CFF Education program Grants

The Christopher Family Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations focused on strengthening families and communities, particularly in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. Their Education Program supports schools and nonprofits that create safe and inclusive environments for youth, emphasizing out-of-school learning. The Foundation prioritizes programs with clear success metrics and encourages organizations to continuously improve their approaches. This commitment aims to enhance community vitality through collaborative efforts and effective educational strategies.

The Christopher Family Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose work helps strengthen and sustain strong families and communities. Most organizations we support are in Chicago, with particular emphasis on the Austin neighborhood.
The Foundation’s Education Program partners with schools and nonprofits that provide safe, culturally affirming, and inclusive spaces for young people to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. CFF emphasizes support for out-of-school time programs that expand learning beyond the school day.
Additionally, as part of CFF’s place-based approach and in response to the education strategies outlined in Austin’s 2018 Quality-of-Life plan, Austin Forward. Together., the Foundation also partners directly with several West Side schools to provide additional programs and wraparound supports to Austin students and families.

Eligibility

Organizations that support residents of the West Side of Chicago, especially the Austin neighborhood.Programs with an articulated standard for excellence.Organizations that are actively and always trying to learn from their work, and improve their approaches, even if that involves risk.Openness to shared learning, to working collaboratively, and to advancing the field.In all program areas, CFF wants to see good program design, clear measurements for success, and incorporation of evaluation. The Foundation wants to know what will be different, not just what was done.CFF only funds nonprofit organizations. CFF will consider a grant for general operating support for an organization that meets Foundation criteria.

Ineligibility

In general, the Foundation does not make grants to individuals, governmental entities, or 509(a)(3) supporting organizations, although exceptions are sometimes made for publicly supported charities. The foundation does not fund policy advocacy.