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FUND HIGHLIGHT:

Sally Stevens Community Endowment Fund

 Local NIU Supporter Also Invests in DeKalb County’s Quality of Life

Sally Stevens is a Huskie through and through! Having worked for Northern Illinois University as Secretary to the President from 1964-1996, NIU students have a special place in her heart. She invested early on in the successful futures of NIU students by creating a scholarship fund to benefit university students. Sally is also part of the Cornerstone Society at NIU. 

As a childhood playmate of Mary Roberts, Sally had a great deal of affection and respect for the Roberts family. She watched with interest as the Community Foundation was created by them and started providing grants throughout DeKalb County in a variety of interest areas. Sally knew the importance of a connection between a strong University and a strong Community. 

In 2004, Sally took a bold step to ensure that DeKalb County’s quality of life would continue to be enhanced by taking out an insurance policy for $1 million to benefit the Community Foundation. The annual premium is tax deductible! The Sally Stevens Community Fund will be an unrestricted fund, in which the annual payout will be used by the Foundation Board to meet on-going needs in the areas of arts and culture, education, community development, and health and human services. 

The trust and familiarity of the board members of the foundation helped make it an easy decision, knowing that they will be good stewards of her gift.  In addition to NIU, Sally supports athletics, performing arts (especially music and theatre), and education throughout DeKalb County. Unrestricted endowment funds are the best vehicle for broad-based community philanthropy. 

The power of endowment is that these funds grow through investment while distributing a portion of their value in grants every year. They meet today’s needs and help sustain the quality of life in our

community’s future. Sally’s gift of a $1 million endowment fund will distribute approximately $50,000 in grants every year. Assuming certain financial conditions, in 25 years that $1 million gift will have a market value of $2,033,000, distribute annual grants of $94,000, and will have granted a total of $1,458,371! 

The Community Foundation is grateful to Sally for her foresight and generosity. Her fund will continue in perpetuity, in Sally’s name, to benefit future generations of DeKalb County residents, including many Huskies!

GIVING AND FUNDS
We are here to serve donors in achieving their philanthropic objectives. Your contributions are used to build a lasting source of revenue, through grants and scholarships, that benefit the residents of DeKalb County. Whatever the area of interest or concern, you can make a real and lasting difference in the daily life of your community through your community foundation.

SERVICE TO DONORS
The DeKalb County Community Foundation offers simplicity, efficiency, expertise, flexibility, community impact, accountability, anonymity if desired, permanence and maximum tax benefits to each donor who contributes to the Foundation. The minimum amount necessary to establish a named endowment is $10,000, but the Foundation encourages gifts of any size that will benefit the community. If you are interested in giving to the Foundation, please feel free to contact us.

ENDOWMENT FUND CALCULATOR

The Power of Endowment!  Endowment Funds at the DCCF are charitable funds that exist in perpetuity and are a great vehicle for donors to leave their legacy and support the causes and organizations of their choice.  Over time investment performance grows the fund while distributions are made that make a real difference to our quality of life.  To see an example of the power of endowment...click here

FUND OPPORTUNITIES

UNDESIGNATED
Income is distributed at the discretion of the Foundation's board, ensuring that the gift will always address current issues. Your gift provides the Foundation with the maximum flexibility in meeting today's needs and the challenges of tomorrow.

FIELD OF INTEREST
Income from these funds is used to meet a general criteria established by you, the donor, with the final selection of the nonprofit organization left to the discretion of the Foundation's Board of Directors.

DONOR DESIGNATED
Income from these funds is provided to organizations named by you, the donor.

DONOR ADVISED
Income from advised funds is granted to organizations recommended annually by you, the donor, and approved by the Foundation. Grants from Donor-advised funds can not be made to individuals, donors, advisors or related parties under provisions of the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

SCHOLARSHIPS
Income from these funds will be used to support scholarships as designated by you, the donor.

PASS-THROUGH
This fund can be used by organizations that have specific projects in mind, but do not necessarily want an endowment. The Community Foundation allows contributors tax deductibility and acts as a depository while the project progresses, with the principal eventually being expended for the purpose intended.

MEMORIAL AND RECOGNITION
Individuals, businesses and/or organizations wishing to remember or honor family or friends may do so through a memorial or recognition contribution. These gifts provide a commendation of the person, as well as contribute to a lasting legacy.

OTHER
The Foundation prides itself on its flexibility in meeting the needs and interest of each donor. We will work with you and/or your financial advisor to create a fund with the terms and conditions designed to carry out your philanthropic intent.