South Side Giving Circle
/OVERVIEW: The South Side Giving Circle of the Chicago Women’s Foundation supports gender equality, racial equality, economic security, freedom from violence and access to health care and information on Chicago’s South Side and the South Suburbs.
IP TAKE: Black middle school and high school girls are a top priority for this funder. Apply for funding via the Chicago Women’s Foundation.
PROFILE: Established in the spring of 2018, the South Side Giving Circle (SSGC) is a giving circle led by the Chicago Women’s Foundation. This funder prioritizes “gender and racial equity for women and girls living in Chicago’s South Side and South Suburbs.” Grantmaking includes gender equality, racial equality, economic security, freedom from violence and access to health care and information.
To become a member of this giving circle, women contribute $500 to $1,000 annually, with the goal of increasing contributions over time. Most donors are from Chicago’s South Side or southern suburbs. The giving circle announced its first grants in early 2019 and made five grants totaling $33,000. A major focus is supporting organizations that offer Black women a means to grow their political power and raise awareness for inequities that Black women and girls face. Paste grantees have conducted mentoring programs, digital storytelling programs, non-violent communication programs, breast cancer mortality reduction programs and after-school programs for girls. Past grantees include Polished Pebbles, Assata’s Daughters and the Sisters Network Chicago Chapter.
Giving circle grants typically range from $3,000 to $10,000 each. This particular giving circle exclusively focuses on the South Side of Chicago and the city’s southern suburbs. View the news section on the Chicago Women’s Foundation website to learn more about giving circle grants.
SSGC does not specify its own grantmaking procedures and deadlines on its website, but grantseekers may apply through the Chicago Foundation for Women’s application portal. Prospective applicants should contact the staff prior to submitting an application. Direct general questions to the philanthropic education officer for the giving circle, Eli Marsh, at 312-577-2825 or emarsh@cfw.org.
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