At the community foundation, we are honored to work with many families across multiple generations. Quite frequently, parents and grandparents share with us their hopes of passing along to the next generation more than just financial assets. They want to pass along values, encourage generosity, and foster a lifelong commitment to community. In many of these conversations, parents and grandparents ask how they can get teens involved. "The teenage years can be tricky," they tel

At the community foundation, we work with a wide range of donors who want to support their favorite charities and causes they care about. Sometimes we meet with individuals and families who have already begun their charitable giving journey by establishing a donor-advised fund at a national charitable sponsor or commercial provider. Over time, many donors discover that they want something more. They want to learn about local needs, connect with nonprofits making a difference

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AWARDS $10,000 YOUTH FUND GRANTS The Community Foundation announced four grants to organizations from the Jo Daviess County Youth Fund. The grants awarded this year went to the Galena Area Emergency Management Services District (GAEMSD), Mindful Minutes, and the Galena Art & Recreation Center, totaling $10,000 “This year, we had more applications for this grant cycle than any previous grant cycle. We’re proud to fund what we can and hope that people i

Your community foundation (Jo Daviess County) helps bring your charitable goals to life. Updates from the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess Hello from the community foundation! We’re halfway through 2026 already! For many people, summer offers a welcome opportunity to slow down, spend time with family, and reflect on what matters most. The community foundation is happy to share ideas to help you strengthen your charitable giving to make an even bigger difference—and make it

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION & CTE ACADEMY ANNOUNCE $2.25 MILLION GRANT A project to expand the CTE Academy’s childcare program in Elizabeth has received a $2.25 million grant. The grant will go to the CTE Academy’s fund at the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County. The grant supports a long-standing partnership between the CTE Academy and the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County to increase access to vocational and technical training and increase childcare access in Jo Davi

We presented this BIG CHECK to the Jo Daviess County Farm Bureau to help farms impacted by the recent tornado in Jo Daviess County. Photo Credit: Eric Dregne YOUR COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S IMPACT IS GROWING! A few days ago, we shared this message with our Board of Directors. We thought it would be fun to celebrate with you, too! Here's the message I hope you are all having a great morning. I just wanted to share a bit about my morning. It started with the email below from Elisah

In March 2026, a group of stakeholders, including childcare providers, schools, resource agencies, and representatives from the County, gathered to share ideas about childcare access & availability in Jo Daviess County. 1. Identified Gaps & Opportunities Stakeholders highlighted several critical areas where current childcare services are failing to meet the community's needs: Age-Specific Care: There is a specific shortage of care for the 0–3 age group and school-age children

Even in an era when term life insurance policies may appear to dominate, many people still hold whole life, variable life, or universal life insurance policies. In many cases, when the original need for a policy goes away (e.g., children become independent or other assets have increased to fill risk gaps), a policyholder may be left wondering what to do with the policy. Before cashing in a policy, it’s worth knowing that life insurance can play a meaningful and often overlook

Many people approach a new year with a genuine desire to be more intentional about their charitable giving. They know they want to make a difference, align their generosity with their values, and perhaps even involve their families—but they are often unsure where to begin. The combination of busy lives, changing tax laws, and an ever-growing number of worthy causes can make getting started feel overwhelming. The good news is that taking a few simple, thoughtful actions at the

Keeping you (& your tax advisors) in the loop is what we do! At the community foundation, we are honored to serve as your home for charitable giving. Whether you support a wide range of charitable organizations in our community and across the country, focus your giving on a few favorite local causes, collaborate with the community foundation to invest in our region’s greatest needs, or all of the above, we are here for you! A new year presents an excellent opportunity to chec

The Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County is pleased to announce that we have recently received accreditation with Community Foundations National Standards®. This accreditation, signified by the Seal shown here, indicates that the Community Foundation meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence. “This is a significant accomplishment,” said Tom Heidenreich, board chair. “When people trust the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County with a charitable bequest

Individuals who have reached 70 1/2 and are making charitable contributions in 2025 should take advantage of qualified charitable deductions (QCDs). To use the QCD option, you have to inform your custodian to withdraw your contribution from your IRA account and send the contribution directly to the qualified charity you have identified. If you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs), you should make any QCDs first. This is a way to reduce your taxes, as the amount you

OK, Jo Daviess County Nonprofits!! We know you've been thinking about something cool . Something that can make a BIG impact on the...

Thanks to a grant from the CTE Academy Foundation Fund, held at the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County, students at the CTE...

How a Donor-Advised Fund Helped Emily and Gregg Painter Give Back written by Emily Painter When we moved to Galena in 1972, we instantly...

The Community Foundation announced four grants to organizations from the Jo Daviess County Youth Fund. The grants awarded this year went...

An update from the Community Foundation of Jo Daviess County July 7, 2025 The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law by...

Today, we're celebrating the success of one of the Community Foundation's agency funds - JDLF Collective began operations in their new...

You've likely heard about the work the Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation (JDCF) does to preserve prairies, woodlands, and waterways. The...

A couple of years ago, our Youth Fund Grants helped to support a new greenhouse at the High School in Stockton. Today, seedlings like...