Chicago Foundation for Women
Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) is a public charity based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1985, it funds organizations and programs working to advance equity for women, girls, and gender-expansive people, with a stated focus on the Chicago region.
Key facts about Chicago Foundation for Women
In short: Chicago Foundation for Women gave $3.1M across 149 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in Illinois. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 36-3348160
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,074,590
- Grants made (2025)
- 149
- Average grant
- $20,635
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (25 of 148, 2025)
- Total assets
- $25,963,785
- Primary geography
- Illinois (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The Rapid Response Fund application period is closed; no application process or materials for other grant opportunities are specified here. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$26.0M
+1.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.1M
+10.4% YoY
Grant Count
149
-19.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+36.4% YoY
Is Chicago Foundation for Women open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 148 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 75% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−4%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
CFW’s mission is to invest in bold ideas, grassroots leadership, and local organizations dismantling barriers for women, girls, and gender-expansive people so that equity is possible and permanent.
Its four impact areas are expanding economic security and mobility, advancing reproductive justice, advancing freedom from violence, and improving access to health and wellness. CFW says it supports organizations and programs across these areas, with an emphasis on community-led leadership and addressing root causes of inequity.
Examples of grantees illustrate the range of work supported. BA NIA Inc describes its mission as providing culturally relevant holistic prenatal and postnatal services to reduce infant and maternal mortality. SISTA AFYA Community Care says it builds sustainable mental-wellness communities through affordable, culturally centered services and education. Chicago Women in Trades works to increase women’s participation in skilled trades and other blue-collar occupations and remove barriers to those careers. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not CFW’s.
Grantmaking
In filing-year 2025, itemized grants totaled **$3,074,590 across 149 grants**. Awards ranged from **$1,000 to $147,000**, with a median of **$15,000**. Separately, CFW’s description of its fiscal-year 2025 program activity reports **$3,075,590 through 214 grants**, supporting 150 organizations. These are two different reported totals and counts.
How to Apply
or materials for other grant opportunities are specified here.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Chicago Foundation for Women
Ready to take the next step with Chicago Foundation for Women?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CFW states that it supports organizations and their leaders throughout the greater Chicago area, including Cook, Lake, DuPage, Will, McHenry, and Kane counties. Filing-year 2025 grant data show that 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, with 1% going to New York and less than 1% each to Maryland and Tennessee.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 149 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $2.3M (2020) to $3.4M (2023). In 2025 it made 149 grants totaling $3.1M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Ba NIA Incorporated ($147K). Together the top 10 received $921K.
Grant Size Distribution
886 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 841 grants of 886 (95%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ba NIA Incorporated Chicago, IL | General Operating | $147,000 |
| Sista Afya Community Care NFP Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $130,000 |
| Life Is Work Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $118,000 |
| Teamwork Englewood Chicago, IL | 2025 Englewood Womens Initiative | $110,000 |
| Un Nuevo Despertar-a New Awakening Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $110,000 |
| Jane Addams Resource Corporation Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $74,000 |
| Chicago Women in Trades Chicago, IL | Advancing equity and inclusion for women in apprenticeship and employment | $65,000 |
| Everthrive Illinois Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $60,000 |
| Ladies of Virtue Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $54,000 |
| Equal Hope Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $53,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,963,785 | $3,266,968 | $6,513,632 | $3,074,590 | 149 |
| 2024 | $25,617,006 | $6,835,065 | $5,889,259 | $2,784,015 | 184 |
| 2023 | $23,723,909 | $7,924,915 | $6,397,441 | $3,350,100 | 139 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,963,785 | $25,617,006 | $23,723,909 |
| Revenue | $3,266,968 | $6,835,065 | $7,924,915 |
| Expenses | $6,513,632 | $5,889,259 | $6,397,441 |
| Net Investment Income | $-922,787 | $789,730 | $1,014,229 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 17, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 22, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jessica Sohl as board chair, Tanya G. Davis as treasurer, Gretchen Wolf as secretary, and Ann Marie Wright as immediate past chair. Listed directors include Angela Putnam, Naila Alexander, Joan Bacon, Alicia C. L. Bailey, Rebecca Brokmeier (through September 2024), and Deborah B. Cole.
Chicago Foundation for Women is led by Sunny Fischer, Interim CEO on every filing since 2024; 5 of 30 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sunny Fischer
Interim CEO
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$32K (2024) → $0 (2025)
Keenya Lambert
President & CEO
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$119K (2025)
Jessica Sohl
Board Chair
Director → Chair - Elect, 2023
Chair - Elect → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lora York
Director of Programs
Senior Program Officer → Director of Programs, 2025
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$100K (2023) → $131K (2025)
Betty Sanchez
Director of Finance
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2025)
Ilda Lagunas
Director of Donor & Community Engagement
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$122K (2025)
Wendy Vega-Huezo
Director of Human Resources
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$116K (2025)
Anita Mital
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Deborah B. Cole
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Bacon
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Regina Cross
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Susan M. Kurowski
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erica Duncan
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alicia C. L. Bailey
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Angela L. Putnam
Director
Director → Secretary, 2024
Secretary → Director, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Georgina E. Heard-Labonne
Director
Vice Chair & Advocacy Committee → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jill Lyons
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lauren Densham
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Norman B. Jones
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rebecca Brokmeier
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Lonigro
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fraya Lynn Hirschberg
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Naila Alexander
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anita Ponder
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gail Arthurs Krahenbuhl
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
George Kraniotis
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Mota
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Marie Wright
Immediate Past Chair
Chair-Elect → Chair, 2023
Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gretchen Wolf
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanya G. Davis
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (30)
- Former: Felicia Blakley (2022–2024) — President & CEO
- Former: Allison Clark (2020–2023) — Chair Appointment
- Former: Carmen Awadzi (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Kathleen McDonald (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Keri Holleb Hotaling (2020–2023) — Vice Chair & Program Committee
- Former: Linda Wagner (2020–2023) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Michael Narciso (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Silvia Rivera (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Jessyca Dudley (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Adolfo Hernandez (2023) — Director
- Former: Anel Ruiz (2023) — Senior Vice President
- Former: Jessi Moon (2023) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Kelly Smith Haley (2023) — Director
- Former: Scheagbe Grisby (2023) — Chief of Staff
- Former: Adela Cepeda (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Georgina Heard (2020–2022) — Vice Chair & Advocacy Committee
- Former: Kelly Smith-Haley (2020–2022) — Chair
- Former: Marie Osadjan (2020–2022) — Vice Chair & Resource Development
- Former: Munira Patel (2020–2022) — Vice Chair & Hr Committee
- Former: Tina Manikas (2020–2022) — Vice Chair & Communications Committee
- Former: Valerie Colletti (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kelly Norton (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Lasaia Wade (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Toi Hutchinson (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Felicia Davis (2020–2021) — President & CEO
- Former: Sarah Hurwit Gomel (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Emily Dreke (2021) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Harlene Ellin (2020) — Director
- Former: James Alexander (2020) — Director
- Former: Patricia Slovak (2020) — Officer & Past Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $131K, to Lora York (Director of Programs). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 140 South Dearborn Street 400, Chicago, IL 60603
Phone: (312) 577-2833
Website: https://cfw.org
Frequently asked questions about Chicago Foundation for Women
How much does Chicago Foundation for Women give each year?
Chicago Foundation for Women gave $3.1M across 149 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.8M across 184 grants.
What is Chicago Foundation for Women's typical grant size?
Chicago Foundation for Women's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $20,635, across 149 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Chicago Foundation for Women that year got $6K on average.
Where does Chicago Foundation for Women give grants?
Chicago Foundation for Women gives mostly in Illinois: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (120 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Evanston, IL (2 grants) and Park Ridge, IL (2 grants).
Does Chicago Foundation for Women give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of Chicago Foundation for Women's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (115 of 149) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Chicago Foundation for Women's largest grantees?
Chicago Foundation for Women's largest 2025 grantees include Ba NIA Incorporated ($147,000), Sista Afya Community Care NFP ($130,000) and Life Is Work ($118,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Chicago Foundation for Women?
Chicago Foundation for Women reported $26.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.3M.
What does Chicago Foundation for Women fund?
CFW’s mission is to invest in bold ideas, grassroots leadership, and local organizations dismantling barriers for women, girls, and gender-expansive people so that equity is possible and permanent. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chicago Foundation for Women?
The Rapid Response Fund application period is closed; no application process or materials for other grant opportunities are specified here. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chicago Foundation for Women's EIN?
Chicago Foundation for Women's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3348160. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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Chicago Foundation for Women down — hundreds of funders to go?