Impact Grants Chicago Funds

Impact Grants Chicago is a women-led philanthropic collective that awards significant funding annually to nonprofit organizations working to address critical social issues and needs in the city of Chicago. Their signature grantmaking initiative provides unrestricted $100,000 grants to nonprofits based and operating within Chicago, with services also concentrated within the city. These grants are designed to support high-impact work and give organizations the flexibility to allocate funds where they are most needed. Each year, the number of $100,000 Impact Grants awarded depends on membership levels, with one grant given for every 100 members. Members each contribute $1,000, and 100% of contributions go toward grantmaking. Organizations that reach the finalist stage but are not selected for a full Impact Grant may receive smaller Merit Grants, the amounts of which are determined annually based on residual funding. All grants awarded are unrestricted and must be fully used within 24 months. The grant cycle runs annually and includes a four-step process. First, applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the Slideroom platform. For the current cycle, LOIs opened on September 15 and closed on October 24. In late January, select organizations will be invited to submit a Full Grant Application (FGA), which is due by February 13. Member review committees will then conduct Insightful Visits with selected applicants between April 13 and April 22, following a scheduling invitation issued on March 13. Finalists are notified by May 8, and awards are announced during the Grant Awards Celebration on May 27. Eligibility requirements are stringent. Applicants must be public charities with 501(c)(3) status for at least 36 months, have independently filed IRS Form 990s (or equivalent audited financials), report annual revenue between $1 million and $8 million, and be based and operating in Chicago with the majority of services delivered there. Previous Impact Grant recipients must wait three years before reapplying. Organizations engaged in political, religious, or fundraising activities are excluded, as are projects involving real estate acquisition or certain capital improvements without appropriate property control. Applications are submitted entirely through the Slideroom platform. Required documentation includes IRS determination letters, audited financial statements, and detailed responses to eligibility questions. Once applications are submitted, changes may only be made before deadlines by contacting the funder for unsubmission. Selection is guided by member voting following a rigorous evaluation process involving document review and virtual site visits. This grant operates on an annual recurring cycle, with the next anticipated LOI opening in September 2026. Interested organizations are encouraged to attend an applicant information session held in early September each year to better understand the process and improve application quality.

Attend September applicant session; submit early; include all required documents; ensure site visit includes key staff; follow Chicago-based eligibility precisely