The DuPage Community Foundation is extremely proud of its beginnings over 25 years ago.  In 1986, Brooks McCormick, Mary Eleanor Wall and Jerry Bradshaw became the founding members of The DuPage Community Foundation.  They were joined by Elizabeth Eben, Jody Ellyne, J.R. Horton, Carlton Nadelhoffer, Hartman Stime and Charlie Thurston on The DuPage Community Foundation's very first Advisory Committee.

At that time, McCormick sat on the Executive Committee of The Chicago Community Trust (CCT) and saw the value of having a charitable fund designated to the booming area west of Chicago, DuPage County.  Originally a donor-advised fund at CCT, The DuPage Community Foundation grew rapidly and fully separated from CCT in July 1994.

The DuPage Community Foundation was established to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships.  Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of DuPage County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, and, health and human services.  Since its inception the Foundation has built its endowment to more than $42 million and awarded more than $13 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of DuPage County and beyond.

Over the last 26 years, the vision of those founding members has been carried on by donors, not-for-profit organizations, the DCF Board, Committee and staff members to benefit the residents of DuPage County.  Regardless of changing times, The DuPage Community Foundation is the go-to resource in DuPage County through which charitably-minded people can give towards a better future.