Chicago Grassroots Organizations Lead Efforts for a Safer Summer
$1.3M in grants will support more 237 community-led programs in neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence
CHICAGO — As summer approaches, more than 230 grassroots projects are set to launch in Chicago neighborhoods most impacted by gun violence. These community-led initiatives are part of a $1.3 million investment from the 2025 Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities. Designed to build safety and social cohesion from the ground up, these projects will span the summer and early fall months, providing critical resources and safe spaces in 24 South and West side communities.
A coalition of more than 50 foundations and funders known as the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) today announces the 2025 grantees, hyperlocal neighborhood-based organizations that will host community cohesion activities across Chicago’s most vulnerable neighborhoods. Programs will include youth mentorship, arts and culture events, gardening programs, block club activations, sports and wellness activities, and more.
“This year’s grantee list reflects a growing movement of local leadership and deep-rooted community expertise,” said Jai Jones, Chicago Fund Project Manager. “These are the neighbors who show up year after year, who innovate, and who know what it takes to make their communities safer.”
Now entering its tenth grant making cycle, the Chicago Fund provides rapid-response grants of up to $10,000 to hyperlocal organizations working to strengthen community cohesion, safety, and peace. Since its founding in 2016, the fund has distributed nearly $11.7 million to support over 1,700 projects citywide.
Funded programs in 2025 will include:
- Branding Englewood (Englewood) will host several youth-centered events including a basketball tournament, health bootcamp and youth entrepreneurship exhibit in the fall.
- Chicago Windy City Ramblers (South Shore, Washington Park) will host a second line parade on the city’s South Side to celebrate brass band culture, promote unity, and highlight music education.
- Front Porch Arts Center (Austin) will transform a lush vacant lot on the West Side into a Ravinia-style monthly event that will showcase diverse musical talent, food, and creativity in a festive outdoor setting.
- Instituto Gaspar Yanga (Little Village) will host several community event series including “Arte en Familia”, which is a bimonthly intergenerational event that will bring families together to engage in art and film.
- Men Making a Difference (North Lawndale) will host a co-led youth program that will create mentorship opportunities for program participants by engaging in activities that center financial wellness, physical wellness, arts and culture, and team building activities.
- Rosemoor Community Association Inc (Roseland) will host several events including a youth empowerment day and a garden walk that will showcase gardens along the neighborhood corridors. Residents will enjoy live music, food vendors, and a guided trolley tour led by longtime residents.
“This is about reimagining what safety looks like at the block level — and our grantees do that work with love, strategy, and deep community insight,” said Anna Lee, Vice President of Programs at Polk Bros Foundation and Co-Chair of The Chicago Fund.
The 2025 grants were awarded after reviewing more than 400 applications through a committee comprising funders, former grantees, and community development experts. The Chicago Fund prioritizes 24 community areas on the South and West sides based on data compiled by the University of Chicago Crime Lab for highest number and rate of homicides, and in alignment with State violence prevention priority areas: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Burnside, Chatham, Chicago Lawn, Englewood, West Englewood, Fuller Park, Gage Park, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park, Greater Grand Crossing, Humboldt Park, Lower West Side (Pilsen), New City (Back of the Yards), North Lawndale, South Lawndale (Little Village), Riverdale, Roseland, South Chicago, South Shore, Washington Park, West Pullman and/or Woodlawn.
PSPC’s broader anti-violence approach includes four pillars:
- Direct investment in grassroots organizations
- Neighborhood-based street outreach and transitional jobs
- Reimagining public safety systems
- Creating supportive policy environments
To date, PSPC has invested more than $177 million in community-led violence prevention strategies across Chicago.
Annual reports from The Chicago Fund show that supported activities help strengthen community bonds and foster the social cohesion needed to reduce violence. In addition, the Fund’s grantmaking has expanded the capacity of emerging and hyperlocal organizations, enhancing their ability to deliver impactful programs over time.
“Chicago Fund grantees have invested time into reimagining how safe spaces can be activated this summer and fall,” said Anna LauBach, Director, Public Safety Portfolio and Special Initiatives at The McCormick Foundation and Co-chair of The Chicago Fund. “This shared vision and hope is what propels us forward as a collective.”
Together, these grassroots efforts reflect the unwavering commitment of Chicago’s communities to create safer, more connected neighborhoods and demonstrate the power of local leadership in driving meaningful change.
For more details and a full list of grantees, visit: www.safeandpeaceful.org
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