Cultivate: Women* of Color Leadership (Cultivate) is a joint effort of Woods Fund Chicago, Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), Crossroads Fund, Walder Foundation, and the Chicago Community Trust.

Last week marked the beginning of the 2023-24 school year in Chicago.

Read this month's newsletter to learn how we are seizing opportunities within and beyond philanthropy.

Last Wednesday, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his appointees to the Chicago Board of Education (CBOE), and I was among them.

Check out this op-ed by Woods Fund Chicago's Board Chair, L. Anton Seals, in Inside Philanthropy.

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.

Woods Fund Chicago celebrates the milestone anniversaries of our grantee partners and we share our favorite reflections on Pride Month and Juneteenth Freedom Day.

Woods Fund Chicago President, Michelle Morales, and Kelly Suzanne Saulsberry, Communications Strategy & Storytelling Officer, reflect upon attending the NFG Connection 2023 National Convening

Reflections on the NFG Connection 2023 Convening in Wilmington, North Carolina

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.

“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

The Woods Fund Chicago March newsletter is out now 📰

Celebrate Black History Month with the latest Woods Fund Chicago newsletter!

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

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.

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.

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. 

Woods Fund Chicago’s New Board Members Advance the Foundation’s Commitment to Centering Community Organizing, Philanthropic Advocacy, and Socially Conscious Investing

"The process of pausing to reflect is important in our work of systemic, institutional, and transformative change."

Read about the wonderful in-person gatherings we hosted for new and returning grantee partners, an interview with Deborah Clark…