vision
A generous, vibrant, and sustainable community where a helping hand is always within reach.
Mission
To offer those with a philanthropic heart a simple way to make a positive difference in the community.
PURPOSE
Be a vehicle for philanthropy and empower community nonprofits through donor stewardship.
2026 ROCHELLE AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GRANT RECIPIENTS
$150,683 Granted to Local Nonprofit and Community Partners at the Granting Futures Community Celebration
2026 Grant Recipients
- Rochelle Elementary District #231 for their program, Giving Every Child a Voice, in the amount of $1,242, fully funded by the Steve Pfeiffer Memorial Endowment Fund.
- Rochelle Township High School Alumni Association for Alumni Scholarships in the amount of $5,000, funded through the Tobler Family Fund along with support from an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
- Foundation for Focus House for their Alternative to Suspension Program, in the amount of $5,500. This grant is made possible through the Berg-Burkholder Family Fund, along with support from the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Creston-Dement Public Library for their Plant a Seed and Read Summer Reading Program in the amount of $1,541, funded by the Berg-Burkholder Family Fund.
- St. Paul Lutheran School for Bringing Design Thinking to Life Through 3D Printing in the amount of $1,750, funded by the Danny and Stephanie Williams Fund For The Arts.
- Rochelle Elementary District #231 the Wiggle and Work Grant in the amount of $1,575, fully funded by the Ed and Ann Rice Giving Fund.
- Village of Progress for their Connect & Empower program in the amount of $2,600, funded through the Empowering the Community Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Rochelle Christian Food Pantry for Supplemental Proteins in the amount of $15,000, funded through the Jacobs Family Fund and an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
- Pegasus Special Riders, Inc. for an ADA-Compliant Accessibility Ramp in the amount of $6,251, funded through the Tom Hall Community Giving Fund, an Anonymous Donor Advised Fund, and the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Fund.
- The Rochelle Rescue Mission for Compassion, Comfort, and Safety in the amount of $10,000, funded through an Anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
- Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for Lincoln Manor Affordable Housing in the amount of $2,500, funded through the H.P. “Jim” Walker Memorial Endowment Fund.
- Shining Star for Safe Spaces for Healing for their Facility Security Enhancement Project in the amount of $10,431, funded through the John Bearrows Family Endowment and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- 4C – Community Coordinated Child Care for Family Fun Fest and Laundromat Reading Kits in the amount of $900, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
- Stepping Stones, Rochelle Elementary District #231, for Preschool Age Board Games for Social and Emotional Development in the amount of $105, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
- Tilton School District 231 for their Dual Language Immersion Program at Tilton School in the amount of $451, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
- Hub City Senior Center for Celebrating Life, Promoting Wellness in the amount of $2,500, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Rochelle Elementary District for the HUB Project: Play-Based Learning at Lincoln School in the amount of $3,375, funded through the Hintzsche-Hinkston Class Support Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Hope of Ogle County for Emergency Food and Transportation in the amount of $8,000 which was funded by the Disaster Prepared Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Chana Education Center for Moving In the Classroom in the amount of $1,826 which was funded by the Inspire Learning Fund and the Kay and Jim Beardin Community Endowment Fund.
- Rochelle Community Action Network (CAN) for CAN Annual Christmas Shopping Trip in the amount of $11,000 which was funded by the Jeffry W. Cole Memorial Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Northern Illinois Food Bank for Mobile Market in Ogle County in the amount of $10,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund and the Rochelle Foods Hunger Challenge Fund.
- Flagg-Rochelle Public Library for Growing Wiser Adults, One Library Program At A Time in the amount of $4,449 which was funded by the Plant the Seed Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery for Rochelle Recovery Support Services and Center in the amount of $5,000 which was funded by the Human Service Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Kings Consolidated School District 144 for Kings School Physical Education Equipment in the amount of $2,161 which was funded by the Kay and Jim Beardin Community Endowment Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Flagg Township Museum for Market the Museum, A Plan! in the amount of $2,077 which was funded by the Arts Enrichment Fund, the Community Advancement Fund, and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Camp Cedar Illinois for Camp Cedar in the amount of $2,500.00 which was funded by the Youth In Philanthropy Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Serenity Hospice and Home for Massage Therapy for Terminally Ill Patients in the amount of $3,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Stepping Stones Preschool- for Cubbies for Preschool in the amount of $5,500 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
- St. Paul Lutheran School for Play-Based Learning Playground in the amount of $5,890 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund in support of the new basketball court.
- Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Inc. for Habitat Housing Solutions in the amount of $5,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival for Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in the amount of $3,051 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
- Rochelle Police Department in the amount of $735 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
- Rochelle Fire Department in the amount of $735 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
- Todd Ackland Legacy Fund in the amount of $865.
- Livingston Bible Church Scholarship Fund in the amount of 5,143.
- Hub City Senior Center in the amount of $1,348.
- Rochelle United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in the amount of $1,611.
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Rochelle Area Community Foundation
350 May Mart Drive Rochelle, Illinois 61068, United States
director@rochellefoundation.org » Phone: 815-561-3600 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 74 Rochelle, IL 61068
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