Emergency Relief Fund
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- One-time opportunity
- Tracked since
- April 2026
Source: the cycle recorded on this listing. Confirm dates with the funder.
Overview
Geographic Scope: Chicago, Illinois
Background: This fund was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to provide emergency relief to organizations serving youth.
What They Funded: Emergency grants to support nonprofits serving youth and families during the COVID-19 crisis
Current Status: While the fund is no longer actively accepting COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund applications, A Better Chicago recognizes that pandemic impacts continue to affect youth and nonprofits.
Alternative Path: Organizations focused on creating opportunity for Black and Latinx youth from low-income backgrounds are encouraged to apply to be included in A Better Chicago's core portfolio of grantees instead.
Core Investment Areas for Portfolio:
- Education (early childhood through post-secondary)
- Careers
- Social-emotional development
- Basic needs
What A Better Chicago actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 25
- Total given
- $3.5M
- Median grant
- $125K
- Range
- $10K–$300K
- By dollars: Illinois 84%, Massachusetts 9%, New York 4%. Top recipient cities: Chicago, IL; Jamaica Plain, MA; New York, NY.
- 0% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Example grants
Bottom Line · Jamaica Plain, MA
Community Development
$300K
Juvenile Protective Association · Chicago, IL
Community development
$300K
One Million Degrees · Chicago, IL
Community Development
$250K
Chicago Scholars · Chicago, IL
Community Development
$250K
Vocel Viewing Our Children as Emerging Leaders · Chicago, IL
Community Development
$225K
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- BIPOC
- Youth programs
Categories
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Listed date — confirm with the funder
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