OPRFCF Community Grants

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation will be accepting applications for 2023 Community Grants in late spring. More information to come.

Contact Elizabeth Chadri at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Future Philanthropists Fund

Future Philanthropists Program students from the Junior Cohort determine priority areas to fund – primarily youth programs that have youth leadership involved in the program design or implementation.  An RFP is sent out in early December with a deadline of mid-January for grants requests up to $7,500.  Grant awards are announced in late April or early May, and a total of $50,000 is awarded at the FPP Capstone event in late May. 

Learn more about the Future Philanthropists Program

Contact: Karen Tardy, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NextGen Capacity Building Mini-Grants

Awards up to $2,000 in capacity building grants for emerging professionals working in small community organizations to bring their work to the next level. NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy defines capacity building as developing further knowledge, skills, and capabilities, to increase effectiveness or support sustainability in an organization.

The application period is now closed. Awards for 2023 funding will be announced in June.

Learn more about the NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy 

Contact: Helen Morales, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Women Leaders in Philanthropy Fund

Women Leaders members vote annually on selected cause areas to fund, informed by community needs research provided by the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation. Awards can range up to $15-20,000 per proposal depending on the total collective funds to distribute, number of causes the membership wishes to support, organization needs, and scope of projects. Priority areas historically have been human needs such as food, shelter, physical and mental health and wellness, and support for women and girls. Request for proposals is by invitation only. Awards for 2023 funding will be announced in June.

New in 2023: Women Leaders in Philanthropy introduces their new Seed Grant program! WLIP is awarding up to 2 grant(s) of $5,000 each for a one-year grant period to an organization or group that is addressing food insecurity and/or “food deserts.” These grants will be made to support new programs or initiatives in existing organizations, or to provide general operating support for new organizations. Funding decisions will be made by June 12.

Learn more about the Women Leaders in Philanthropy

Contact: Helen Morales, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Core committee members currently fund micro-grants to high school and post-secondary student entrepreneur programs, in which students learn the art and science of researching, developing, and pitching business proposals. Proposal ideas are considered on a rolling basis.

Learn more about the Entrepreneur Leaders in Philanthropy 

Contact: Helen Morales, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Kott Memorial Charitable Trust

Grant funding to charitable organizations that improve the livelihood of individuals, especially through education or medical services, with an emphasis on such services for the elderly.

The Kott Memorial Charitable Trust is now accepting online applications. Deadline to apply is June 30, 2023. See grant application guidelines and find out more about the grant process and the Kott Memorial Charitable Trust.

Contact: Elizabeth Chadri, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.