The Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund

The Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund is sponsored by United Way of Metro Chicago. Provides unrestricted funding, networking, and tailored capacity building to small, local non-profit organizations serving Chicago's South and West Sides and the south suburban region, supporting work at the intersection of economic development and social services.

## A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHENING SMALL, LOCAL NONPROFITS The Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund (formerly “UNEF”) is United Way of Metro Chicago’s philanthropic commitment to addressing historic community disinvestment and creating a stronger Chicago region.

The Fund supports small, local organizations leading a variety of dynamic work, from arts and culture to youth development to mental health support, on the South and West Sides of Chicago and in the south suburbs. The Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund provides unrestricted funding, networking and relationship building, and tailored capacity building to meet the organizations’ needs and advance their long-term goals.

**Unrestricted Funding**Up to $50,000 of unrestricted funds over 2 years to be used according to the needs of the agency **Networking & Relationships**Cohort model with agency peers, building cross-sector relationships and networking with potential funders and investors **Capacity Building**Individual and group capacity-building sessions with DePaul University faculty and other professionals **Holistic Support Approach**Targets organizations with <$1M annual budgets that often don’t qualify for traditional grants, providing holistic support and growth strategies ## GRANT GUIDELINES AND APPLICATION The Chicago BridgeBuilders Fund is intended to support small nonprofit organizations serving Chicago's South and West Sides and the south suburban region, ideally aligned with United Way of Metro Chicago's Neighborhood Network coalitions.

Nonprofit organizations rooted and respected in historically disinvested communities, and with an interest in building new capacity are encouraged to apply.

## ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS * Budget of less than $1,000,000 * Community-based organizations supporting work at the intersection of economic development and social services * Organizations working in Chicago’s South and West Sides and in the south suburban region, ideally aligned with United Way's Neighborhood Network Coalitions * 501c3 status or fiscal sponsor * Frequently Asked Questions ## APPLICATION AND GRANT CYCLE TIMELINE #### **The application for the 2026-2027 grant cycle, cohort 5, is closed.

** * September 17, 2025: Application Opens for Cohort 5, 2026-2027 * September 24, 2025: Information Session * October 8, 2025: Application Closes * November (TBD) 2025: Funding Notifications * November (TBD) 2025: Grant Agreement Released & Executed * January 29, 2026: Cohort 5 Kick Off Mixer * January 1, 2026 - December 30, 2027: Award Period For questions about The Fund, please email United Way's Community Impact Team.

Boeing is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is a pro bono partner of The Fund IABC/Chicago is a pro bono partner of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Step Up Chicago, Deloitte is a pro bono partner of The Fund DePaul University is the academic partner for the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Peoples Gas is the founding sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Nicor Gas is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund IMC is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Target is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund PNC is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Boeing is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is a pro bono partner of The Fund IABC/Chicago is a pro bono partner of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Step Up Chicago, Deloitte is a pro bono partner of The Fund DePaul University is the academic partner for the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Peoples Gas is the founding sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Nicor Gas is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund IMC is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Target is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund PNC is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Boeing is a corporate sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is a pro bono partner of The Fund Invest in people.

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