Giving Compass' Take:

• The Catalyst Grant Program, out of the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, offered grants for two nonprofits that are both working towards racial and social justice by expanding employment opportunities for residents of local communities. 

• How are collaborations such as these stronger and better for strengthening neighborhoods? Should more foundations and grants look towards local community grassroots efforts? 

• Chicago is not just giving away innovative grants, the city is also building opportunities in impact investing. 

The University of Chicago’s Office of Civic Engagement announced the winners of its new Urban America Forward Catalyst Grant program. The program awards $35,000 grants to racial justice or social justice non-profit organizations to bolster their capacity to carry out financial empowerment and reduce the racial wealth gap in their cities.

The two inaugural grant winners are Chicago-based nonprofit organizations making a positive impact in Chicago’s underserved communities. Sunshine Enterprises will use the funding to empower high-potential entrepreneurs living in under-resourced Chicago neighborhoods to grow their businesses and transform their communities. And, the Chicago Jobs Council will use the funding to further its efforts to dismantle transportation barriers to work.

The Catalyst Grant program was launched in the Fall of 2017 at the Urban America Forward: Bridging the Racial Wealth Divide forum, a two-day convening that brings together public, private, and nonprofit sector leaders from cities across the country to share proven models and tools, and identify action-oriented approaches to minimizing the racial wealth gap.

Read the full article about urban equity by Api Podder at My Social Good News.