Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Resiliency Initiative

Overview

Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Resiliency Initiative

The Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Resiliency (Iris Krieg F.A.I.R. Fund) is a special fund of Bright Promises Foundation that supports youth leadership and civic engagement. Changing our understanding of young people requires that we directly confront our personal and institutional understandings of youth and our personal and institutional identities as change agents. Young people have organized to tell us what they want to see change, and we need to pay attention to what they are doing and ask how we can support them as change agents.

A major advantage of this form of youth participation is that it can empower young people to have a significant impact on policies, decisions, or outcomes that were traditionally under the exclusive control and direction of adults, such as legislative or political processes.

Core Tenets of the F.A.I.R. Fund:

* Fairness - A society rooted in justice where all young people are treated as they deserve.
* Access - A society where all young people have equal and equitable opportunities and where any actual or potential barriers preventing equitable participation are removed.
* Inclusion - A society that eliminates all forms of exclusion and discrimination and seeks, develops, and values the talents of all young people.
* Resiliency - A society where young people are taught the skills to navigate life successfully and to thrive under any circumstances.

Eligibility

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Application Details

“We must care for and create a better world for our
children and youth. They are the framers of our future.”

Iris Krieg

A300
Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion and Resiliency
2025 Guidelines
The Iris Krieg Fund for Fairness, Access, Inclusion, and Resiliency (Iris Krieg F.A.I.R. Fund) is a
special fund of Bright Promises Foundation that supports youth leadership and civic
engagement.
Changing our understanding of young people requires that we directly confront our personal
and institutional understandings of youth and our personal and institutional identities as
change agents. Young people have organized to tell us what they want to see change, and we
need to pay attention to what they are doing and ask how we can support them as change
agents.
A major advantage of this form of youth participation is that it can empower young people to
have a significant impact on policies, decisions, or outcomes that were traditionally under the
exclusive control and direction of adults, such as legislative or political processes.
Core Tenets of the F.A.I.R. Fund:
• Fairness - A society rooted in justice where all young people are treated as they deserve.
• Access - A society where all young people have equal and equitable opportunities and
where any actual or potential barriers preventing equitable participation are removed.
• Inclusion - A society that eliminates all forms of exclusion and discrimination and seeks,
develops, and values the talents of all young people.
• Resiliency - A society where young people are taught the skills to navigate life
successfully and to thrive under any circumstances.
Grant Details:
Through this fund, selected organizations will receive one-time grants of up to $20,000
each. Two organizations per year will be selected. Programs funded by this initiative help young
people develop skills and gain experiences that highlight the importance of their voices in
democracy. The goal is to increase civic participation and democratic decision-making among
diverse youth in Chicagoland.
200 W. Madison Street, Suite 300 | Chicago, IL 60606 | www.brightpromises.org

“We must care for and create a better world for our
children and youth. They are the framers of our future.”

Iris Krieg

A300
Programs should help children and youth conceptualize and conduct projects by working
cooperatively in small or large groups while adults observe and assist without interfering with
the process or playing a directive role. Participation in programs funded by this initiative should
be youth-initiated, youth directed and constitute shared decisions with adults.
While F.A.I.R. Fund grants are designated to support a specific project or program area, Bright
Promises seeks to provide flexible support. There are no restrictions or requirements for how
grant funds must be used, so long as they support direct youth engagement in the program
described in the proposal.
Who Should Apply?
• Organizations that prioritize and center young people as decision-makers and agents of
change.
• Organizations that provide young people opportunities for authentic youth engagement
and youth leadership.
• Organizations with programs focused on increasing youth civic and democratic
engagement.
Eligibility Requirements:
• Must have 501(c)3 IRS designation or fiscal agent and primarily serve children and youth
in the Metropolitan Chicago Area;
• Funds must support a specific program or project. The program or project can be new or
ongoing.
• Agencies cannot operate as a public school or as part of a public school district;
• Be passionate about equity, social justice, and promoting an anti-racist culture.
Bright Promises Foundation will not fund:
● Proposals from individual schools. Proposals from external organizations that work in
schools either during the school day or out-of-school time are eligible to apply.
● General operating requests.
● Programs that occur outside of the Metropolitan Chicago Area. National organizations
can only apply if the funded program occurs within our area of geographic focus and
there is a local office with dedicated staff.
● Organizations that do not have 501(c)3 IRS designated nonprofit status unless there is a
fiscal agent.
200 W. Madison Street, Suite 300 | Chicago, IL 60606 | www.brightpromises.org

“We must care for and create a better world for our
children and youth. They are the framers of our future.”

Iris Krieg

A300
● Organizations that do not have a strong record of promoting children and youths’ well-
being as a core part of their mission or that have a philosophy that does not align with
the principles for which Bright Promises stands.
● Organizations that discriminate based on race, religion, ability, gender or sexual
orientation. Programs serving a specific gender or other subpopulations will be
considered;
● Programs that are oriented around a specific religion or religious teachings. Religious
organizations may apply if the program for which funding is being sought is not religious
in nature.
How to Apply: Please click here to create an account to get started. The full list of questions
included in the LOI is available here. The timeline for submitting a request is below.
• Letter of Inquiry – Due 6/13
• Full proposal (if invited) – Due 7/18
• Grant decision – By mid-September
Questions?: Please contact Tiffany McQueen, Program Officer, at
tiffany.mcqueenlewis@brightpromises.org or 312-848-5744 with questions concerning the
grant program, the application process, or general inquiries.
200 W. Madison Street, Suite 300 | Chicago, IL 60606 | www.brightpromises.org