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Illinois · Public charity

Chicago Foundation for Women

For forty years, cfw has been the only organization in the region to take a comprehensive approach to understand and address the challenges and needs women and girls face through every stage of their lives with a focus on it's four impact areas. Cfw works with a community of socially-minded investors who share our passion for improving…

$2.8M
Granted FY2024(still arriving)
184
Grants FY2024
139
Organizations funded FY2023
17%
First-time grantees FY2023
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2024
$12,000
Largest grant, FY2024
$82,500
Organizations funded a year
108 to 166
FY2018 to FY2023
States reached, FY2024
6
Total assets, FY2024
$26M

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2023, 17% of the organizations Chicago Foundation for Women funded were first-time grantees, receiving 11% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2023, 89% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $358k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21’22’23
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’19’20’21’22’23
Human ServicesHealthCivil RightsArts & CultureCrime & LegalYouth DevelopmentOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.
The numbers by year
Fiscal yearOrganizations fundedTo those organizationsFirst-time grantees
FY2024still arriving147$2.8M18%
FY2023139$3.4M17%
FY2022128$3.2M20%
FY2021166$3.2M37%
FY2020108$2.3M15%
FY2019116$2.8M28%
FY2018110$2.6Mn/a
100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2018 to 2024.

Human Services$4.7MEmployment$3.1MHealth$2.8MCivil Rights$2.0MHousing & Shelter$1.6MYouth Development$1.5MCrime & Legal$1.4MCommunity Improvement$1.2MOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

IL
MI
NY
IN
PA
CA
MD
TN
DC
AL

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2018 to FY2024, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 287 grantees
All grantees of Chicago Foundation for Women by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Jane Addams Resource Corporation$646,00093%
Chicago Women in Trades$588,50095%
All Chicago Making Homelessness History$565,00081%
Family Rescue Inc$361,50092%
Teamwork Englewood Inc$358,50091%
Equal Hope$350,12595%
Heartland Human Care Services Inc$340,00080%
Ladies of Virtue$330,075913%
Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health Inc$314,625914%
Everthrive Illinois$306,12593%
Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago$305,00063%
Grow Your Own Illinois$272,50091%
Upwardly Global$270,00081%
Affinity Community Services$266,900930%
Love Unity & Values Institute$265,00086%
Kan-Win$242,50092%
Cabrini Green Legal Aid$242,12591%
Between Friends$241,15091%
The Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU Inc$240,00081%
Community Organizing and Family Issues$233,90092%
Apna Ghar Inc$214,10093%
Shriver Center on Poverty Law$203,00091%
Life-Span$202,50092%
Women Employed$201,00092%
Lake County Crisis Center$199,75081%
National Able Network Inc$195,00030%
Allies for Community Business Inc$192,50071%
Arise Chicago$190,62595%
Chicago Freedom School$188,12593%
Jane Addams Senior Caucus$187,500911%
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago$186,74890%
YWCA EvanstonNorth Shore$184,90091%
Metropolitan Family Services$182,50090%
Mujeres Latinas En Accion$178,00091%
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum$177,12561%
Ascend Justice$175,00054%
Chicago Women's Health Center$174,00093%
Resilience$170,00091%
Southside Center of Hope$169,500516%
Healing to Action$164,500816%
Law Center for Better Housing$163,00082%
Anew Building Beyond Violence and Abuse$162,50092%
Deborah's Place$162,01991%
HEART Women & Girls$159,50094%
Planned Parenthood of Illinois$159,50090%
Gyrls In The HOOD Foundation$156,27579%
Girlforward$154,50095%
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Rights$152,00070%
Connections for Abused Women and Their Children$149,69291%
Of Color Inc$148,40044%
The Cara Program$145,00080%
Warehouse Workers Justice Center Inc$143,12592%
Target Hope$142,500912%
The Hana Center$140,50090%
Northwest Side Housing Center$137,50081%
Latinos Progresando$135,60082%
Mikva Challenge Grant Foundation$132,00091%
Arab American Family Services$130,00092%
Refugeeone$127,50090%
Center for Advancing Domestic Peace$126,00093%
Latino Union of Chicago$120,00074%
Dreamcatcher Foundation Inc$120,000615%
Chicago Volunteer Doulas Inc$118,25079%
Logan Square Neighborhood Association$117,50081%
Sarah's Inn$113,50091%
Build Inc$111,00081%
Chinese Mutual Aid Association$107,50080%
Chicago Community Bond Fund$106,80083%
Organizing Neighborhoods For Equality Northside$105,00081%
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation$102,00061%
Alliance for Global Justice Corp$101,25040%
Communities United$98,00071%
The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence$93,60082%
BA NIA Inc$93,500418%
Reflection Foundation$92,20074%
Repro TLC$92,00077%
Women's Business Development Center$91,00080%
Family Shelter Service Inc$87,60022%
Enlace Chicago$85,00050%
A Long Walk Home Inc$82,50083%
Crossroads Fund Inc$82,50081%
Lift Inc$80,00050%
Chicago Commons Association$80,00020%
Erie Family Health Center Inc$80,00060%
Ucan$75,00060%
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization$75,00061%
One Roof Chicago$74,750615%
Chicago House & Social Service Agency$70,00050%
Chicago Furniture Bank$70,00040%
Sisterreach$70,00041%
Sista Afya Community Care Nfp$70,00036%
Brave Space Alliance$69,50031%
Firebird Community Arts$69,50062%
Women for Economic Justice$67,5005n/a
Mother and Child Alliance$66,50062%
Demoiselle 2 Femme NFP$65,2504n/a
Fund for Justice$65,00073%
Black Girls Dance$63,420412%
Safer Foundation$62,50040%
Chicago Youth Centers$60,00050%
The Night Ministry$60,00050%
St Leonard's Ministries$60,00041%
Girls Like Me Project Inc$57,000416%
Restore Justice Foundation$57,00032%
The Free Root Operation Inc$55,700319%
North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic$55,50061%
Family Christian Health Center Inc$55,00050%
Black United Fund of Illinois Inc$54,60021%
Sexpectations Chicago NFP$53,400324%
Syrian Community Network$50,50062%
Chicago Workers' Collaborative NFP$50,00047%
Haven House Inc$50,00025%
Center for Changing Lives$50,00032%
Telpochcalli Community Education Project$50,00046%
Chicago Community Foundation$50,0006n/a
Hustle Mommies$47,700314%
Peer Health Exchange Inc$46,00040%
The Family Defense Center$45,00034%
Yo Soy Ella Inc$44,6503n/a
Project Exploration$44,00051%
MEAN Girls Empowerment$42,700221%
Illinois Prison Project$41,50041%
360 Youth Services$41,35040%
The Resurrection Project$40,00030%
Smart Policy Works$40,00032%
Gads Hill Center$40,00030%
Youth Outlook$40,00064%
Womens All Points Bulletin-Wapb Inc$39,000534%
New Community Outreach$39,00054%
Girls Inc of Chicago$37,50041%
Crossroads Fund$37,5003n/a
Asociacion Latina de Asistencia y Prevencion del Cancer de Mama$37,50054%
Awakenings Art$37,20055%
Alliancechicago$37,00020%
Public Narrative$36,50043%
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum Inc$36,00044%
Black Girls Break Bread Inc$35,6952n/a
Workers Center For Racial Just NFP$35,00041%
Taproots Inc$35,00043%
Life is Work$33,50042%
Global Girls Inc$32,50065%
Un Nuevo Despertar a New Awakening Nfp$30,500412%
Darren B Easterling Center for Restorative Practices$30,00034%
Human Rights Watch Inc$30,00070%
Fenix Family Health Center$30,00031%
Teen Parent Connection Inc$28,47541%
The Center for Reproductive Rights Inc$28,00050%
City Colleges of Chicago$27,0002n/a
Center on Halsted$26,75010%
Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project$25,00021%
National Domestic Workers Alliance Inc$25,00020%
Chicago Abortion Fund$25,00031%
Live Free Chicago$24,00031%
The Harbour Inc$21,50041%
Community Health NFP$21,00060%
Sisters Network Chicago Chapter$20,600321%
Natures Garden for Victory and Peace Inc$20,00028%
Next Move Community Services$20,00033%
Midwest Access Coalition$20,00021%
Margarets Village$20,00031%
Centro Sanar$20,00031%
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Inc$20,00020%
The Caring Place Inc$20,00011%
Mothers' Milk Bank of the Western Great Lakes Inc$20,00030%
Trans United$19,1752n/a
Sex Workers Outreach Project$18,17522%
Focus Fairies Mentoring$17,50032%
Styles4kidz Nfp$15,50026%
Sirat Chicago$15,00022%
Nijc Nfp$15,00020%
Community Youth Network Inc$15,00020%
Young Invincibles$15,00010%
Kindred Civic Arts Forum$15,00023%
Lwc Studios$15,0001n/a
Philanthropy New York Inc$15,00010%
New Moms Inc$15,00020%
Triton College Foundation$15,00022%
Inellas Restoration Cente$14,750252%
Literature for All of US$14,50030%
Prairie State Legal Services Inc$13,50020%
Resolution Systems Institute$13,40013%
The Puddle Project NFP$12,5001n/a
Action Center on Race & the Economy Institute$12,00010%
mRelief$12,00011%
Salt and Light Coalition Nfp$12,00013%
Mothers Opposed to Violence Everywhere$12,0001n/a
Hey Benji Foundation$11,4002n/a
Metropolitan Family Services DuPage$10,40010%
Alive Center Nfp$10,10022%
Center for Disability & Elder Law Inc$10,00011%
United States Catholic Conference$10,0001n/a
Shewill Legacy Nfp$10,0001n/a
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse$10,00010%
Center for Independent Futures$10,00011%
Interaction Initiative Inc$10,000113%
United Way of Lake County Inc$10,00010%
Black Researchers Collective$10,00022%
Answer Inc$10,0001n/a
Equity for All of Us$10,000225%
Bethany House of Hospitality$9,51920%
Sithub$9,00013%
Open Studio Project Inc$8,00022%
The Village Legal and Community Project$7,70014%
Sarah's Circle$7,50010%
Pretty Inc$7,5001n/a
Henry Williams Foundation of Love$7,50013%
Curt's Cafe$7,50011%
The Roberti Community House$7,50011%
Options for Youth$7,50021%
Links Hall Inc$7,50022%
Leading Edge Group for Adults Children and Youth$7,5001n/a
Friends of the Highwood Public Library$7,50011%
Pink Fund Inc$7,50010%
Senior Rainbow Assistance Program$7,5001n/a
Arcus Behavioral Health and Wellness Inc$7,50011%
Childrens Legal Center$7,50011%
A House in Austin$7,50022%
Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation$7,50010%
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance$7,50022%
Open Communities$7,50011%
Northeast Dupage Family and Youth Services Inc$7,50011%
Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center$7,50020%
Trinity Resurrection United Church$7,5001n/a
Austin Childcare Providers Network$7,50012%
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble$6,50031%
Tpa Network Incorporated$6,33610%
Health and Medicine Policy Research Group$6,25020%
Sisters in Cinema NFP$6,15012%
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights$6,00010%
Immigrant Solidarity Dupage$6,00022%
Her Future Teen Mom Empowerment Group$5,6001n/a
Chicago Women in Philanthropy$5,50016%
Masjid Al-Rabia$5,2001n/a
Trickster Art Gallery$5,00011%
Illinois Justice Foundation$5,0002n/a
The Viola Project$5,0002n/a
Alliance of Local Service Organizations$5,00010%
International House of Fashion$5,0001n/a
Girls Play Sports Inc Nfp$5,0001n/a
Hope Fair Housing Center Inc$5,00021%
Time's Up Foundation$5,00010%
Center for Constitutional Rights$5,00010%
Imagine Englewood If$5,0001n/a
Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago$5,00010%
Columbia College Chicago$5,00010%
Career Project USA$5,0001n/a
Vocel Viewing our Children as Emerging Leaders$5,00010%
Nami of Dupage County Illinois$5,00010%
Harmony Hope & Healing$4,75411%
Women's Ordination Conference$4,51912%
Housing Opportunities for Women Inc$4,51910%
Women for Women International$4,51910%
Women's March Chicago$4,5001n/a
Chicago Period Project Nfp$4,25024%
Still Point Theatre Collective$3,75013%
Chicago Association of Women in Law Enforcement$3,00013%
Sisters Working It Out$3,00011%
Latin United Community Housing Assn$3,00010%
Civic Nation$3,00010%
Girls on the Run - Chicago Inc$3,00010%
Violets in Bloom$3,0001n/a
The Impact Alliance Nfp$3,0001n/a
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago$3,0002n/a
Distinctively Me$3,0001n/a
Southwest Collective$2,75011%
Victory Gardens Theater$2,50020%
Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund Inc$2,50010%
NEO Philanthropy Inc$2,50010%
Nerdy Media1$2,5001n/a
Chicago United for Equity$2,40010%
Federacion de Clubes Michoacanos En Illinois$2,25010%
Casa Esperanza Project$2,00011%
Empowering Women Nfp$2,00012%
Reproductive Freedom for All Foundation$2,00030%
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence$2,00010%
Community Film Workshop$2,0001n/a
Touchstone Tutoring & Mentoring Services Inc$1,5001n/a
Proactive Community Services$1,20010%
Resident Association of Greater Englewood$1,20010%
Black Ensemble Theater Corporation$1,00010%
National Women's Law Center$1,00010%
The Bronx Defenders$1,00010%
Alivio Medical Center Inc$1,00010%
Young Women's Christian Association Greater Pittsburgh$50010%
Common Cause$50010%
National Network of Abortion Funds Inc$50010%
National Partnership for Women and Families$50010%

Plus 9 recipients with no EIN on record ($103k), not named here.

Where it is load-bearing

Chicago Foundation for Women supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 4 of its grantees at some point. The chart plots its 200 largest grantees; load-bearing ones sit top left.

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetJane Addams Resource Corporation: $646,000 over 9y, 3.4% of budgetChicago Women in Trades: $588,500 over 9y, 5.3% of budgetAll Chicago Making Homelessness History: $565,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetFamily Rescue Inc: $361,500 over 9y, 1.7% of budgetTeamwork Englewood Inc: $358,500 over 9y, 1.5% of budgetEqual Hope: $350,125 over 9y, 4.9% of budgetHeartland Human Care Services Inc: $340,000 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetLadies of Virtue: $330,075 over 9y, 13% of budgetIllinois Caucus for Adolescent Health Inc: $314,625 over 9y, 14% of budgetEverthrive Illinois: $306,125 over 9y, 2.7% of budgetIndustrial Council of Nearwest Chicago: $305,000 over 6y, 2.5% of budgetGrow Your Own Illinois: $272,500 over 9y, 1.3% of budgetUpwardly Global: $270,000 over 8y, 0.8% of budgetAffinity Community Services: $266,900 over 9y, 30% of budgetLove Unity & Values Institute: $265,000 over 8y, 6.3% of budgetKan-Win: $242,500 over 9y, 1.7% of budgetCabrini Green Legal Aid: $242,125 over 9y, 1.3% of budgetBetween Friends: $241,150 over 9y, 1.4% of budgetThe Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU Inc: $240,000 over 8y, 0.6% of budgetCommunity Organizing and Family Issues: $233,900 over 9y, 2.1% of budgetApna Ghar Inc: $214,100 over 9y, 2.6% of budgetShriver Center on Poverty Law: $203,000 over 9y, 0.6% of budgetLife-Span: $202,500 over 9y, 1.9% of budgetWomen Employed: $201,000 over 9y, 1.5% of budgetLake County Crisis Center: $199,750 over 8y, 1.5% of budgetNational Able Network Inc: $195,000 over 3y, 0.3% of budgetAllies for Community Business Inc: $192,500 over 7y, 0.7% of budgetArise Chicago: $190,625 over 9y, 5.4% of budgetChicago Freedom School: $188,125 over 9y, 2.7% of budgetJane Addams Senior Caucus: $187,500 over 9y, 11% of budgetYWCA Metropolitan Chicago: $186,748 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetYWCA EvanstonNorth Shore: $184,900 over 9y, 0.6% of budgetMetropolitan Family Services: $182,500 over 9y, 0.0% of budgetMujeres Latinas En Accion: $178,000 over 9y, 1.3% of budgetNational Asian Pacific American Women's Forum: $177,125 over 6y, 0.5% of budgetAscend Justice: $175,000 over 5y, 3.6% of budgetChicago Women's Health Center: $174,000 over 9y, 2.6% of budgetResilience: $170,000 over 9y, 1.0% of budgetSouthside Center of Hope: $169,500 over 5y, 16% of budgetHealing to Action: $164,500 over 8y, 16% of budgetLaw Center for Better Housing: $163,000 over 8y, 1.6% of budgetAnew Building Beyond Violence and Abuse: $162,500 over 9y, 2.4% of budgetDeborah's Place: $162,019 over 9y, 0.7% of budgetHEART Women & Girls: $159,500 over 9y, 4.2% of budgetPlanned Parenthood of Illinois: $159,500 over 9y, 0.1% of budgetGyrls In The HOOD Foundation: $156,275 over 7y, 8.5% of budgetGirlforward: $154,500 over 9y, 4.7% of budgetHeartland Alliance for Human Needs and Rights: $152,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budget

Tap a dot to name the grantee.

How this is measured
Share of budget is the funder’s grant in a year over the grantee’s total revenue that year, at its highest across the years we hold; revenue is from all sources. Only grantees confirmed against their own filings, whose grants do not exceed their revenue, are plotted: the largest 200.

Nonprofits that may fit its grantmaking

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

United Way of Metropolitan Chicago IncIL155× affinity106 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc · Polk Bros Foundation Inc · Field Foundation of Illinois · Circle of Service Foundation · Forefront · Crossroads Fund Inc · Lloyd a Fry Foundation · Robert R McCormick Foundation · Michael Reese Health Trust · Arie and Ida Crown Memorial · Woods Fund of Chicago · Alphawood Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

Compare Chicago Foundation for Women with peer funders

About Chicago Foundation for Women

How much does Chicago Foundation for Women give?
Chicago Foundation for Women reported 184 grants totaling $2,787,515 in its FY2024 IRS filing. It funded between 108 and 166 organizations a year over FY2018 to FY2023.
What does Chicago Foundation for Women fund?
By grant dollars over FY2018 to FY2024, its largest causes are Human Services (23%), Employment (15%), Health (14%).
Who are Chicago Foundation for Women's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2018 to FY2024: Jane Addams Resource Corporation ($646k), Chicago Women in Trades ($589k), All Chicago Making Homelessness History ($565k).
Does Chicago Foundation for Women fund new organizations?
In FY2023, 17% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Which funders back the same organizations as Chicago Foundation for Women?
Its strongest co-funders, measured against what their size predicts, include United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Inc, Polk Bros Foundation Inc, Field Foundation of Illinois.
Where is Chicago Foundation for Women based?
Chicago Foundation for Women is based in IL.

On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 300 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

How this is measured
Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

Generated from the IRS Form 990 e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Possibly out of date. A more recent filing (FY2025) is on record and reports $3.2M of grant expense, but none of it to a named recipient. On a Form 990 that can mean grants abroad, filed by region only (Schedule F), grants under $5,000, which are not itemized, or a schedule referenced as an attachment the e-file does not carry. The figures above are therefore from FY2024, the most recent year this funder named its grantees.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Chicago Foundation for Women’s filings →

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