Four organizations awarded Ready for the Future Grants
After reviewing many strong applications totaling nearly $6 million, the Dunham Foundation has selected four organizations to lead the innovative projects. Each lead organization plans to collaborate with multiple partners, with more than 16 organizations positively impacting over 3000 students in both East and West Aurora School Districts, demonstrating the initiative’s far-reaching influence. These selected organizations showed exceptional vision, capacity, and alignment with our goals, creating an expansive network of collaborations.
A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools
Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois
Wong Center for Education
Urban Youth Ministry, A program of Wayside Cross Ministries
The Dunham Foundation Board of Directors focused on applications supporting learning recovery and after-school enrichment programs with tutoring and academic support components. As a result, the Foundation has invested nearly $2 million in four lead organizations and their partners to implement their initiatives over the next 18 months.
This year’s RFP process was reinforced by our applicants’ collaborative spirit. Many proposals featured innovative partnerships between diverse organizations, combining strengths and expertise for greater impact. These cross-sector collaborations, involving academic institutions, nonprofits, and community groups, demonstrated resource pooling and knowledge sharing. The resulting synergy strengthened proposals and showcased the power of collective action in addressing complex educational challenges.
We appreciate the ingenuity in all submissions and eagerly anticipate these projects’ positive community impact!
How the Ready for the Future initiative supports the Dunham Foundation’s Broader Education Funding Priorities
In 2022, the Dunham Foundation and the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley partnered with a national consulting firm to take a systematic approach to better understand the needs of the communities they serve.
It was determined that a comprehensive Community Needs Assessment would best achieve these goals. Following the release of the assessment results in 2023, both Foundations continue to use the findings to advance their respective grantmaking priorities through various initiatives.
At the Dunham Foundation, we know that if we invest in high-quality support systems for children, they will have the necessary foundation to succeed in school and in life.
The pandemic disrupted students’ learning nationwide, including youth in the Dunham Foundation Service Area and Aurora.
The Dunham Foundation has taken steps to invest in opportunities that address learning loss and recovery. We engaged two consultants – one national and one local – to conduct interviews with key nonprofits and community stakeholders. These interviews aimed to understand current efforts, needs, and gaps in services for youth and families in our communities. The insights gained have informed our staff and board as we review projects and consider investments that align with the Foundation’s educational program priorities.
As a result of these efforts, the Dunham Foundation Board of Directors expressed interest in supporting tutoring and out-of-school time academic support. In 2023, they supported a pilot program offering one-on-one and small group tutoring during a semester of the 2023-24 school year. The program aimed to enhance student learning outcomes through personalized academic assistance. Simultaneously, a Dunham Foundation representative began serving on the City of Aurora’s Education Commission to gain insight into current educational initiatives and offer perceptions from a funder’s viewpoint.
These steps gave the Foundation valuable information and experience, laying the groundwork for the “Ready for the Future” RFP. Implementing this RFP process aligns seamlessly with and builds upon the ongoing initiatives the Dunham Foundation has actively supported, ensuring continuity and enhancement of our community impact efforts.
