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Young Leaders Fund (YLF) is sponsored by The Chicago Community Trust. The Young Leaders Fund focuses its grants on small, start-up nonprofits with operating budgets of less than $250,000 in the Chicago region. Its three focus areas include Child Development & Education and Community & Economic Development, which could encompass youth outdoor recreation education.
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Young Leaders Fund - The Chicago Community Trust Paving the way for start-up nonprofits and the next generation of philanthropists. Photo: Members of Young Leaders Fund (YLF), 2025. Over the past 30 years, the Young Leaders Fund (YLF) has awarded more than $1 million in grants to more than 260 small, start-up nonprofits serving neighborhoods across the city.
From band classes for students in East Garfield Park, to launching a women’s culinary workforce development program at the Cook County Correctional Center, to upgrading computers for an after-school program in West Woodlawn, YLF has paved the way for small nonprofits to take their work to the next level. YLF focuses its grants on small, start-up nonprofits with operating budgets of less than $250,000.
Our three focus areas are Arts & Culture, Child Development & Education, and Community & Economic Development. YLF grants are invite-only, and we’re always looking for organizations to invite to our next grant application cycle. If you have recommendations of small local nonprofits doing incredible work for us to connect with, please complete the form linked below.
If you are interested in learning more about joining YLF, please email us at ylf@cct. org . Mateo Koster, Co-Chair Caroline Schneir, Co-Chair Thomas Detillion Arun Sekar Dimitri Kallioras Jacque Stefanic Cambria Khayat Ervin Szot Lisandra Lao Maria Ullmann Patrick Maloney Elena Westbrook Rene Morrell The Trust is a community foundation that is dedicated to ensuring opportunity and prosperity are within reach for everyone in our region.
As a charitable community, we know that many of our communities have been historically under-resourced, including by philanthropy. The Young Leaders Fund is a group of donors who seek opportunities to address those historic gaps, which will help strengthen the entire Chicago region. When our neighbors do better, we all do better.
Provide young professionals with an innovative way to make a difference. To stay up-to-date with the work of Young Leaders Fund, please complete an interest form to receive future communications from Affinity Funds. Affinity funds are groups of donors united by a shared heritage, identity, or common interest.
They offer an efficient way to support a specific group of people and the nonprofits that aid them by leveraging contributions through collective giving.
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Small, start-up nonprofits with operating budgets of less than $250,000, serving neighborhoods across Chicago, with focus areas including Child Development & Education. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Funding amounts vary based on project scope and sponsor guidance. Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
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Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
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