Chicago Commitment: Advancing Leadership Grant

Chicago Commitment: Advancing Leadership Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation
Last Updated: December 01, 2025

Summary

The Chicago Commitment: Advancing Leadership Grant aims to support diverse leaders from historically marginalized communities, fostering equity and inclusion in civic engagement. This initiative seeks to empower individuals who face systemic barriers, enabling them to influence decision-making and contribute to a more equitable Chicago. By funding leadership programs and individual leaders, the grant addresses urgent community needs while promoting collaboration among organizations to enhance their impact on societal change.

Overview

NOTE: While we are open to new relationships, we are currently prioritizing longstanding grantee partners. We generally do not fund unsolicited proposals; however, we do review them. Although very few are selected for funding, we review unsolicited proposals that meet our guidelines. Organizations that wish to be considered for support may submit a brief description of their leadership program through our grants portal. In addition, we are eager to learn about organizations that have not previously received support. Our Mission We are committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. The world is more just when actions are inclusive, and fair, where past and present barriers are removed to provide equitable access, treatment, consideration, and opportunity. The world is more verdant and abundant when the planet and its people flourish. The world is more peaceful when people are free from fear, conflict, violence, and war. We believe that the people closest to the ground know best how to respond to the pressing challenges of the communities we seek to serve. Our support is centered on mutual respect, learning, and relationship building. We follow the lead of individuals and organizations rooted in spaces, communities, and experiences, investing in their ideas and giving them space to grow. We focus resources on promising solutions to pressing challenges and embrace creative thinking to increase the odds of meaningful change. Chicago Commitment Chicago is a global city with vibrant, diverse neighborhoods and a strong civic culture. And yet historical and current systemic racism creates unequal access to resources and opportunities for Black, Latine, Indigenous, Asian, LGBTQIA+, and disabled people and communities—especially when these multiple identities intersect. A resilient and dynamic Chicago region is dependent upon a more equitable Chicago, where every Chicagoan has the opportunity to prosper and contribute to their community and where Chicago’s diverse voices are elevated, recognized, respected, and included. We focus on strengthening local organizations including the creative sector; supporting civic partnerships on timely issues; investing in vital communities; and advancing influential leaders with a diversity of experiences and a commitment to racial equity. Our Areas of Focus Our focus areas were designed with the priorities of Chicagoans in mind—taking heed of what residents and leaders believe are the most urgent concerns and promising solutions. Civic PartnershipsLeading or participating in partnerships to address critical or timely challenges with the goal of advancing racial equity and building a more inclusive Chicago.Vital CommunitiesInvesting targeted resources in a small number of place-based initiatives and organizations that provide infrastructure support to neighborhoods.Advancing LeadershipPromoting and advancing leaders committed to diversity whose influence will inform and improve decision making across the city.Culture, Equity, and the ArtsReflecting diverse creative sector voices and sustaining the creative life of the city. Advancing Leadership In conversations with dozens of individuals and organizations across the city of Chicago, we heard a call to support leaders who reflect the city's population. In the private, public, and philanthropic sectors, many individuals who are leaders in their communities, professional fields, or interest areas are not heard in public discourse. Structural racism has prevented many leaders from being considered for leadership roles. Other forms of discrimination and classism hinder the ability of some leaders to gain recognition for the wisdom and expertise they have earned through lived experience. Our goal is to promote and advance leaders who face or have faced adversity, discrimination, or prejudice to increase their representation across the civic sector; foster their ability to influence decisions; and use their leadership skills to advance policies and practices that contribute to a more equitable Chicago.We include leaders who represent a broad array of Chicago residents and communities and who reflect diversity across multiple dimensions. The Chicago Commitment supports leadership advancement within our three focus areas: Culture, Equity, and the Arts Vital Communities Civic Partnerships Within these areas, we seek to advance equity by expanding access to a wide range of leadership opportunities and by fostering conditions that recognize and support people who bring diverse experiences and perspectives to leadership positions. Our approach consists of these components: Support for Leadership ProgramsOur priority is to support current and emerging leaders from historically marginalized backgrounds and disinvested communities as they pursue leadership advancement opportunities. We identify and fund leadership programs that:Reflect, serve, and amplify the voices of leaders across Chicago, with an emphasis on communities that have been underrepresented in civic discourse;Are led by and/or predominantly staffed by individuals able to effectively represent communities most affected by structural racism, discrimination, or disinvestment;Provide an in-depth, cohort-based experience over the course of several months, enhancing individual leadership skills, building resiliency in nonprofit leaders, and expanding professional networks; andDemonstrate a clear connection to the arts, community and economic development, or community safety and violence prevention sectors, or substantial participation by staff members of existing grantee organizations in the Culture, Equity, and the Arts; Vital Communities; and Civic Partnerships focus areas.We also consider support for efforts to develop collaborative projects and alumni networking among existing leadership programs.Support for Individual LeadersIn 2019, we launched a collaborative initiative with the Field Foundation of Illinois entitled Leaders for a New Chicago. These awards support individuals who are leaders in their communities, professional fields, or interest areas and work in the Field Foundation’s focus areas of arts, justice, or media and storytelling. This program advances equity and access to opportunity; it fosters conditions that recognize and promote people who bring a broad diversity of background and experience to leadership positions.Leaders for a New Chicago awards $50,000 to 10 to 15 recipients a year: a no-strings attached $25,000 award to enable individuals to pursue their own self-defined goals, and a $25,000 general operating grant for the individuals' affiliated nonprofit organizations. The program supported 65 recipients during its first six years.Support for Leadership Advancement Within OrganizationsOrganizations with a strong infrastructure can often reduce stress on their leaders and prevent the loss of talented staff. To this end, we offer awards to organizations to improve their effectiveness through technical assistance and capacity building.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not provide funding for the following:Scholarships or tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate studiesGrants to individuals, except for Leaders for a New Chicago, and the MacArthur Fellows Program, which is not open to applications or public nominationsAnnual fundraising drivesPaid advertisementsPolitical activities or attempts to influence action on specific legislation