CHICAGO FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN

Mission

FOR FORTY YEARS, CFW HAS BEEN THE ONLY ORGANIZATION IN THE REGION TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES AND NEEDS WOMEN AND GIRLS FACE THROUGH EVERY STAGE OF THEIR LIVES WITH A FOCUS ON IT'S FOUR IMPACT AREAS. CFW WORKS WITH A COMMUNITY OF SOCIALLY-MINDED INVESTORS WHO SHARE OUR PASSION FOR IMPROVING THE LIVES OF WOMEN, GIRLS, AND GENDER-EXPANSIVE PEOPLE AND ENSURES THAT EVERY DOLLAR THEY GIVE ACHIEVES MAXIMUM IMPACT. WE HOLD OURSELVES AND OUR GRANTEES TO A HIGH STANDARD: CONDUCTING RIGOROUS EVALUATION, CAREFUL MONITORING, AND ACHIEVING COMMUNITY-CENTERED RESULTS. CFW ALSO INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND BUILDING SUSTAINABLE NONPROFIT INFRASTRUCTURE. AS A RESULT, TWO-THIRDS OF NONPROFITS FOR WHICH CFW WAS THE FIRST INSTITUTIONAL FUNDER ARE STILL THRIVING TEN YEARS AFTER RECEIVING THEIR FIRST CFW GRANT.