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Illinois · Public charity

Forefront

We mobilize our members to work collectively around issues that are important to them and to the sector by enhancing the effectiveness of (a) the organizations and individuals who are the members of the corporation and (b) all nonprofit organizations in the state of illinois through development of educational programs and informational…

$4.6M
Granted FY2025(still arriving)
49
Grants FY2025
122
Organizations funded FY2024
48%
First-time grantees FY2024
Read the full brief
Median grant, FY2025
$62,500
Largest grant, FY2025
$543,031
Organizations funded a year
59 to 122
FY2019 to FY2024
States reached, FY2025
5
Total assets, FY2025
$19M

How open it is to new grantees

In FY2024, 48% of the organizations Forefront funded were first-time grantees, receiving 35% of its grant dollars.

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 65% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $4.3M went to new ones.

50%100%’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesFood & NutritionCommunity ImprovementEducationArts & CultureHealthOther
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
FY2025still arriving49$4.6M16%
FY2024122$12M48%
FY202361$4.7M33%
FY202272$5.0M53%
FY2021108$6.6M82%
FY202084$2.9M49%
FY201959$1.1Mn/a
100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2025.

Food & Nutrition$7.8MCommunity Improvement$7.1MYouth Development$3.9MEducation$2.7MHealth$2.6MEnvironment$2.5MHuman Services$2.5MEmployment$2.1MOther$0

Where its grants go

Grant dollars by states, across the years we hold.

Which US states its grants reach

MN
IL
MI
NY
MA
IN
PA
CA
CO
VA
MD
DC
TX

Top grantees

Largest recipients by total granted, FY2019 to FY2025, and the share of each one’s budget the grants supplied at peak.

Show all 313 grantees
All grantees of Forefront by total granted
GranteeTotal grantedYearsShare of their budget
Young Mens Educational Network$2,045,000427%
University of Illinois Foundation$1,897,59650%
Austin Coming Together$1,443,031316%
Westside Health Authority$1,403,00059%
Chicago Food Policy Action Council$940,000516%
Faith in Place$783,425411%
Little Village Environmental Justice Org$726,00057%
Illinois Stewardship Alliance$675,000511%
New Covenant Community Development Corporation$672,000163%
Neighborspace$672,000511%
Gardeneers$628,60046%
Movement Strategy Center$588,00040%
Build Inc$570,00031%
Advocates for Urban Agriculture Nfp$549,650326%
Warehouse Workers Justice Center Inc$415,000415%
Chicago Workers' Collaborative NFP$400,00048%
Chicago Community and Workers Rightsnfp$375,000327%
Elawa Farm Foundation$375,000417%
Dions Chicago Dream Inc Nfp$363,00032%
Inner-City Muslim Action Network$350,00051%
Little Village Community Foundation$326,000512%
Dekalb County Community Gardens$314,25056%
Chicago Horticultural Society$314,00030%
Global Philanthropy Partnership$310,00053%
Urban Growers Collective Inc$300,00026%
Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project$288,00044%
Grow Greater Englewood Inc$275,00034%
Chinese American Service League Inc$270,00051%
Latin Center$270,000410%
Brave Space Alliance$265,00045%
Puerto Rican Cultural Center$250,00041%
Food Access Project$250,000120%
Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting Inc$241,000317%
Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living$235,000221%
The Experimental Station$225,00026%
Nwi Food Council Inc$225,00043%
Enlace Chicago$225,00041%
Gsj Family Life Center$218,500384%
Sisters Working It Out$200,000331%
Bethel New Life Inc$200,0002n/a
Just Roots Just Roots Chicago$196,000427%
Adelante Center for Entrepreneurship$193,000217%
Plant Chicago NFP$189,500410%
Growing Home Inc$188,00032%
Fuller Park Community Development Corp$185,000456%
American Indian Center$185,00038%
Beyond Hunger$183,50042%
Gary Comer Youth Center Inc$178,60021%
Chicago Lights$175,00026%
New Eclipse Community Alliance$175,000415%
Housing Helpers Inc$175,000321%
The Trotter Legacy The Trotter Project$175,000248%
Grace Housing Complex$170,000490%
Center on Halsted$165,00022%
Trickster Art Gallery$163,00029%
Eighteenth Street Development Corp$160,0003n/a
Icna Relief USA Programs Inc$160,00030%
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago$150,00040%
Allies for Community Business Inc$150,00021%
First Congregational United Church of Christ$150,0001n/a
Chicago's Green City Market Program$150,000215%
Fair Food Network Inc$150,00011%
The Hack Foundation D/B/A Hack Club$150,00020%
Henry Williams Foundation of Love$145,000157%
Opencollective Foundation$140,00020%
Presbyterian Church USA$130,9002n/a
The Endeleo Institute Inc$125,00022%
Rush University Medical Center$125,00030%
Angelic Organics Learning Center Inc$125,000113%
Above and Beyond Food Pantry Inc$125,000119%
St Sabina Church$125,0002n/a
Public Narrative$120,500324%
Circle Urban Ministries$120,00017%
First Nations Development Institute$120,00010%
Cooperation Operation$120,0002n/a
Equity and Transformation$120,00023%
Erikson Institute$120,00010%
The Flow Foundation Inc$115,0003100%
Garfield Park Community Council$115,00029%
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights$115,00020%
The Kindness Campaign$110,00032%
Common Threads$106,00031%
The Land Connection Foundation Inc$105,00027%
Star Farm Chicago$103,000119%
Foresight Design Initiative Inc$100,0001n/a
Community Youth Development Institute$100,00022%
Better Love Yourself Foundation$100,000150%
Common Market Philadelphia Inc$100,00011%
Chicago Urban League$100,00021%
Repro TLC$100,00014%
Live Free Chicago$100,00013%
Proactive Community Services$100,00014%
Business Services Collective Nfp Dba Builders Avenue$100,000117%
Resilience Partners NFP$100,00025%
Southwest Collective$100,000224%
Apna Ghar Inc$100,00022%
Here to Stay CLT Inc$100,00012%
Asi$100,00011%
The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation$100,00010%
Illinois Action for Children$100,00020%
Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago$100,0002n/a
Run a Way Buckers Club Inc$100,000121%
Fulcrum Farm Foundation$100,00021%
Chicago International Social Change Film Festival$100,000120%
Men & Women in Prison Ministries$99,60015%
North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council Inc$97,00018%
North Lawndale Greening Committee$94,000151%
Claretian Associates Inc$90,0003n/a
Greater Chatham Initiative$90,00024%
Mano a Mano Family Resource Center$90,00041%
Manufacturing Renaissance Fka Center for Labor and Commun$85,00016%
Curt's Cafe$85,00032%
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United Inc$80,00021%
Options for Youth$80,00015%
Wood St Collective$75,000196%
Sinai Health System$75,00020%
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago$75,00010%
Ecosystems of Care$75,000118%
Youth Outlook$75,00019%
Ada S McKinley Community Services Inc$75,00010%
Good Samaritan Inn$75,00019%
Seven Generations Ahead$75,000110%
Northwestern University Settlement Association$75,00010%
Michigan Integrated Food and Farming Systems Inc$75,000121%
Sacred Ground Ministries$75,0002n/a
Children's Home & Aid Society of Ill$75,00010%
Familyfarmed Dba Good Food Catalyst$75,0001n/a
Action Center on Race & the Economy Institute$75,00011%
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana Inc$75,00010%
Common Cause Education Fund$75,00020%
Gap Community Center$75,000212%
Green Table Talks$75,0001n/a
Cooperative Development Fund of Cds$75,000111%
Stone Temple Missionary Baptist Church$75,0001n/a
Darren B Easterling Center for Restorative Practices$75,000120%
Facets Film Forum$67,86017%
The Hana Center$67,00020%
Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures$65,00028%
Health Policy Institute of Ch$65,0002n/a
Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse$60,70621%
Workers Center For Racial Just NFP$60,00023%
Aspire of Illinois$57,00020%
The YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago$56,87010%
Basil's Harvest Inc$56,000123%
The Evolved Network Nfp$55,000212%
Global Garden Refugee Training Farm$52,500213%
First Corinthians Missionary Baptist Church$51,0002n/a
Changing Worlds$50,25023%
Illinois Public Health Institute$50,00010%
Illinios Workers in Action$50,000128%
Family Christian Health Center Inc$50,00010%
Latino Policy Forum$50,00021%
Northeast Community Fund$50,00011%
Think Regeneration Nfp$50,0001n/a
Woodlawn Food Security Health & Human Services Project$50,000232%
Immigrant Solidarity Dupage$50,000111%
Evanston Latinos Nfp$50,000121%
Sustainable Food Corp$50,000198%
The Roberti Community House$50,00025%
A Safe Haven Foundation$50,00010%
One Fair Wage Inc$50,00011%
Academy for Global Citizenship Charter School$50,00010%
Chicago Public Media Inc$50,00010%
Change Illinois$50,00025%
Teamwork Englewood Inc$50,00012%
Evanston Grows$50,000120%
Women Unite Chicago$50,00016%
Family Focus Legacy$50,00010%
Southern Illinois Community Foundation$50,00022%
Federacion de Clubes Michoacanos En Illinois$50,00012%
Envision Unlimited$50,00020%
The Experimental Station$49,0001n/a
The Josselyn Center Nfp$48,54010%
Syrian Community Network$46,10013%
Telpochcalli Community Education Project$46,00026%
Southwest Organizing Project$45,0002n/a
Blue Island Citizens for Persons With Intellectual Disabilities Inc$45,00020%
General Council on Finance & Admins of the United$45,0002n/a
Symphony of Oak Park & River Forest$43,000217%
Carole Robertson Center for Learning$42,50020%
The Outreach House$42,261210%
Fox Valley United Way$40,00022%
Gail Borden Public Library District Foundation$40,00027%
I Hold Your Hand Because You Hold My Heart$40,0002n/a
Front Porch Arts Center$40,0001n/a
Un Nuevo Despertar a New Awakening Nfp$40,000139%
Bright Leadership Institute$35,0002n/a
First Baptist Church of Lake Forestillinois$35,0002n/a
Ascend Justice$35,0001n/a
Young Men's Christian Association of the University of Illinois$35,00021%
Communities United$35,00021%
World Relief Corp of National Association of Evangelicals$35,00020%
Illinois Partners for Human Service$35,00026%
Spanish Community Center$35,00021%
Sirat Chicago$35,00024%
Together Chicago Inc$35,00021%
Illinois Migrant Council$35,00021%
Arab American Family Services$35,00021%
Logan Square Neighborhood Association$35,00021%
A Just Harvest$35,00014%
Howard Brown Health Center$35,00020%
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council$35,00020%
New Life Baptist Church of Chicago$35,0002n/a
One Aim Illinois$34,49518%
Chinese Mutual Aid Association$34,00020%
The Boulevard of Chicago Inc$33,20011%
The Neighbor Project$33,00013%
The Affordable Housing Corporation of Lake County$30,40011%
Boys & Girls Club of Lake County$30,00011%
First Defense Legal Aid$30,00015%
The Chicago Scholars Foundation$29,16710%
La Piana Associates Inc$28,6001n/a
St Paul Parish & School$25,0001n/a
United African Organization$25,00014%
Kids Off the Block Inc$25,0001n/a
Full Spectrum Features NFP$25,00011%
Illinois Farmers Market Association Nfp$25,000120%
Public Media Institute$25,00013%
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church$25,0001n/a
Illinois Muslim Communiity Foundation Inc$25,0001n/a
Invisible Institute$25,00011%
Far South Community Development Corp$25,00011%
Street Vendors Association of Chicago$25,0001n/a
The Key Works Association$25,0001100%
Common Pantry$25,00011%
The Gardenworks Project$25,000215%
Hope Charities Inc$25,0001n/a
Top Box Foods$25,00011%
I Am Able Center for Family Development$25,0001n/a
Bella Cuisine$25,0001n/a
Metropolitan Tenants Organization$25,00014%
First Ladies Health Alliance Nfp$25,00028%
Iglesia Evangelica Emanuel Church$25,0001n/a
Leave No Veteran Behind$25,00012%
The Land Conservancy of McHenry County$25,00012%
All Family Active Alfa$25,000126%
Northwest Side Housing Center$25,00011%
Chicago Veterans$25,000112%
Japanese American Service Committee$25,00020%
Community Organizing and Family Issues$25,00011%
North Lawndale Employment Network$25,00010%
Anderson Animal Shelter$25,00011%
Akwaaba Qc$25,00013%
Lucy Parsons Labs$25,0001n/a
Latin United Community Housing Assn$25,00011%
Food Not Bombs Free Skool$25,0001n/a
Center for Food Equity in Medicine$25,000122%
The Resurrection Project$25,00020%
Institute For Positive Living$25,00018%
Waukegan Public Library Foundation$25,00027%
Hanul Family Alliance F/K/A the Korean-American Sr Ctr$25,00011%
BIG NFP DBA Blacks in Green$25,00012%
Organizing Neighborhoods For Equality Northside$25,00022%
Rogers Park Community Action Network$25,000118%
Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation$25,00020%
Midwest Asian Health Association$25,00012%
West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum$25,00013%
Westcare Illinois Inc$23,75010%
James B Moran Center for Youth Advocacy$23,20012%
The Family Defense Center$23,0001n/a
Midwest Food Bank Nfp$20,00010%
Asian Human Services$20,00010%
Tca Health Inc$20,00010%
Carolyn and Karen Spiritual Healing House$20,0001n/a
Save the Hampton House Incorporated$20,00017%
Law Center for Better Housing$20,00012%
Peace and Education Coalition of Back of the Yards New City$20,0001n/a
Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago Inc$20,00010%
Maple Morgan Prk Comm Food Pantry$20,0001n/a
Already Always Amazing Inc$20,0001n/a
Inspiration Corporation$20,00010%
Chicago Dream Center$20,00015%
Fathers Who Care Nfp$15,00014%
Spanish Coalition for Housing$15,00011%
Youthbuild Lake County Inc$15,00021%
Trinity Resurrection United Church$15,0001n/a
Paso- West Suburban Action Project$15,0002n/a
Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference Inc$15,00012%
United Congregations of Metro East$15,00022%
St Agatha Parish$15,0002n/a
Faith Coalition for the Common Good Inc$15,00023%
Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness$15,00020%
Metropolitan Family Services$15,00010%
Southside Together Organizing For Power$14,30013%
Illinois Safe Schools Alliance$13,4501n/a
Right Angle Studio Inc$13,1281n/a
Administer Justice$12,50011%
New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church$12,0001n/a
Healthy Schools Campaign$11,37610%
Best of Proviso Township$10,0001n/a
St Mark M B Church$10,0001n/a
Eden Restoration Project Nfp$10,0001n/a
Center for Changing Lives$10,00011%
New Life Baptist Church of Bloom Township$10,0001n/a
Annie's Table NFP$10,0001n/a
Apostolic Faith Church$10,0001n/a
SkyArt NFP$10,00011%
Blackroots Alliance$10,00011%
Victory House of Prayer$10,0001n/a
Red Clay Dance Company Inc$10,00012%
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America$10,0001n/a
Central American Martyrs Center$10,0001n/a
Just Food Initiative of the Fox Valley$10,0001n/a
Arthur Lockhart Resource Institute$10,00017%
Big Green$10,00010%
We Sow We Grow Project$10,000112%
Edward G Irvin Foundation$10,00014%
South Central Community Services Inc$9,00011%
Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School$9,0001n/a
Opportunity Knocks Incorporated$8,50011%
Ladies of Virtue$7,00011%
Independent Film Alliance F/K/A Stage 18$7,00012%
Seachange Capital Partners Inc$5,96710%

Where it is load-bearing

Forefront supplied at least a quarter of the budget for 21 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 budgetYoung Mens Educational Network: $2,045,000 over 4y, 27% of budgetUniversity of Illinois Foundation: $1,897,596 over 5y, 0.1% of budgetAustin Coming Together: $1,443,031 over 3y, 16% of budgetWestside Health Authority: $1,403,000 over 5y, 8.9% of budgetChicago Food Policy Action Council: $940,000 over 5y, 16% of budgetFaith in Place: $783,425 over 4y, 11% of budgetLittle Village Environmental Justice Org: $726,000 over 5y, 6.7% of budgetIllinois Stewardship Alliance: $675,000 over 5y, 11% of budgetNew Covenant Community Development Corporation: $672,000 over 1y, 63% of budgetNeighborspace: $672,000 over 5y, 11% of budgetGardeneers: $628,600 over 4y, 6.0% of budgetMovement Strategy Center: $588,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetBuild Inc: $570,000 over 3y, 1.2% of budgetAdvocates for Urban Agriculture Nfp: $549,650 over 3y, 26% of budgetWarehouse Workers Justice Center Inc: $415,000 over 4y, 15% of budgetChicago Workers' Collaborative NFP: $400,000 over 4y, 7.7% of budgetChicago Community and Workers Rightsnfp: $375,000 over 3y, 27% of budgetElawa Farm Foundation: $375,000 over 4y, 17% of budgetDions Chicago Dream Inc Nfp: $363,000 over 3y, 1.9% of budgetInner-City Muslim Action Network: $350,000 over 5y, 0.8% of budgetLittle Village Community Foundation: $326,000 over 5y, 12% of budgetDekalb County Community Gardens: $314,250 over 5y, 6.3% of budgetChicago Horticultural Society: $314,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetGlobal Philanthropy Partnership: $310,000 over 5y, 2.6% of budgetUrban Growers Collective Inc: $300,000 over 2y, 5.5% of budgetFarmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project: $288,000 over 4y, 3.7% of budgetGrow Greater Englewood Inc: $275,000 over 3y, 4.2% of budgetChinese American Service League Inc: $270,000 over 5y, 0.5% of budgetLatin Center: $270,000 over 4y, 9.5% of budgetBrave Space Alliance: $265,000 over 4y, 4.7% of budgetPuerto Rican Cultural Center: $250,000 over 4y, 1.2% of budgetFood Access Project: $250,000 over 1y, 20% of budgetMidwest Center for Investigative Reporting Inc: $241,000 over 3y, 17% of budgetBlack Oaks Center for Sustainable Renewable Living: $235,000 over 2y, 21% of budgetThe Experimental Station: $225,000 over 2y, 6.0% of budgetNwi Food Council Inc: $225,000 over 4y, 3.4% of budgetEnlace Chicago: $225,000 over 4y, 1.1% of budgetGsj Family Life Center: $218,500 over 3y, 84% of budgetSisters Working It Out: $200,000 over 3y, 31% of budgetJust Roots Just Roots Chicago: $196,000 over 4y, 27% of budgetAdelante Center for Entrepreneurship: $193,000 over 2y, 17% of budgetPlant Chicago NFP: $189,500 over 4y, 10% of budgetGrowing Home Inc: $188,000 over 3y, 2.0% of budgetFuller Park Community Development Corp: $185,000 over 4y, 56% of budgetAmerican Indian Center: $185,000 over 3y, 8.3% of budgetBeyond Hunger: $183,500 over 4y, 1.5% of budgetGary Comer Youth Center Inc: $178,600 over 2y, 1.4% of budgetChicago Lights: $175,000 over 2y, 5.7% 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 IncIL132× affinity88 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 · Chicago Foundation for Women · Robert R McCormick Foundation · Builders Vision Foundation · Woods Fund of Chicago · John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · Crossroads Fund Inc · Circle of Service Foundation · Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

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 Forefront with peer funders

About Forefront

How much does Forefront give?
Forefront reported 49 grants totaling $4,600,931 in its FY2025 IRS filing. It funded between 59 and 122 organizations a year over FY2019 to FY2024.
What does Forefront fund?
By grant dollars over FY2019 to FY2025, its largest causes are Food & Nutrition (21%), Community Improvement (19%), Youth Development (10%).
Who are Forefront's largest grantees?
By total granted over FY2019 to FY2025: Young Mens Educational Network ($2.0M), University of Illinois Foundation ($1.9M), Austin Coming Together ($1.4M).
Does Forefront fund new organizations?
In FY2024, 48% of the organizations it funded were first-time grantees.
Which funders back the same organizations as Forefront?
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 Forefront based?
Forefront 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 314 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 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Forefront’s filings →

More from the funding graph