Community Organizing for Racial Justice

The Conant Family Foundation Impact Council brings together Chicagoans from different neighborhoods, backgrounds and lived experiences who share a commitment to advancing racial justice. As residents of this city, we recognize that some of the most innovative solutions already exist within our communities. Our role is not to decide what communities need, but to invest in the people already doing the work, building relationships, and creating lasting change from the ground up.

The Impact Council will allocate $275,000 in annual gifts ranging in size from $20,000 - $50,000 per year, for three consecutive years. Approximately 8 - 10 organizations will receive funding. Awards will be announced in late September 2026. 

The funding will be awarded to community organizing groups working to expand racial justice in Chicago. Funding will be awarded to groups activating people power, increasing community safety, and/or facilitating economic access.

Deadline to submit: August 21, 2026

Eligibility

An application may be submitted by a single organization or two, three, or more organizations that are working together on one or more of the focus areas

We are seeking grassroots and community-based organizations where this investment can make a meaningful difference.

Preference will be given to organizations that are community-led, deeply rooted in Chicago neighborhoods, and for whom this multi-year investment will significantly strengthen their organizing capacity and long-term impact.

Click the red button above for guidelines and application instructions.

Abortion Access

Abortion care is essential health care.

The Abortion Access Program Area supports access to safe, affordable, and legal abortions.

Priorities include increased access to self-managed medication abortion, abortion access and women’s healthcare information in southeastern states, and abortion services and support in Illinois.

In 2026, these organizations were selected to receive gifts for two consecutive years.

Please click on each organization for more information.

2026 & 2027

Abortion Care Network $10,000

ARC SouthEast $15,000

Chicago Abortion Fund $50,000

CHOICES Carbondale Memphis $35,000

Feminist Women's Health Center $40,000

Kentucky Health Justice Network $30,000

Midwest Access Coalition $30,000

Repro TLC $10,000

Mountain Access Brigade $40,000

SASS Self-Managed Abortion Safe and Supported $10,000

Western Alabama Women's Center $15,000

Urban Environmental Justice

The vision of the Urban Environmental Justice Program Area is that all Chicago residents live in environmentally safe communities.

Low-income communities and communities of color experience disproportionately higher levels of air, water, and soil pollution and contamination. Nonprofit organizations addressing environmental injustice in these communities are the focus of this Program Area. 

Gifts are made to organizations that identify environmental hazards, involve their communities in identifying solutions, and advocate for justice and remediation.

Eligible applicants will be Chicago-area nonprofit organizations that are a) led by those directly impacted, b) include community members in decision-making, and c) accountable to the communities they seek to improve.

Funding
Collaborations

The Conant Family Foundation is proud to partner with other foundations on issues that align with our mission.

2026

Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund $25,000

Chicago Fund for Safe & Peaceful Communities $10,000

Chicago Peace Fellows $35,000

Illinois Community Power Fund 10,000