The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities

The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities announces its 2017 Grantees

The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities is awarding 120 organizations with grants to provide activities that build community cohesion and create the conditions for safety and peace in 17 prioritized communities. Grants range from $1,000 to $10,000; the average award is $7,000 and, collectively, the awards total $849,955.

The competition among the submitted applications was very high. The application period opened on April 13 and, subsequently, five, in-person technical assistance sessions were held to assist potential applicants. There were 490 submissions, and each was evaluated by several reviewers. Final decisions were made by a panel comprised of members of the advisory committee for the Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities. The awarded organizations represent every priority area and the funded activities will include opportunities for every age group.

This is the second consecutive year these rapid-response grants are being awarded. In 2016, 72 organizations were selected to receive a share of $500,000 in grant awards for Labor Day-weekend activities that included outdoor festivals, youth parades and bicycle workshops.

For 2017, activities supported by these grant awards will begin as soon as June 1 and conclude by October 31. Information on this year’s activities will be shared on this site’s news page and in social media (@safeandpeacefulchi on Facebook and Twitter).

The Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities was launched in 2016 by the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, a coalition of philanthropic organizations that administers its funding. The Fund was created to proactively plan for the potential of a spike in violence in Chicago during summer months and exists to support activities by nonprofit organizations that build community cohesion and promote safety and peace. Donors to this Fund include philanthropic institutions that are also engaged in larger, long-term efforts to help address the problem of violence prevention and community safety.