media resource center

Welcome to Impact Grants Chicago’s one-stop hub for members of the press covering our work and Grant Awards Celebration. If you are a member of the media, please contact us at press@impactgrantschicago.org for interview requests, event information, or background information.

Fast Facts:

  • Founded: 2017
  • Mission: to connect, engage and empower women to improve our community by collectively funding $100,000 grants to Chicago nonprofits that are dedicated to addressing the challenges facing our city
  • Type: all-volunteer, women-led collecting giving organization
  • Total Grants Awarded to Date: $3 Million

Boilerplate:

Impact Grants Chicago is an all-volunteer women’s collective giving organization with members from all over the Chicago area. Women join by making a donation of $1,000 for the grant year. 100% of member donations are pooled to create Impact Grants of $100,000 to be awarded to nonprofit organizations in Chicago. In the fall of each year, nonprofits submit applications, which are vetted over the course of six months by member committees to determine the finalists. At the Grant Awards Celebration, each member is given one vote and the grants are awarded that night. 100% of donations go to the nonprofits.

 

2025 Event Overview

  • Event: 2025 Grant Awards Celebration
  • Date & Time: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 I 5:45pm – 9:30pm
  • Location: Venue West, 221 N. Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60612
  • Total Funding: $490,000 to (7) nonprofits
  • 2025 Finalists:
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  • Press RSVP: press@impactgrantschicago.org

 

Past Winners & Stories of Impact

2024 $100,000 Impact Grant Award Recipients:

  • Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, we provide a shelter for adults and children, counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. We work for social change through education, service collaboration, and institutional advocacy.
  • Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) is committed to improving the quality of life for Chicago’s low-income older adults, H.O.M.E. helps seniors remain independent and part of their community by offering opportunities for intergenerational living and by providing a variety of citywide support services: upkeep and repair services, a moving program, and a shopping bus.
  • New Moms’ mission is to strengthen families by partnering with young moms as they progress towards housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being.
  • Saint Leonard’s Ministries empowers formerly incarcerated individuals (“returning citizens”) to lead whole and productive lives. With the support of holistic services including emergency and permanent supportive housing, cognitive behavioral therapy, physical healthcare, substance use treatment, education, and employment training, participants work to improve critical areas of their lives and achieve successful reentry.

2023 $100,000 Impact Grant Award Recipients:

  • Friends of the Children – Chicago‘s mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who live in communities most impacted by poverty and gun violence. They identify kindergartners facing the greatest obstacles and pair them with paid, professional mentors – called “Friends” – who support their social, emotional, and academic growth. They walk beside the youth they serve for 12.5 years. No matter what.
  • Lawndale Christian Legal Center‘s mission is to provide legal and social services grounded in restorative justice for juveniles and emerging adults, ages 24 and younger. Their vision is to raise up justly treated youth who are embraced by their families and community, restored from trauma, empowered to lead, and free from the justice system.
  • Open Books‘ mission is to transform lives through reading, writing, and the unlimited power of books.
  • Revolution Workshop‘s mission is to provide construction workforce development for unemployed or underemployed people in partnership with area businesses. ​They deliver financial independence and careers through skills, hope, and resilience.

See the full list of prior grantees here

Media Kit