Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
/OVERVIEW: The Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago supports programs that promote positive change in the lives women and girls and prioritizes Jewish women and girls. Chicago is a geographic area of priority for this funder, but it also makes grants in Israel and worldwide. Its past grantmaking areas include economic security, legal reform, education, leadership development and health and well-being for Jewish women and girls
IP TAKE: There are many opportunities here for Chicago groups that serve women and girls. This funder accepts unsolicited applications for funding.
PROFILE: Established in 1997, the Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (JWF) began as an independent project of the Jewish United Fund and has since grown to become the largest Jewish women’s foundation in the U.S. Today, it is an independent project of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and is composed of more than 300 trustees that span generations of women dedicated to improving the lives of Jewish women and girls. The foundation aims to “expand and improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women's and girls' lives through strategic and effective grantmaking.” Grantmaking areas of interest are economic security, legal reform, education, leadership development and health and well-being for Jewish women and girls.
This is a funder that brings both a Jewish and a gender lens to its grantmaking. When reviewing applications, the foundation considers releveant social and/or women’s issues on multiple levels, including the engagement of women, community behavior and shifting institutions, systems and policies. While the foundation offers both general operating support and specific funding, general operating support is offered only to organizations that promote social change for Jewish women.
The minimum grant amount for Chicago groups is $7,500 and the maximum is around $25,000. Recent Chicago grantees include GirlForward, the Holocaust Memorial Foundation of Illinois, Metro Chicago Hillel and No Shame on U. View a database of past grantees on the funder’s website.
JWF accepts unsolicited grant inquiries from local nonprofits. In the past, the open letter of intent period has run from April through May. The foundation makes final grant notifications by December 31. Each year in January, JWF has an annual meeting to review the progress from the previous year and set the agenda for the new year ahead. Direct general questions to the foundation staff at 312-357-4850 or via online form.
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