Woods Fund of Chicago
Historical FunderChicago, Illinois · EIN 36-3917968 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$5.6M
Organizations funded120
Typical grant$50,000
Total assets$57.9M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $30,000 and $60,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | DEBORAH CLARK GRANTS MANAGER |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 WEST MADISON STREET 3RD FLOOR, CHICAGO IL 60606 |
| Phone | 3126000948 |
| Form and materials | SEE OUR WEBSITE HTTPS://WWW.WOODSFUND.ORG/OUR-GRANTS FOR FORMS AND MATERIALS |
| Deadlines | APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR ONE MONTH ANNUALLY IN FEBRUARY WITH GRANTS ANNOUNCED IN JULY. |
| Restrictions | WOODS FUND WORKS PRIMARILY AS A PARTNER WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO FIGHT THE BRUTALITY OF POVERTY AND STRUCTURAL RACISM IN THE CHICAGO REGION. GRANTS ARE GENERALLY LIMITED TO NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPERATE IN THE CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AREA AND ARE PRIMARILY PROVIDED TO ORGANIZATIONS LOCATED IN CHICAGO. WOODS FUND WILL ONLY PROVIDE GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OR HAVE A FISCAL SPONSOR. THE FISCAL SPONSOR AND ORGANIZATION'S MISSIONS SHOULD BE IN ALIGNMENT. NO GRANTS CAN BE MADE TO INDIVIDUALS. PLEASE NOTE THAT WFC REQUIRES ORGANIZATIONS TO ADHERE TO LOBBYING LIMITS ESTABLISHED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR ORGANIZATIONS WITH A 501(C)(3) DESIGNATION. PLEASE REFER TO THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE BOLDERADVOCACY.ORG OF THE ALLIANCE FOR JUSTICE WEB SITE FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR NONPROFITS ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY WORK. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT HTTPS://WWW.WOODSFUND.ORG/OUR-GRANTS |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
5% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crossroads Fund | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $170,000 |
| Movement Building Paths | San Francisco, CA | General operating support | $150,000 |
| Hana Center | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $120,000 |
| Southside Together Organizing for Power | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $120,000 |
| Kenwood Oakland Community Organization | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $100,000 |
| Black Roots Alliance | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $90,000 |
| Chicago Coalition for the Homeless | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $90,000 |
| The Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $75,000 |
| Arise Chicago | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Brighton Park Neighborhood Council | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Centro de Trabajadores Unidos United Workers' Center | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Chicago Community and Workers Rights | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Chicago Freedom School | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Chicago Torture Justice Center | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Chicago United for Equity | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership NFP | Maywood, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Communities United | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Goodkids Madcity Englewood | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Healing to Action | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Latino Union Inc Aka Latino Union of Chicago | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Logan Square Neighborhood Association Dba Palenque Lsna | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Lucy Parsons Labs-Current | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Muslims for Just Futures | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Organized Communities Against Deportations | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Organizing Neighborhoods for Equality Northside | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Pilsen Alliance | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Truth Racial Healing and Transformation (Trht) Chicago | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Westside Rising | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Woodstock Institute | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $60,000 |
| Workers Center for Racial Justice | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $55,000 |
| Enlace Chicago | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $51,000 |
| A Long Walk Home Inc | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Alianza Leadership Institute Dba Alliance of the Southeast | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Empowerment | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Apna Ghar Inc | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Arab American Action Network | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Asian American Institute Dba Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Chicago | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Blocks Together | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Brave Space Alliance | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Byp100 Education Fund | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Cabrini-Green Legal Aid Clinic Inc | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Center for Third World Organizing | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Chicago Community Bond Fund | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Chicago Workers' Collaborative | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Community Organizing and Family Issues | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Community Renewal Society | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Equity and Transformation | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Faith in Place | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| First Defense Legal Aid | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Forefront | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Get to Work Illinois Inc | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Grassroots Collaborative | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Housing Action Illinois | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights | Chicago, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Immigrant Solidarity Dupage | Wheaton, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Juvenile Justice Initiative | Evanston, IL | General operating support | $50,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 120 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $5,573,000 | 120 |
| 2023 | $4,331,750 | 98 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 6, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202533109349101883
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 36-3917968
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.