ROCHELLE — The first meeting of the Board of Directors of the Rochelle Area Community Foundation took place Nov. 14, 2005, with Leonard Carmichael, Ray Schwartz, Therese Almquist, Paul Chadwick, Phil Hasz, Fred Rivera and Karen Simmons in attendance.

In the 20 years since, RACF has granted over $1.3 million back to the local community. It has established 33 endowed funds with one acorn fund. Major projects have included the RACF Disaster Preparedness Fund to help those impacted by the 2015 EF4 tornado that hit the rural Rochelle area, and a COVID-19 Relief Fund to help locals impacted by the 2020 pandemic.

RACF offers an opportunity for individuals, families and businesses to leave a legacy for future generations and is a public, charitable organization designed to attract gifts that will be shared with Rochelle-area nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the community. It supports the areas of Chana, Creston, Esmond, Kings, Lindenwood, Rochelle and Steward. 

RACF Executive Director Emily Anaya said the foundation’s donors are investing in long-term solutions, brighter futures, and in the heart of the heart of the community they call home.

"For 20 years, the Rochelle Area Community Foundation has been a beacon of hope, lighting the path toward a stronger, more vibrant community,” Anaya said. “Our donors' generosity — combined with the power of endowment — continues to create ripples of impact that last for generations. Two decades of philanthropy. Thousands of lives touched. One mission: to make lasting change in the place we love most. At RACF, we’re here to help donors turn their passion into permanent progress."

RACF will hold its annual Community Needs grant award event on Wednesday, April 30 at the Lincoln Arts Center at 108 S. Main St. from 4-7 p.m. The free event will be catered by Flight Deck Bar & Grill.

Last year, RACF granted nearly $140,000 back into the community, supporting 34 nonprofit partners. Anaya said 41 grant applications were submitted to the foundation for this year’s grant cycle, including applications by organizations RACF has not worked with before.

“Our reach is getting bigger and RACF is becoming more established and known in the community,” Anaya said. “In the foundation’s first year, ten $1,000 grants were distributed. Now the average single request for a grant is around $10,000. We're granting out around $100,000 every year. That's incredible.”

Past RACF grant recipients have included local libraries and schools, the Flagg Township Museum, HOPE of Ogle County, Vince Carney Community Theater, Floyd J. Tilton VFW Post 3878, Foundation for Focus House, Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Northern Illinois Food Bank and Shining Star Children's Advocacy Center.

RACF is now a standalone organization after previously being under the DeKalb County Community Foundation umbrella. Anaya was RACF’s first full-time director when she was hired four years ago and the foundation also has a part-time administrative assistant in Stephanie Messer.

The establishment of RACF was spearheaded by Carmichael, a local farmer, businessman, philanthropist and community leader. Anaya credited him for establishing the foundation’s long history of giving, along with past RACF Executive Directors Ann Rice and Kim Montgomery and past and current board members.

“My goal is to build this and be a $10 million foundation in assets in the next 10 years,” Anaya said. “The impact and growth and reach we could have with that would be game changing. We have great community support. I think Leonard would be proud. Once people know about what we do and how we work, they really get involved with us and it's neat to see.”

RACF works with donors of all levels, and Anaya thanked everyone who has given funds, time and expertise to RACF over its 20 years. Donors can dedicate their funds towards certain areas of interest that are most important to them.

Anaya and RACF’s donors have been able to see firsthand how the donated funds have been put to use in the community over the years.

“The work our funds do warms my heart,” Anaya said. “Especially when there's so much chaos going on in the world, you know the people right here in our community really want to do good and have an impact. And those people get to see the impact their funds make. They see kids in our community getting the things they need and scholarships. Every single day is gratifying. People donate with love and passion when they give to causes they want to support.”

RACF’s goal is to grow its funds and work with people who want to make a difference and create a legacy in the community through different avenues of giving. 

"RACF belongs to this community,” Anaya said. “For 20 years, we’ve connected generosity with need, dreams with resources, and people with purpose. Because when we work together, incredible things happen. Thanks to our donors, RACF has become the community’s partner in progress. Together, we’ve turned compassion into action, and action into real, measurable change."