CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
GRANTMAKING PHILOSOPHY AND GUIDELINES


Printer-friendly CFW Grantmaking Philosophy and Guidelines (PDF)

See also:

Grantmaking FAQ 

Calendar with Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Recent CFW Grantees

Table of Contents


About Chicago Foundation for Women
Our Grantmaking Priorities
Our Issue Areas
Applying for a Grant
     Applying for the General Fund, The Sophia Fund for Advocacy & Special Interest Funds
     Applying for the Strategic Response Fund
Ineligible Applications
How to Contact Us


About Chicago Foundation for Women

We Are Chicago Foundation for Women
We are a community of people who improve the lives of women and girls through grants, advocacy, leadership development, and public and grantee education. Since our founding in 1985, we have given more than 2,800 grants totaling over $17 million.

Chicago Foundation for Women advocates through its funding and leadership on behalf of women and girls and invests in emerging and established nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations throughout metropolitan Chicago which adhere to our mission and values. We support organizations within the six county metropolitan area: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties. Activities can be local, regional or in some instances statewide.

Mission
Chicago Foundation for Women is a grantmaking organization dedicated to increasing resources and opportunities for women and girls in the greater Chicago area. To support our philanthropy, the Foundation promotes increased investment in women and girls, raises awareness about their issues and potential, and develops them as leaders and philanthropists.

Vision
The Foundation envisions a community and world in which all women and girls have the opportunity to achieve their potential and live in safe, just and healthy communities.


Our Grantmaking Priorities

Chicago Foundation for Women awards grants to nonprofit organizations addressing three issue areas and their impact on women and girls:

Core Values
Chicago Foundation for Women values—in ourselves and every organization we support—these core principles:

  • Equality: We believe that equality is a universal human right, and we uphold respect and dignity as guiding principles in all our work.
  • Empowerment: We believe in the right of individuals to make choices and have control over their minds, bodies and spirits.
  • Diversity: We value the strength and wisdom that come from all voices and embrace the complexities of communities.
  • Collaboration: We affirm the transformative power of collective efforts and the importance of having women and girls engaged in issues that affect their lives.
  • Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and level of accountability.
      • Economic security
      • Freedom from violence
      • Access to health services and information

The Foundation funds programs in these three issue areas that focus on helping women and girls using a variety of social justice approaches, including but not limited to arts activism, direct services, education and training, community mobilization, grassroots organizing, policy and issue advocacy, and research.

We take varied approaches to our work: We support emerging and established organizations; foster leaders from diverse backgrounds; participate in social justice movements and networks; prioritize work with underserved communities; sponsor research and dialogue; and support innovations that improve women's and girls' lives. Our grantmaking reflects our core values by paying special attention to projects that are inclusive of lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LBTQ) people; accessible to women with disabilities; serve or work with women and girls regardless of their age, ethnicity, immigration status or income level; are supportive of a full range of reproductive choice; and are managed by diverse leaders reflective of the communities served.

We encourage applicants to address the intersections of our issue areas in their proposed work, as well as the comprehensive and complex identities of women and girls.

A Focus on Women and Girls
Chicago Foundation for Women is part of a global women's funding movement that is rooted in a commitment to social justice from the perspective of women and girls—their challenges and potential. We are dedicated to championing issues and solutions critical to the success of women and girls through communications, strategic partnerships, training and education, fundraising and grantmaking. For every issue on the public agenda—from health care to violence—there is a dimension specific to women. There are few societal problems that can be resolved without programs and strategies that specifically address the needs of women and children. When a woman is given an opportunity, an entire family and community can benefit. For this reason, Chicago Foundation for Women expects all grant applicants to demonstrate how their work intentionally benefits women and/or girls.


Our Issue Areas

Economic Security
We seek to expand economic security to all women and girls so that they can care for themselves and their families in all stages of life. Examples of program priorities are to:
  • Advance public policies to prevent and end poverty
  • Protect and support young women's and girls; educational inclusion and achievement
  • Preserve, support and improve public safety net programs including food stamps, childcare subsidies, affordable housing, transportation assistance, state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits, Medicaid and Medicare
  • Expand women's equal opportunity in employment, including work/life balance policies, pay equity and inclusion in traditionally male trades
  • Support job training, postsecondary education, and life skills necessary to secure and keep a job, earn a living wage and seek opportunities for advancement

Freedom from Violence
We are dedicated to expanding women's and girls' freedom from violence in all its forms, including family violence (including child and elder abuse), dating violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking, prostitution and trafficking. Examples of program priorities are to:
  • Increase public understanding of the issues with the intention of ending violence against women and girls,
  • Support survivors in underserved communities, including LBTQ, elder and immigrant women
  • Increase the coordination of services for survivors of violence
  • Involve men and boys in efforts to end violence against women
  • Address emerging media and technology that can be used to harm women and girls, including use of cyber bullying, stalking and sex trafficking
  • Improve the response of society's systems, including the courts, law enforcement, education, health care and other service providers

Access to Health Services and Information
We are committed to enhancing women's and girls' access to high-quality health services and information related to mental, physical, preventive and reproductive health. Examples of program priorities are to:
  • Solve systematic failures and close gaps that prevent low-income women and women of color from accessing health care
  • Advocate for reproductive justice
  • Expand responsible sexual health education programs
  • Address the wellness needs of an aging population of women and their families
  • Provide culturally competent health services and information to diverse populations

Applying for a Grant

Grant seekers may solicit funding from Chicago Foundation for Women through two primary grant cycles each fiscal year, the Fall and Spring Cycles, and we accept applications for project-specific and urgent funding throughout the year.

Grants range from $15,000 to $50,000 and are distributed from the General Fund, The Sophia Fund for Advocacy, and occasional other special interest fund opportunities. The Foundation reserves the right to identify which applications are eligible for each fund. One process is used to review all applications in the Foundation's primary grant cycles.

If organizations are seeking support for a short-term project or urgent funding, organizations can apply for the Strategic Response Fund, which accepts applications on a rolling basis throughout the year and awards grants up to $15,000.

Details on each fund and application instructions follow. Quickly find our application forms and grantmaking calendar on our Apply for a Grant page.

GENERAL FUND
These grants focus on our three key issue areas: economic security, freedom from violence and access to health services and information for women and girls, as detailed in the Issue Areas section above.

THE SOPHIA FUND FOR ADVOCACY
From 1983 to 1991, The Sophia Fund was an independent foundation. It made more than 400 grants totaling $1.8 million dollars to organizations addressing reproductive rights, violence against women and economic justice. In 1992, Sophia's founder transferred part of the fund's work to Chicago Foundation for Women to continue its support of advocacy and social policy efforts to encourage women to reach their full potential. The application process and issue areas are the same as the General Fund. The Sophia Fund for Advocacy grant cycle takes place in the spring.

FY2011 SPECIAL INTEREST FUNDS
The following special interest funds are open in the 2011 Fiscal Year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). Availability of grants from these funds is subject to change. Note: One process is used to review all applications in the Foundation's primary grant cycles.

Catalyst Fund: Resources for Women of Color in Reproductive Justice (Fall 2010): For a third year, Chicago Foundation for Women will be raising dollars to match funds provided by the Groundswell Fund's core program, the Catalyst Fund, a national initiative to bring new funding to women of color-led reproductive justice work. Through this partnership, the Foundation will be able to provide funds for grants and technical assistance to Chicago-area reproductive justice projects led by women of color. This fund will amplify efforts to expand the reproductive justice platform and diversify voices of communities of color on these issues. For more information and application instructions, read our Fall 2010 Catalyst Fund Request for Proposals (PDF).

Irene Bayrach Anti-Violence Legacy Fund (Spring 2011): The Irene Bayrach Anti-Violence Legacy Fund supports advocacy and services to address family violence. Through this Fund, the Foundation seeks to address the following types of violence:
  • Domestic abuse or violence between partners in an intimate relationship including physical, emotional and sexual abuse
  • Girls' exposure to family violence and child abuse, including physical maltreatment and neglect by a parent or other caregiver
  • Elder women abuse (including physical maltreatment, financial exploitation and neglect) where the victim of maltreatment is over 60 years of age and the perpetrator is a caregiver
To address violence, the Irene Bayrach Anti-Violence Legacy Fund's priorities are to:
  • Advance comprehensive violence prevention strategies and policies
  • Improve the response to family violence by community systems including the courts, law enforcement and service providers
  • Increase public understanding of family violence
  • Increase the coordination of services for victims and survivors
  • Support best practices and innovative approaches to serving victims and survivors
The application process for the Irene Bayrach Anti-Violence Legacy Fund is identical to the General Fund application process.

STRATEGIC RESPONSE FUND
This fund allows the Foundation to provide immediate support for projects that aren't a fit or cannot wait for the Foundation's primary grant cycles. Grants of up to $15,000 are awarded on a rolling basis to local organizations addressing critical issues and concerns of women and girls. Grant requests are reviewed and evaluated monthly. Eligible projects are local to the Chicago area, statewide in Illinois and/or national. The organization itself, however, must be based in Illinois. Please note that requests for ongoing support of existing programs or general operating costs are ineligible. This fund is competitive as resources are limited to $50,000 annually. (Note: This replaces the Executive Director Discretionary Fund.) Examples of program priorities are to:
  • Support the enhancement of staff skills and knowledge within women-led grassroots nonprofit organizations
  • Strengthen the nonprofit and philanthropic communities in their recognition and inclusion of women's and girls' issues
  • Support new ideas that will challenge the status quo in addressing the needs of underserved and marginalized populations
  • Support local organizations' special events and conferences
  • Support forums that use arts and media to promote social justice for women and girls

Application Process for the General Fund, The Sophia Fund
for Advocacy and Other Special Interest Funds

The application process is administered in two steps. Deadlines and dates of interest for the Fall and Spring grant cycles are listed on our Apply for a Grant webpage.

Step One
Applicants must submit five collated sets of the following materials, paper-clipped and in this order:
  1. Grant Application Form (Word document)—includes space to describe the proposed project. If applying for Catalyst Fund, see Catalyst Fund RFP for additional required materials.
  2. One copy of the organization's most recent 501(c)(3) certification, or that of its fiscal agent with a letter of approval from the fiscal agent
  3. Program budget, if applicable
  4. List of other sources of support, if applicable
  5. Two copies of most recent organization audit or filed 990
    6.
The materials must be delivered in hard copy, either by mail or in person, by no later than 5 p.m. on the due date to: 
     Associate Program Officer
     Chicago Foundation for Women
     1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1620
     Chicago, IL 60601

Step Two
Within four weeks, staff will inform grant applicants if they are invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals are accepted by invitation only. Organizations must submit five collated sets of the following materials, paper-clipped and in this order:
  1. Proposal narrative (limit five pages)
  2. Updated project/program budget (or organizational budget, if applying for general operating support)
  3. Organization's current operating budget with year-to-date actuals
  4. List of other funding sources for the proposed project (or organization, if applying for general operating support)
  5. List of previous year's funding sources for the proposed project (or organization, if applying for general operating support)
  6. Organizational chart
  7. Most recent staff and board lists
  8. One copy of the Site Visit Availability Form (included in the invitation for a full proposal)
  9. Optional: Supplemental materials that directly support the request, which may include newsletters, annual reports, media clippings, etc.
    10.
Proposal Review Process
Full proposal submissions will be reviewed by Chicago Foundation for Women’s volunteer-driven Grantmaking Committee which includes board members, Foundation staff and knowledgeable members of the community. A site visit may be requested with a Foundation team composed of Grantmaking Committee members. The Board of Directors will review and vote on the recommendations during its December meeting for the Fall Cycle and its June meeting for the Spring Cycle. Organizations will be informed of the outcome within five business days of the meeting.


Application Process for the Strategic Response Fund

The application process for this funds is administered in one step. 

Applicants must submit three collated sets of the following materials, paper-clipped and in this order:
  1. Grant Application Form (Word document)—includes space to describe the proposed project
  2. One copy of the organization's most recent 501(c)(3) certification, or that of its fiscal agent with a letter of approval from the fiscal agent
  3. Two copies of most recent organization audit or filed 990
    4.
Mail the above materials to:
     Associate Program Officer
     Chicago Foundation for Women
     1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1620
     Chicago, IL 60601

Within four weeks, staff will inform applicants whether they will be awarded a grant.


Ineligible Applications

Ineligible organizations include:
  • federal, state, county, or city government agencies;
  • religious organizations seeking support for projects of a religious purpose;
  • public or private schools; and
  • individuals not affiliated with an organization with 501(c)(3) status.
    •
Ineligible requests include:
  • for-profit business ventures;
  • endowment campaigns;
  • capital expenses;
  • capital campaigns;
  • individuals;
  • individual daycare center operations; and
  • special events or conferences (except as stated under the Strategic Response Fund).
    •

How to Contact Us

Chicago Foundation for Women welcomes questions from applicants at any point before, during and after the application process. Please contact us at grants@cfw.org or call 312.577.2801 and ask for a member of the programs department.

This page last updated 8/6/10
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