Acclivus Inc

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust funds nonprofits advancing economic mobility, narrowing the wealth gap, and meeting urgent needs, with priorities including Black and Latine income and assets, homeownership, and investment in underinvested communities. Its 2024 median grant was $25,000, though awards varied widely; funding generally benefits Chicago-region residents. It accepts applications for listed open opportunities through GrantCentral; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests outside those opportunities.

University of Chicago Medical Center

Chicago, IL

The University of Chicago Medical Center funds community health programs addressing chronic disease, violence prevention and behavioral health, and social needs such as access to care, food and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $6,600 to $134,310, with a median of $10,000, primarily for organizations serving its 12 South Side ZIP codes. Community benefit grants are currently unavailable; it accepts sponsorship applications on a rolling basis for current-fiscal-year events.

The Joyce Foundation

Chicago, IL

The Joyce Foundation funds policy research, development, and advocacy advancing racial equity and economic mobility, across areas including education, the environment, democracy, culture, gun violence prevention and justice reform, and journalism. Its grants primarily support work in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin; the 2024 median grant was $80,000, with awards ranging from $685 to $1 million. It accepts online letters of inquiry year-round, but formal proposals are by invitation only.

Enterprise Holdings Foundation

Saint Louis, MO

The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports education, environmental stewardship, disaster relief, hunger relief, health, arts, and community needs, with emphasis on organizations connected to Enterprise employees, their families, or established customers. It gives across communities where Enterprise operates; its 2024 median grant was $3,000, though grants ranged widely. Applications are accepted at any time, but the profile does not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.

Chicago Cred Inc

Chicago, IL

Chicago CRED funds violence prevention, trauma care, outreach, education, job training, and community well-being, primarily in Chicago’s South and West Side communities; nearly all 2024 grant dollars went to Illinois recipients. In 2024, grants ranged from $2,000 to $3.8 million, with a median of $50,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.

Chicago Beyond Inc

Chicago, IL

Chicago Beyond funds community-rooted solutions addressing systemic inequity, with a focus on leaders closest to the issues and areas including birth and reproductive care, mental health, justice, and community safety. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $1.5 million, with a median of $250,000; it funds in Chicago and nationally. It does not accept unsolicited funding requests or nominations.

Field Foundation of Illinois

Chicago, IL

The Field Foundation of Illinois funds Chicago community power-building through arts and culture, resident-led community work, journalism and storytelling, and leadership awards, with a focus on the South and West Sides. Its 2025 grants ranged from $300 to $1,156,480, with a median of $25,000; application access varies by program, including open or rolling opportunities for some, while Community Investments is invitation-based.

Harper Court Arts Council Inc

Chicago, IL

John D and Catherine T Macarthur

Chicago, IL

The foundation funds a broad range of work, including journalism, arts, Chicago communities, climate and clean energy, homelessness, human rights, and criminal justice reform. Its 2024 grants had a median of $160,000, with awards ranging from $450 to $21 million; funding is nationwide, with the largest shares going to New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Application rules vary by program: some accept self-nominations or Letters of Inquiry, while others generally do not fund unsolicited proposals.

The Allstate Foundation

Northbrook, IL

The Allstate Foundation, the charitable arm of Allstate Corporation, empowers vulnerable populations through funding in youth empowerment, relationship abuse prevention, racial equity, and workforce readiness. Grants typically range from $100 to $2 million, with a median award of $1,000 and average grant of $16,400, supported by annual charitable disbursements exceeding $38 million. The foundation focuses its grantmaking nationally across the United States.

Arthur J Gallagher Foundation

Rolling Meadows, IL

The Arthur J Gallagher Foundation, established in 1964, primarily administers employee-matching gifts for organizations working in education, human services, and philanthropy. With over $1.6 million in annual giving and typical grants ranging from $10 to $136,000, the foundation made nearly 2,000 grants in 2023. The foundation focuses its grantmaking on organizations located in Illinois, California, and New York.

Elks National Foundation Inc

Chicago, IL

The Elks National Foundation funds scholarships, youth programs, veterans services, disaster relief, and community projects, primarily through Elks Lodges and state associations in communities across the United States where Elks live and work. Its 2025 grants had a median of $8,500, though amounts varied widely; the listed Beacon and Freedom Grants are limited to Elks Lodges. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.