Peoples Gas is the founding sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund
A Fund to Create a More Equitable Chicago
Historic disinvestment in BIPOC communities throughout Chicago has led to the current racial, social, and economic issues impacting families and residents on the city’s South and West Sides and in the south suburban region.
New research by Echoing Green and The Bridgespan Group has shown that leaders of color face challenges connecting to funders, building rapport, and securing and sustaining support for culturally relevant strategies. This has led to significant disparities in investment, including Black-led organizations dedicated to improving outcomes for Black men having revenue that is 45% lower than organizations with white leaders. UNEF is a philanthropic commitment to addressing these barriers and creating a more equitable and just Chicago.
Benefits of the Fund
Unrestricted Funding
Each grantee will be awarded $50,000 of unrestricted funds (over a 2-year cycle) to be used according to the needs of each agency
Capacity Building
Spend 24 months engaging in individual and group capacity-building sessions with DePaul University faculty and other professionals
Networking & Relationships
Join a cohort with agency peers, build new cross-sector relationships, and network with potential funders and investors
2022 – 2024 GRANT GUIDELINES
The Fund is intended to support small organizations located on Chicago’s South and West Sides and in the south suburban region, ideally aligned with United Way of Metro Chicago’s Neighborhood Network coalitions. Organizations with BIPOC leadership, rooted and respected in local communities, and with an interest in building new capacity are encouraged to apply.
The application for the 2022-2024 grant is now closed. Grantees will be decided, notified, and announced in the coming months. For questions about UNEF, please email UnitedNeighborhoodsEquityFund@LIVEUNITEDchicago.org.
Eligibility requirements for applicants:
| • | BIPOC Founder or Executive Director |
| • | Budget of less than $1,000,000 |
| • | 501c3 status or fiscal sponsor |
| • | Grassroots organizations supporting community work at the intersection of economic development and social services |
| • | Nominated by a United Way Network lead agency, UNEF corporate partner, or United Way staff member |
| • | Working on Chicago’s South Side or West Side or in the south suburban region, ideally aligned with one of United Way’s Neighborhood Network coalitions |
Application and grant cycle timeline:
| • | August 15, 2022 – Applications Due |
| • | September 6, 2022 – Grantees Notified |
| • | September 9, 2022 – Grantees Announced |
UNEF GRANTEES
10 BIPOC nonprofit leaders and their organizations are awarded $50,000 of unrestricted funds over a two-year cycle to be used according to the needs of each nonprofit. Learn more about each of the grantees from each grant cycle.
2021 – 2023 Grantees
2022 – 2024 Grantees
Sponsors and Partners
IMC is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund
Nicor Gas is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund
Target is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund
UL is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund