Conant Family Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Conant Family Foundation provides general operating support to nonprofit organizations that promote racial, economic and gender justice.
IP TAKE: The foundation is an important source of support for grassroots social justice organizations working in Chicago. Initiatives are updated often, and some programs accept unsolicited applications, while others do not. Application due dates vary by program.
PROFILE: The Conant Family Foundation was founded in 2015 by the late Doris Conant. Conant was a civil rights organizer in Chicago in the 1960s, and she later founded Urban Innovations, a Chicago-based real estate investment company. Conant family members now oversee the family foundation, with Doris Conant’s granddaughter, Rachel Conant, serving as president. The foundation “carries forward a legacy of promoting basic human needs, dignity, and justice by partnering closely with organizations making a visible and direct impact on communities and individuals.” Recent funding initiatives include urban environmental justice, community organizing for racial justice and abortion access. The foundation also gives legacy grants to organizations with which its founder worked during her lifetime. Grantmaking is generally limited to the Chicago area.
Conant’s urban environmental grants support organizations that work toward environmental safety in Chicago’s low-income and minority communities. Grants have gone to projects that identify and aim to solve problems regarding air, water and soil contamination, as well as organizations that conduct health screenings and advocacy for individuals affected by environmental contaminants.
In the area of racial justice, the foundation supports grassroots organizations working in the areas of leadership development, direct services and the development and advocacy of equitable policy. Grants provide unrestricted operating support to organizations. In a recent year, $250,000 was allocated to this initiative, and about 75% of funding went to previous foundation grantees.
Conant’s abortion access funding works with pre-selected organizations that work to ensure women’s access to safe abortion procedures in Chicago and surrounding areas. In addition to direct services, the foundation supports advocacy and policy development for women’s reproductive rights.
Grants range from 5,000 to $100,000, with an average grant size of about $25,000. Recent Chicago grantees include the Chicago Foundation for Women, Connections for the Homeless, Chicago Public Media, Enlace Chicago and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization. See the foundation’s past grantees page for further information.
The Conant Family Foundation’s initiative change frequently, and some programs accept unsolicited applications, while others do not. Deadlines for applications are program specific. Prospective grantees can access application guidelines and information at the foundation’s website. The foundation's contact information for general questions is 312-970-3286 and Leslie@conantfamilyfoundation.org.
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