South Side Giving Circle

“All that you touch you change. All that you change changes you. The only lasting truth is change.”
– Octavia E. Butler, Parable of the Sower

The South Side Giving Circle (SSGC) of Chicago Foundation for Women mobilizes philanthropic resources of women primarily on Chicago’s South Side and in the South Suburbs to invest in the economic, social and political power of Black women and girls in metropolitan Chicago.

We are a fierce group of women paving a path of investment into Women-of-Color-led community initiatives and have awarded close to $210,000 to organizations on the South Side since 2018. We also recognize Black women who are inspiring change through their leadership with leadership awards.

Members engage in various ways. Some members simply invest financially while others attend meetings, site visits, and actively engage with grantees through service and support. All members can nominate potential grantees, however only members who attend the spring grantmaking training and the November decision meeting can participate in the final vote. Networking opportunities also exist through social events planned by SSGC and other CFW events throughout the year.

2023 – 2024 Co-Chairs
Alicia Bailey, Stephanie Gates, Ariel Thomas Sansing, and Tracy Weems