A Better Chicago logo

A Better Chicago Grantee Portfolio Program

A Better Chicago

Foundation Grants for BIPOCGrants for Youth ProgramsGrants for EducationGrants for Mental Health
Apply Now

Funding Amount

Varies

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

A Better Chicago Grantee Portfolio Program

Status: Currently NOT soliciting applications. Interest forms accepted on a rolling basis.

Geographic Scope: Chicago, Illinois

Funder: A Better Chicago

Focus Areas:

  • Education (early childhood through post-secondary)

  • Careers (through middle skill and high school diploma pathways)

  • Social-emotional development

  • Trauma-informed mental health

  • Essential needs/basic needs

    • Target Population:

  • Black and Latinx youth from low-income backgrounds

  • Nonprofit organizations and initiatives at different stages of development

    • Investment Approach:
    A Better Chicago uses a multi-step process and invests in organizations at different stages of development through multiple fund categories:

  • Catalyst Fund: Supporting community-embedded leaders with innovative approaches (recent investments: $75K-$518K)

  • Venture Fund: Seed investments in promising organizational models ready to scale (recent investments: $936K-$1.3M)

  • Growth Fund: Significant investments to grow successful organizations with strong track records (recent investments: $732K-$3M)

  • Alumni Fund: Former actively managed investments with proven impact that ABC continues to champion

    • What They DO Fund:

  • Established programs with a track record of success

  • Promising early-stage models

  • Nonprofit organizations focused on creating opportunity for Black and Latinx youth from low-income backgrounds

  • Programs addressing education, careers, social-emotional development, mental health, and essential needs

    • Investment Support: Growth capital and capacity-building support

    Contact: grants@abetterchicago.org

    Website: abetterchicago.org

    How to Apply

    Application Process

    Current Status: Not currently soliciting applications for general funding.

    How to Apply

    1. Interest Form: Submit a General Interest Form to share information about your organization or initiative
    2. Review Timeline: Given limited team capacity, interest forms will be reviewed on a rolling basis
    3. Contact: For general questions about the application process, email grants@abetterchicago.org

    Required Information

    See the General Interest Form for specific requirements (detailed form fields not provided in source materials)

    Note

    Organizations are encouraged to submit an interest form even though applications are not currently being solicited, as this allows A Better Chicago to maintain awareness of potential future grantees.

    Apply with Grantable Learn more

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    bipocyouth-programseducationmental-health

    Categories

    Browse similar grants by category

    Grants for BIPOCGrants for Youth ProgramsGrants for EducationGrants for Mental Health

    Related Grants

    Similar grants from this funder and related organizations

    Foundation

    Misinformation Challenge Grant

    Amount

    $110,000 (total pool for 2022)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Foundation

    Capacity Building Grant

    Amount

    Varies

    Deadline

    October 3, 2026

    Annual
    Foundation

    Community Change Grants

    Amount

    Varies (examples include $1,500 grants)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual
    Foundation

    Brighter Future Fund

    Amount

    Up to $5,000

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    One-time
    Foundation

    Rally for Tomorrow Sustainability Grants

    Amount

    $50,000 total (2024 awards: $25,000, $15,000, $10,000)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual
    Foundation

    ARRAY + Google Feature Film Grant

    Amount

    $500,000

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual

    Ready to apply for A Better Chicago Grantee Portfolio Program?

    Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.

    Apply with Grantable Learn more