The first newsletter of 2024 is here! Caroline McCoy, Vice President of Programs, shares exciting announcements on how Woods Fund Chicago is "creating more space to further deepen our trust-based philanthropy practice," from multi-year unrestricted grants, changes in our grantmaking cycles, strengthening our internal processes, and more!

Woods Fund Chicago is ushering in 2024 with two exciting additions to our Board of Directors: Jose Oliva, Campaigns Director at HEAL (Health Environment Agriculture and Labor) Food Alliance, and Quinn K. Rallins, Civil Rights Lawyer at Loevy & Loevy.

It's the last newsletter of the year! This month, we look back at 2023, including sharing exciting updates on Woods Fund Chicago's 2022-24 strategic plan progress.

“In the struggle for racial justice and systemic change, what will it take to recalibrate our leadership?"

President Michelle Morales on Reflecting, Recalibrating, and Reimagining

Woods Fund Chicago President Michelle Morales' statement on displacement.

Read about the $1.6M+ funded to 45 Chicago organizations, including new core grantee partners

In this month's newsletter, Woods Fund Chicago highlights grantee partners at the forefront of labor organizing.

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 📰