The Next 40 Starts Now
Our legacy is action. Our future is power.
Chicago Foundation for Women has spent 40 years investing in the leadership and ideas that help communities thrive. Now, at a moment of growing needs and shrinking resources, grassroots organizations are carrying more than ever.
The fight for gender equity is urgent and ongoing.
We have the foundation. We have the momentum.
The future is ours to build. Join us.
What does it take to build power that lasts beyond a moment?
Not quick bursts of attention or one-time urgency.
We build lasting power through consistency, community, and care.
Across Chicago, grassroots organizations are supporting safety, health, economic stability, and dignity, often with limited and unpredictable funding. When giving comes in waves, progress rises and falls with it.
The 4 for 40 Challenge is our invitation to change that.
Give monthly. Make a one-time stretch gift. Or pledge your support over four years. Each pathway helps build steady strength for the gender equity movement.
Organizations serving women and girls receive only two cents of every charitable dollar, even though the needs they meet are constant. Sustained giving creates stability. Stability builds power. Power shapes the future.
Your monthly gift, whether $40 or $40,000, helps movements endure, not just respond.
Our Impact: Building Power Where It’s Needed Most
Our grantmaking builds power at the local level.
We support organizations and leaders who understand their communities and shape the future from the ground up. Gender equity is interconnected work.
CFW fuels it by supporting organizations advancing health, safety, economic opportunity, and reproductive justice across Chicago. This year, we invested over $3 million in 150 community-led groups.
When women, girls, and gender-expansive people have the resources they need, entire communities thrive.
$3,075,590
Granted in FY25
150
Organizations Served
215
Grants Distributed in FY25
How You Can Support CFW Right Now
Thanks to an anonymous partner, every dollar received between now and January 31 will be matched, up to $100,000! Double your impact today. Your generosity fuels movements that create safety, opportunity, and power for women, girls, and gender-expansive people across Chicago. There are many ways to give, and you can choose the option that works best for you.
New tax changes may influence when it’s most beneficial to give. Consult your financial advisor to determine what’s best for you.
Send Your Gift
by Mail
Please make checks payable to Chicago Foundation for Women and mail to:
Chicago Foundation for Women
140 S. Dearborn St. Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60603-5202
Make Your Gift
Online
Make a fast, secure online gift to power the next era of gender equity in Chicago.
Give today to help build what comes next.
Donor-Advised Fund or IRA/QCD
Prefer to give through your DAF or make a qualified charitable distribution from your IRA?
We are happy to help you complete your gift.
Give Stock or Securities
Donating stock is a powerful way to support CFW while maximizing your tax benefits. To ensure we can identify and acknowledge your gift, please contact us before sending any stock or securities.
The Next Era Begins With Us
Progress is not promised. It is built. When you give today, you help create the foundation for a more equitable future and ensure that our work continues for generations.