Woods Fund Chicago
Woods Fund Chicago is a bold grantmaker that partners with communities to fight the brutality of structural racism and economic injustice. It promotes social, economic, and racial justice through the support of community organizing, coalition building, and public policy advocacy from grantee partners activating the people that are most impacted.
We believe
Structural racism is a root cause of many challenges facing communities and is a significant barrier to eradicating poverty. Dismantling structural racism in society is a means to correct social and economic injustices.
Community organizing and public policy advocacy efforts lead to comprehensive, authentic, relevant, and sustainable solutions.
Systemic change is the only way to eradicate poverty and structural racism and the people most affected by poverty and racial inequity should be the leaders and participants in addressing issues that impact them.
Communities have greater strength, authority, and power through collaborative practice and collective voice.
Our Commitment
Woods Fund Chicago is committed to being an active partner and catalyst with organizations that share our mission and values.
Woods Fund Chicago Guiding Values
Amid 2020’s crises, Woods Fund Chicago made the decision to fundamentally change the approach to grantmaking, shifting instead to a model dedicated to dialogue and trust-based philanthropy. Woods Fund Chicago has committed to reducing the administrative burdens facing grantee partners so that they can focus on the critical work of organizing and advocating for a more just society.
Learn more about Woods Fund Chicago’s COVID-19 response.
“Marketized philanthropy turns the accountability upside down, making organizations responsive to funders and not the communities they are mandated to support.”
Fighting for Racial Justice
Examining all aspects of grantmaking through the lens of racial justice.
Woods Fund Chicago approaches all facets of the work with a foundation of racial justice. Woods Fund Chicago is committed to centering BIPOC voices, leadership, and organizing, as well as disrupting white supremacy culture, confronting power, redistributing resources, and creating systemic transformation for real change.
Trust-Based Philanthropy
Shifting power back into communities.
Woods Fund Chicago recognizes the long history of the inequitable power dynamic between funder and grantee. As a grantmaker, Woods Fund Chicago is committed to shifting power back into communities, actively listening to needs, and intentionally fostering collaboration. Those most impacted are best suited to lead the process of defining and solving problems; Woods Fund Chicago aims to connect deeply as a supportive and empowering partner in grantee partners' journeys towards justice.
Risk-Taking
Challenging the traditional models and systems of grantmaking.
Woods Fund Chicago challenges traditional models of grantmaking to eradicate its roots in white supremacy culture. Woods Fund Chicago's corpus and endowment will be used to support innovative community organizing and public policy advocacy to confront systemic poverty and racism.
Boldness
Acting courageously, creatively, and without apology.
As a grantmaker, Woods Fund Chicago leads the philanthropy sector beyond racial equality and toward racial justice, acting courageously, creatively, and without apology. Recognizing the locus of power as residing with community groups and grassroots organizations who often challenge governing systems, Woods Fund Chicago supports communities as they work to hold government accountable to the public good while disrupting the common philanthropic practice of directly funding or subsidizing government entities.
Accountability
Aligning practices with values.
Woods Fund Chicago cultivates a culture that values people over systems, leading with authenticity, humility, and transparency in order to build trusting relationships within the organization and with grantee partners. Woods Fund Chicago invites the social and racial justice communities it seeks to serve to hold the foundation accountable to its values.
For more information, please contact us at info@woodsfund.org.