aurora School District 129 to engage Littera Tutoring in all West Aurora School District elementary and middle schools, as well as Blackhawk Academy, for live, virtual one-on-one tutoring during the school day to support student learning and learning recovery.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry

This grant provides support for Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry’s Critical Food & Supplies Fund. This fund ensures that it is prepared to serve its clients in unprecedented circumstances, such as when their food supply and budget deplete during a surge in client needs. It also allows for the pantry to hold a supply of critical items an individual may need, such as gas cards, diapers, formula, or other critical supplies.
  • 2024
  • Area: Economic Growth

Women’s Business Develoipment Center

This grant allows the Women’s Business Development Center to continue its ScaleUp and ScaleHigher programs in Aurora, supporting local small business owners in building and growing a successful business. It also allows the WBDC to implement new Digital Boot Camp, which builds small business owners’ knowledge, skills and confidence in using digital tools to optimize their business efforts.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

SciTech

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports SciTech’s work in creating and facilitating a Fox Valley STEM Alliance to help coordinate STEM/STEAM education programming by various nonprofit organizations throughout the Fox Valley area.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Sarah’s Smile of Illinois

This sponsorship grant from the Dunham Foundation provided support for Sarah’s Smile of Illinois’ Prom Part Duex! event.
  • 2024
  • Area: Economic Growth

Paramount Arts Centre

This grant from the Dunham Foundation allows the Paramount to engage a consultant to guide a comprehensive campaign planning project to build a holistic fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $31M to honor the 100th anniversary in 2031.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Oswegoland Park & Recreation Foundation

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provided sponsorship support for the Leon McNair Memorial Golf Classic.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Mutual Ground

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Mutual Ground as it continues to provide free and confidential services and advocacy to individuals affected by domestic and sexual violence.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Mount Carmel High School

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Mount Carmel High School’s Student Financial Assistance program, alleviating financial barriers for current and incoming students.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry’s operations at a temporary location, ensuring the Pantry is able to continue serving its clients during its renovation and expansion project.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Holy Angels Catholic School

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provided sponsorship support for Holy Angels Catholic School’s 2024 Seraphim Ball.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Fox Valley Park Foundation

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provided sponsorship support for Fox Valley Park Foundation’s 2023 Golf Outing.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Forefront

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports a continued partnership to offer nonprofits in the greater Aurora area professional development workshops.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Dominican Literacy Center

This grant was given to Dominican Literacy Center by the Dunham Foundation’s Board of Directors in honor of Sr. Kathleen Ryan’s 30 years of service to the Center.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Community Support Services

This grant provided sponsorship support for Community Support Services’ 40th Anniversary Circles of Support Celebration.
  • 2024
  • Area: Workforce Development

Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence – Batavia High School

This grant provided support for Batavia High School’s INCubator Program. The INCubator Program serves sophomores, juniors and seniors a real entrepreneurship experience with an opportunity to develop their own product or service.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Batavia Foundation for Educational Excellence – Batavia Fine Arts Centre

This grant supported the Batavia Fine Arts Centre’s 2023-2024 season.
  • 2024
  • Area: Education

Aurora University

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports the planning and implementation of Aurora University’s new Career Skills Infusion Program. As today’s work environment becomes more competitive for those entering the workforce, many employers are considering college graduates based on a competency-based hiring model. Research by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) identified core competencies students should possess to be considered by top employers: career and self-development, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, communication, equity and inclusion, professionalism, and technology. Aurora University’s Career Skills Infusion program will advance true career readiness options for the youth in our community to help prepare them for life beyond their college careers.
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry

This challenge grant from the Dunham Foundation provides sponsorship support for Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry’s 2024 Radiothon
  • 2024
  • Area: Community

Association for Individual Development

This grant from the Dunham Foundation provides sponsorship support for AID’s 2023 Benefit Auction.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Mutual Ground

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Mutual Ground’s contracting with the Illinois Facility Fund to conduct a feasibility study for Mutual Ground’s building expansion and strategic plan.

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Mutual Ground’s contracting with the Illinois Facility Fund to conduct a feasibility study for Mutual Ground’s building expansion and strategic plan.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Fox Valley Patriotic Organization

This grant provides supports fundraising efforts to build a Flag Day Monument in Batavia, IL. This monument, the first of its kind, honors Dr. Bernard Cigrand, a Batavian who had the vision to create a day to commemorate the adoption of the American Flag, and unfolds our nation’s history beginning in 1776 and continuing through today.

This grant provides supports fundraising efforts to build a Flag Day Monument in Batavia, IL. This monument, the first of its kind, honors Dr. Bernard Cigrand, a Batavian who had the vision to create a day to commemorate the adoption of the American Flag, and unfolds our nation’s history beginning in 1776 and continuing through today.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Community Foundation of the Fox River

This sponsorship supports CFFRV’s Lasting Legacy Gala, celebrating its 75th anniversary of serving the greater Fox Valley area.

This sponsorship supports CFFRV’s Lasting Legacy Gala, celebrating its 75th anniversary of serving the greater Fox Valley area.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Changing Children’s Worlds Foundation

This sponsorship supports Changing Children’s Worlds Foundation’s 10th Annual Stand Up for Kids spring fundraiser.

This sponsorship supports Changing Children’s Worlds Foundation’s 10th Annual Stand Up for Kids spring fundraiser.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Three Fires Council – Boy Scouts of America

This grant supports the Three Fires Council and its efforts to expand programming to include mental and behavioral health education and support for youth in the Aurora area.

This grant supports the Three Fires Council and its efforts to expand programming to include mental and behavioral health education and support for youth in the Aurora area.
  • 2023
  • Area: Economic Growth

The Neighbor Project

This grant supports The Neighbor Project’s financial counseling services for the Aurora Financial Empowerment Center, counseling individuals to help bring them and their families out of poverty.

This grant supports The Neighbor Project’s financial counseling services for the Aurora Financial Empowerment Center, counseling individuals to help bring them and their families out of poverty.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Wayside Cross Ministries

This grant supports Wayside Cross Ministries’ capital improvements at their Lifespring Center and programming at their Urban Youth Ministry (UYM). The UYM program provides tutoring and mentoring support to Aurora-area students during the school year and summer programming.

This grant supports Wayside Cross Ministries’ capital improvements at their Lifespring Center and programming at their Urban Youth Ministry (UYM). The UYM program provides tutoring and mentoring support to Aurora-area students during the school year and summer programming.
  • 2023
  • Area: Economic Growth, Education

Waubonsee Community College

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Waubonsee Community College’s Bridge to the Bi-Lingual Paraprofessional Program to help meet the immense need for bilingual professionals in the classroom.

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports Waubonsee Community College’s Bridge to the Bi-Lingual Paraprofessional Program to help meet the immense need for bilingual professionals in the classroom.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

TriCity Family Services

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports TriCity Family Services as they continue to providing vital counseling services to the growing number of those in need of mental health support in the greater Aurora area.

This grant from the Dunham Foundation supports TriCity Family Services as they continue to providing vital counseling services to the growing number of those in need of mental health support in the greater Aurora area.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

The Aurora Catholic Educational Foundation –

50th Anniversary of the Aurora Catholic Education Foundation

50th Anniversary of the Aurora Catholic Education Foundation
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Serenity House

This grant allows Serenity House to expand its teen mental health and wellness & substance use prevention ambassador project to schools throughout the Aurora area.

This grant allows Serenity House to expand its teen mental health and wellness & substance use prevention ambassador project to schools throughout the Aurora area.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Quad County Urban League

This grant will allow Quad County Urban League to provide support to over 150 participants who experience barriers to completing the program such as childcare, housing, and transportation needs.

This grant will allow Quad County Urban League to provide support to over 150 participants who experience barriers to completing the program such as childcare, housing, and transportation needs.
  • 2022
  • Area: Community

Pigment International

This grant provides sponsorship support for Pigment International Foundation’s Black Fine Art Month Salon Talk.

This grant provides sponsorship support for Pigment International Foundation’s Black Fine Art Month Salon Talk.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Paramount Arts Centre

This grant supported Paramount Arts Centre’s 2023 Gala, featuring performances by Broadway Tony-winning performers Sutton Foster and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

This grant supported Paramount Arts Centre’s 2023 Gala, featuring performances by Broadway Tony-winning performers Sutton Foster and Brian Stokes Mitchell.
  • 2023
  • Area: Community

Northern Illinois Food Bank

This grant allowed Northern IL Food Bank to provide food, at no cost, to food pantries in the Dunham Foundation Service Area.

This grant allowed Northern IL Food Bank to provide food, at no cost, to food pantries in the Dunham Foundation Service Area.

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