Unity Fund Grants – February 2019

At its February 2019 meeting, the Trust’s Executive Committee approved 15 grants, totaling $250,000, to local nonprofit organizations helping the most vulnerable people in our communities to thrive. These grants were made possible by the Unity Fund, a donor-led initiative at the Trust to pool charitable dollars for rapid deployment where they’re needed most.

Each year the Unity Fund raises thousands of dollars so that, in addition to our regular competitive grant making, the Trust’s program officers are able to assess the service landscape and provide additional funding to fill the critical gaps.

You can be part of the movement to help our neighbors get back on their feet. Learn how to join Unity Fund today.

Emergency Services

• All Chicago Making Homelessness History / Emergency Fund, for emergency financial assistance to people experiencing housing insecurity. $20,000
• Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, to strengthen systems coordinating homelessness prevention services. $20,000
• Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, for policy and advocacy efforts to provide housing opportunities for people experiencing homelessness. $25,000
• Cradles to Crayons, for emergency clothing and supplies to families in crisis. $15,000
• Operation Warm, to provide new winter coats for children. $20,000

HEALTH & WELLNESS

• Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition, for home-based care and education for vulnerable individuals living with unmanaged chronic disease. $20,000
• Green City Market, to provide Bronzeville residents access to healthy, local produce. $10,000
• Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health, for health education and counseling for vulnerable teens. $10,000
• Lawrence Hall, for therapeutic treatment and educational programs for vulnerable youth and children living in foster care. $20,000

“Mujeres Latinas saved my life.” Learn more about the work of this Unity Fund grant recipient, the longest-standing Latina-led organization in the country: Empowering Communities by Lifting Up Latina Leaders

LEGAL & FINANCIAL SUPPORT

• Legal Council for Health Justice, for legal aid to low-income families in outpatient mental health care. $15,000
• LIFT, for financial coaching for low-income families in Chicago. $25,000
• Small Business Majority Foundation, for financial coaching and health insurance support to low-income women entrepreneurs in North Lawndale and South Lawndale. $10,000
• Taller de Jose, to assist and guide victims of violence and immigrants as they navigate court systems, health care institutions and other governmental entities. $10,000

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

• Mujeres Latinas en Accion, for the Parent Support Program which provides a safe space for supervised visitation in addition to parenting education—the only Spanish-bilingual program of its kind in Illinois. $10,000
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, to support the Violence Prevention Program. $20,000

In addition to grants from the Unity Fund, the Executive Committee also approved grants in education & economic development; health, housing & human services; civic & cultural vitality; and sustainable development—for a total of $12,400,511 in grants awarded in February.

The Trust is currently defining the grant priorities for its next phase of work, which will focus on helping Chicago achieve the goal of closing our racial wealth gap. New opportunities to apply for grants will become available after this planning is complete. If you are a Chicago-area nonprofit, the best way to stay informed is to create an account in GrantCentral, where you can sign up to receive notifications as grant opportunities become available.