The DeKalb County Community Foundation is proud to announce its partnership with Compeer Financial in the Rural Collaboration Project, an initiative aimed at bolstering rural vitality across the Midwest, with a focus on economic development in our rural communities.

In a significant step toward enhancing rural communities, the DeKalb County Community Foundation was selected as one of seven community foundations across the upper Midwest to participate in this pioneering initiative, receiving a grant of $50,000 from the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America donor-advised fund, the Agriculture and Rural Initiative.

A portion of this grant is dedicated to expanding the Habitat for Humanity DeKalb County’s new Home Preservation Program. The Home Preservation Program is currently underway in DeKalb Township. A grant of $25,000 received through Compeer Financials’ Rural Collaboration Project will expand this program to rural communities in DeKalb County. The Home Preservation Program is designed to provide affordable home repairs to preserve homeownership for low-income residents while alleviating critical health and safety concerns. Qualified homeowners can find help with a variety of interior and exterior repairs including minor repairs, critical repairs, accessibility modifications, and mobile home repairs.

“Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2023,” said Executive Director Kim McIver. “What a beautiful way to announce our growth and commitment to DeKalb County thorough the ability to help more residents realize their vision of a safe and stable place to call their own.”

In addition, the remaining $25,000 was granted to support economic development implementation projects in the Village of Malta ($12,500) and the Village of Kirkland ($12,500). These communities were selected to enhance their long-term community investment vision demonstrated by establishing community endowment Funds at the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

“We are honored to partner with Compeer Financial’s Rural Collaboration Project by facilitating grants to Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County as well as the economic and community development efforts of the Villages of Malta and Kirkland. The Malta Community Endowment Fund and the Kirkland-Fairdale Community Endowment Fund, both established a number of years ago, demonstrate the particularly close working relationship of those communities with the Foundation’s Board in its grantmaking,” said Foundation Executive Director Dan Templin.

Compeer Financial, a Farm Credit cooperative, is committed to leading the way in pursuing a collaborative approach to rural vitality. Their vision centers around active, strong rural societies capable of supporting thriving economies.

Karen Schieler, senior corporate giving specialist at Compeer Financial, emphasized, “At Compeer Financial, we are all about boosting rural growth through teamwork. Our Rural Collaboration Project unites forces to fuel progress. From farming to community needs, entrepreneurship to education, we’re on board. Together, let’s make rural America thrive once again through important projects like this.”

In 2023, Compeer will work with seven community foundations across Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. These organizations include:

• Community Foundation of Southern Wisconsin, Janesville, WI
• DeKalb County Community Foundation, Sycamore, IL
• Eau Claire Community Foundation, Eau Claire, WI
• Fond du Lac Area Foundation, Fond du Lac, WI
• The Foundation for Northwest Illinois, Freeport, IL
• Galesburg Community Foundation, Galesburg, IL
• The Initiative Foundation, Little Falls, MN

About the Agriculture and Rural Initiative
The Agriculture and Rural Initiative was created by Compeer Financial’ s Board of Directors in 2019 to make signature investments in programs and projects that are high priorities to member-owners. To date, $10 million has been invested in the Initiative. To date, the Initiative has awarded $1.8 million to support communities during the pandemic and agriculture workforce development.

The Agriculture and Rural Initiative is managed by the Compeer Financial Fund for Rural America Board of Trustees, who oversee the organization’s corporate giving efforts. More information about Compeer’s corporate giving programs can be found at Compeer.com/giving-back.
About Compeer Financial
Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $32.3 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients and the agriculture industry.

Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial.

About the DeKalb County Community Foundation

Serving the community since 1993, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is a nonprofit foundation that enhances the quality of life in DeKalb County, IL, through endowments & donor services, stewardship, grantmaking, and community initiatives. The Community Foundation awards grants in the areas of arts & culture, community development, environment & animal welfare, education, health & human services, and nonprofit capacity building. Today, the Community Foundation includes over 446 Funds that collectively provide over $4 million in annual support for needs today and in the future.