Lend A Hand Fund

2020

Year the fund was established

32

Number of Chicago neighborhoods impacted

81

Number of organizations supported

117

Total grants awarded

The Lend A Hand Fund provides support to BIPOC-led or BIPOC-serving community organizations working to help Chicago residents hardest hit by COVID and the impacts of systemic racism. The Fund was established in the Summer of 2020, in response to the uprising in the wake of the George Floyd murder and the impact it had on Chicago communities already reeling from the effects of COVID. The Fund began as a rapid-response initiative, led by a Foundation-wide task force that worked together to direct the funds to the community. Initial funding supported a range of needs, including COVID testing and education, rental assistance and food assistance. As the nature of the crisis evolved, so did the Fund, which has pivoted to provide support for ongoing recovery efforts, such as housing, mental health and food insecurity. The focus area for each grant cycle is determined by the needs expressed by the community and we are grateful to our community partners who work collaboratively with us to direct funding.

Do you know of a community organization that we should consider for funding? If so, please nominate the organization using the link below.

Dion's Chicago Dream

New life Centers

Think Outside Da Block

Working to improve the quality of life of disadvantaged youth & build community

Learn more

The Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago

Bright Star Community Outreach

empowering the community’s residents with the skills and resources needed to be successful

Learn more

alt Space Chicago

dedicated to revitalizing communities through art and culture

Learn more

ALL GRANTEES

  1. National Museum of Mexican Art – Fiscal sponsor for Pilsen Housing Cooperative
  2. Ladies of Virtue
  3. I Am Able Center for Family Development
  4. Hope for Us Network
  5. Gro Community
  6. Think Outside Da Block
  7. Enlace Chicago
  8. Dion’s Chicago Dream
  9. La Casa Norte
  10. Grow Greater Englewood
  11. Bright Star Community Outreach Corporation
  12. New Life Centers
  13. St. Sabina Church
  14. Brave Space Alliance
  15. The Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago
  16. I Grow Chicago
  17. Teamwork Englewood
  18. Chicago Housing Initiative
  19. Deborah’s Place
  20. Lawndale Christian Development Corporation
  21. Garfield Park Community Council
  22. Resurrection Project
  23. Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation
  24. Southwest Organizing Project
  25. Northwest Side Housing Center
  26. Alliance of the Southeast
  27. Girls Like Me Project
  28. The Monroe Foundation - One Health Englewood
  29. Something Good In Englewood
  30. Pilsen Alliance
  31. One Solution Foundation Inc. - Rebels for Peace
  32. Chicago HOPES for Kids
  33. Brilliant Brown Boys Book Club
  34. American Indian Association of Illinois
  35. alt Space Chicago
  36. Assata’s Daughters
  37. Casa Central
  38. Cradles to Crayons
  39. Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
  40. Sarah's Circle
  41. Heartland Alliance Health
  42. Ignite Promise
  43. LYTE Collective
  44. The Night Ministry
  45. Affinity Community Services
  46. Blackroots Alliance - Ujimaa Medics
  47. Breakthrough Urban Ministries
  48. Center on Halsted
  49. Chicago Adventure Therapy
  50. Chicago Fund on Aging and Disability
  51. Chicago Urban League
  52. Communities United
  53. CommunityHealth
  54. Cooperation Operation - NeighborSpace
  55. Crossroads Fund
  56. Gardeneers
  57. Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation
  58. Grow Greater Englewood - Getting Grown Collective
  59. Healthy Hood Chicago
  60. Just Roots
  61. Lead With Love Corporation
  62. Mothers Against Senseless Killing Foundation
  63. My Block, My Hood, My City
  64. Open Collective Foundation - The Love Fridge Chicago
  65. Peace Runners 773
  66. Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
  67. Roseland Christian Ministries Center
  68. Shepherd's HOPE Ltd.
  69. Sweetwater Foundation Inc.
  70. The Grace Network
  71. The Roots Initiative - Taking It To The Streets
  72. The Southwest Collective
  73. True Star Foundation
  74. A Step Ahead Chess
  75. Chicago Center for Arts and Technology Inc.
  76. Root2Fruit Youth Foundation
  77. The Bloc
  78. Bandwith Music Ltd
  79. Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative
  80. Kingdom Avenue Inc.
  81. United Way of Metropolitan Chicago