Three Wheaton-area organizations landed grants as the DuPage Foundation distributed more than $700,000 to 52 nonprofits across the county through its summer and fall grant programs.
The Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College and the Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale each received Arts DuPage Sustain Grants, according to the Foundation's fall 2026 newsletter. The Wheaton Warrenville Early Childhood Collective, known as WWECC, received a Bright & Early DuPage grant focused on kindergarten readiness. Individual grant amounts for the three organizations were not published.
Wheaton Bank & Trust also played a role on the funding side. The bank was among six inaugural members of the Foundation's Community Impact Circle, which helped fund the Capacity Building grant program, according to a Foundation blog post.
Three grant programs, one cycle
The $700,000-plus total spans three programs. Arts DuPage awarded $244,295 to 34 organizations. Bright & Early DuPage distributed $340,500 among seven early childhood collaboratives. Capacity Building grants totaled $117,806 across 11 nonprofits, according to the newsletter. The Foundation's blog post described the Capacity Building total as "more than $115,000."
The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale was one of four Arts DuPage recipients whose grants were partially funded through the Illinois Arts Council's Regional Arts Partners program. Arts DuPage received $27,000 in regranting money through that initiative, which supports arts programming for underserved populations.
The chorale is a repeat recipient. It received $4,472 in the Foundation's fall 2025 grant cycle.
Arts DuPage marks 10 years
The grants coincide with the 10th anniversary of Arts DuPage, the Foundation's countywide arts initiative. A new economic impact study commissioned by Arts DuPage found that DuPage County's creative economy generates $8 billion in total economic activity and supports 38,208 jobs, according to the Foundation. The study was based on 2023 data and funded by the Collins Family Fund of DuPage Foundation.
Since launching in 2016, Arts DuPage has supported nearly 350 arts organizations and more than 200 individual artists across the county.
Barb Szczepaniak, the Foundation's vice president for programs, said in a statement reported by Patch that the Bright & Early program helps "communities expand access and create opportunities for families to thrive."
Mike Sitrick, the Foundation's president and CEO, wrote in the fall newsletter that the grant awards reflect four decades of community investment. The Foundation is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
The Foundation also announced a board leadership change. Roger McDougal has stepped in as board chair, succeeding Bill Blum, who completed a two-year term. Joan Vilim is the new vice chair.
