Western Suburbs Giving Circle

Who We Are

The Western Suburbs Giving Circle (“WSGC”) of Chicago Foundation for Women (“CFW”) consists of members who combine our funds to leverage the power of collective gifts to nonprofits primarily residing in Chicago’s Western Suburbs which invest in the economic, social, and political power of women and girls in those communities of metropolitan ChicagoWSGC closely adheres to CFW’s guiding principles of gender and racial equityOur purpose, aligned with CFW, is to distribute annual grants which predominantly benefit women and girls while simultaneously increasing investment in women’s health and reproductive justice, economic well-being, and safety from violenceOur reference to “women and girls” includes all persons who choose to present themselves as female as well as individuals who identify as trans and gender non-binary.   

Since our first grantmaking cycle in 2016, we’ve grown our membership and have invested over $280,000 in the health, safety, and economic security of women, girls, trans-, and gender non-binary individuals in the western suburbs.

2025 – 2026 Co-Chairs
Kendra Hyett and Julie Olafson

Who We Support

The Western Suburbs Giving Circle invests in organizations providing direct service and advocacy for women and girls in our community around the issues of economic security and freedom from violence.

In nine years, we have awarded over $280,000 to local organizations such as:

FY25 Grantees: $35,000 total awarded

FY24 Grantees:

FY23 Grantees:

How It Works

  • Members make an annual contribution that supports the circle’s collective grantmaking. Membership levels include both General and Junior Membership to meet members where they are. Both memberships are payable in installments. Junior Membership* is an annual gift of $500. General Membership is an annual gift of $1,000.
*Junior or Introductory membership is available for young professionals, nonprofit professionals, or new members on an as requested basis. Membership Scholarships are also available upon request.

  • All members participate in the Giving Circle grantmaking process, a cooperative effort to select the recipients of grants. Members choose their level of involvement, which can include identifying eligible organizations for funding, reviewing and discussing applications, participating in meetings and social events, conducting local site visits, and voting on grants each cycle.
  • The Giving Circle’s grantmaking year begins in the fall, but Members are welcome to join at any time throughout the year.
  • Meetings 6–8 times per year, occurring monthly during the grantmaking cycles (in-person and/or virtual), plus social events.
  • Grantmaking occurs in the fall and spring, with funding being awarded in June.

Membership Benefits

WSGC is a place for members to engage and be a part of a community of women that addresses needs and increases opportunities for women and girls in the communities in which they live and work. Help a woman, help a family. Help a girl, empower the next generation. Women invest back in their communities when they are lifted up.

WSGC offers the opportunity for hands-on, collaborative philanthropy:

  • Meet local leaders who work daily to improve women and girls’ lives.
  • Hear interesting speakers and visit innovative organizations in our area.
  • Learn how to be a philanthropic leader by becoming a Chicago Foundation for Women community member.
  • Be inspired to support women and girls that help uplift entire communities. Be a witness to lives changed for the better.

WSGC is a fund of Chicago Foundation for Women. CFW invests in women and girls as catalysts, building strong communities for all and funding organizations working to solve the biggest problems facing women and girls: economic insecurity, violence, and lack of access to health care and information. Since 1985, CFW has invested more than $45 million in hundreds of organizations, impacting over 226,000 women, girls, trans, and gender nonbinary individuals in our region and guiding thousands of women and girls into becoming philanthropists.

Contact

Interested in becoming a member? For more information, contact Vanessa Lee (Program Officer, Collective Giving) at vlee@cfw.org.