Deadline: 2-Aug-22
The Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW) has launched the Eleanor Network for Training and Stabilization cycle that focuses on workforce development as an essential economic security initiative.
The combination of training opportunities and comprehensive support services is designed to allow women to fully participate in programming that will lead to living wage jobs with benefits–and have clear pathways for career advancement and professional development.
Priorities
CFW’s three issue areas are interconnected and they believe it requires a holistic approach:
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Community-based/led Organizations
- CFW will be prioritizing community-based and led organizations. CFW believes that these organizations will understand the needs of women, girls, transgender, and gender non-binary people of color and their families because they have deep relationships within the community. Community organizations, particularly those that include leadership from the community or are women of color-led are best positioned to identify current needs but also to shift as needs change and to demonstrate a commitment to racial and gender equity.
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COVID-19 Recovery
- CFW will be prioritizing strategies and interventions that address the impact of community disinvestment that has been exacerbated by COVID-19 as well as gender responsive approaches to recovery and rebuilding after job loss, health inequities and increased violence that has disproportionately affected women of color and their families.
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Adaptability and Responsiveness
- Relatedly, priority will be given to applicants that demonstrate an understanding and ability to shift their approach to program and operations to address the needs/recovery of the community in crisis (COVID-19, State budget crisis, overturning Roe). This includes organizations that are innovative, nimble, and willing to propose solutions that communities believe will best improve their neighborhoods and lives.
Funding Information
Grants typically range between $35K and $75K.
Geographical Focus: Chicago South and West Side communities that are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, job loss, poverty, and community violence.
Priority Populations: Women, girls, transgender, and gender non-binary people of color, frontline workers, single-parent headed households, immigrants, and domestic workers. Priority areas
Eligibility Criteria
- Organizations must be a 501c3 or have a fiscal agent with a 501c3.
- Organizations must meet CFW’s Staff and Board Leadership Diversity Goals.
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Training grantees:
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Deliver job skills training and job placement. The Foundation seeks to fund programs whose primary focus is to help women develop the skills and education they need to:
- Secure living wage employment with benefits and a career path or to advance up an existing career ladder to secure a living wage with benefits.
- Priority will be given to organizations training in areas trending towards high growth–in particular, they are interested in understanding which sectors are positioned to rebound as industries are reopened as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- They are interested in organizations that have strong relationships with employers or demonstrable proof that program participants have access to employment opportunities.
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Deliver job skills training and job placement. The Foundation seeks to fund programs whose primary focus is to help women develop the skills and education they need to:
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Stabilization grantees:
- Will be asked to partner with training organizations to provide services and resources that support women’s full participation in the training/educational opportunities. Supports could include services such as: financial coaching and credit repair, accessing childcare, accessing housing, family stabilization and accessing healthcare (mental and behavioral health counseling or survivor-centered approaches to domestic violence support), or emergency cash support.
- They are interested in organizations that bring experience connecting women to programs and services that address their comprehensive needs as they are training for new job opportunities
For more information, visit Chicago Foundation for Women.
For more information, visit https://www.cfw.org/grants/how-to-apply/