Big Change Requires Bold Funding: Why We're Upping our Annual Grantee Payout to 11%
Check out this op-ed by Woods Fund Chicago's Board Chair, L. Anton Seals, in Inside Philanthropy.
In Wake of SCOTUS Rulings, Woods Fund Chicago Remains Explicitly Committed to Racial Justice
Last Thursday, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled the race-conscious affirmative action policies at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (UNC) unconstitutional, a win for Students for Fair Admissions, Inc.
June 2023 Newsletter // Juneteenth, Pride, and a Month of Milestones
Woods Fund Chicago celebrates the milestone anniversaries of our grantee partners and we share our favorite reflections on Pride Month and Juneteenth Freedom Day.
May 2023 Newsletter // How to Fund Movements Building Power
Woods Fund Chicago President, Michelle Morales, and Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry, Communications Strategy & Storytelling Officer, reflect upon attending the NFG Connection 2023 National Convening
How to Fund Movements Building Power
Reflections on the NFG Connection 2023 Convening in Wilmington, North Carolina
Resourcing Trust-Based Philanthropy
A year ago, Woods Fund Chicago launched our strategic plan — a map to guide us in becoming a more aligned, accountable, and bolder foundation. This stimulating process invited us to interrogate every aspect of the organization.
April 2023 Newsletter // Practicing Trust-Based Philanthropy
“Organizational leaders initiating change must not only commit to making the change, but resourcing the change, even when it involves risk and discomfort.” — Michelle Morales, President, Woods Fund Chicago
March 2023 Newsletter // Expanding Our Team, Tapping Our Talents & Developing Our Leadership
The Woods Fund Chicago March newsletter is out now 📰
FEBRUARY 2023 NEWSLETTER // THANK YOU: HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Celebrate Black History Month with the latest Woods Fund Chicago newsletter!
Grantee Partner Spotlight: MAMAS with April Ward, MAMAS Collective member
MAMAS is a feminist of color reproductive justice collective that uplifts the activism of people who conduct mothering and caring forms of labor among Black, indigenous, and people of color-based communities
Grantee Partner Spotlight: Not Me We with Dixon Romeo, Executive Director
Not Me We, founded in 2020, is a grassroots community group building power for Black, poor, and working-class people in South Shore and adjacent neighborhoods.
President Michelle Morales reflects on her friendship with former Board Member Laurence Msall
He was the biggest champion of the Foundation increasing its payout to 11%, starting in 2023. When the Board was considering this decision toward the end of last year, Laurence stated unequivocally that the role of Woods Fund Chicago is to walk the talk by prioritizing the needs of our grantee partners over the longevity of our corpus.
January 2023 Newsletter // Advancing Advocacy in the New Year
Woods Fund Chicago is expanding #advocacy in the new year. We're thrilled to welcome Dayo Harris (she/they), Kimberley Rudd (she/her), Matt Reilein (he/him), Rey Wences (they/them), and Stacey Sutton (she/they) to our Board of Directors.
Meet our new Board of Directors!
Woods Fund Chicago’s New Board Members Advance the Foundation’s Commitment to Centering Community Organizing, Philanthropic Advocacy, and Socially Conscious Investing
Looking Back on 2022: A Year of Fortifying our Fidelity to Racial Justice.
"The process of pausing to reflect is important in our work of systemic, institutional, and transformative change."
The Woods Fund Chicago November newsletter is out now!
Read about the wonderful in-person gatherings we hosted for new and returning grantee partners, an interview with Deborah Clark…
Interview with Deborah Clark about the Breakin’ It Down Conference
Deborah Clark, Director of Grants Management and Assistant Corporate Secretary, Woods Fund Chicago and a Planning Committee Member of the Breakin’ It Down Conference, explains the origins of the conference, what attendees can look forward to, and how individuals and organizations can support it in the future.
POSITION CLOSED: Join the Woods Fund Chicago team!
Woods Fund Chicago is looking for a dynamic individual excited about joining a new team during a period of organizational, programmatic, and culture change to manage the Foundation’s grantmaking portfolio.
The Woods Fund Chicago October newsletter is out now!
Read about the $1.3M+ funded to 38 Chicago organizations, including three new core grantee partners that have been invited to our core grantmaking portfolio
Woods Fund Chicago announces Fall Grantee Partners including new core grantee partners
In May, Woods Fund Chicago opened our submission process for prospective and returning grantee partners for the Fall Cycle 2022 grantmaking cycle.