Grants Overview
What We Fund
Chicago Foundation for Women funds organizations and programs across four key impact areas: expanding economic security and mobility, advancing freedom from violence, improving access to health and wellness, and advancing reproductive justice. Through this work, we aim to strengthen grassroots leadership, address the root causes of inequity, and create lasting change that ensures women, girls, and gender-expansive people can thrive in safe, just, and healthy communities.
Our Impact Areas
Expanding Economic
Security and Mobility
We seek to expand economic security so all women, girls, and gender-expansive people can care for themselves and their families in all stages of life.
Advancing
Reproductive Justice
We champion reproductive freedom and fund local efforts that protect care, expand access, and defend the right to make decisions about one’s body.
Advancing Freedom from Violence
We work to ensure women, girls, and gender-expansive people are free from violence, including abuse, assault, harassment, trafficking, and more.
Improving Access to Health and Wellness
We work to expand access to quality mental, physical, preventive, and reproductive health services for women, girls, and gender-expansive people.
CFW’s Fall Primary Cycle
Economic security and mobility, access to quality and comprehensive healthcare, freedom from gender-based violence, and reproductive justice are CFW’s four impact areas. We view these impact areas as inherently interconnected and requiring a holistic approach; our work is also situated within broader systemic issues of gender, race, and economic inequities. We will be accepting applications across all four of CFW’s impact areas and encourage applicants to talk holistically about their work.
To view the application guidelines, click here.
To RSVP for an optional applicant orientation in August, click here.
To access Foundant, CFW’s grantmaking platform, click here.
Applications from new applicants and current grantees will be accepted through September 16, 2026.