The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation recently announced the new direction and focus for its Community Grants program. After a year-long process of fact-finding, research and interviews, the Foundation has decided to focus its grantmaking on the intersection of two priority areas identified in its landmark Community Voices report: Safety and Belonging, and Health — specifically, addressing behavioral and mental health for young residents in western Cook County.
“By focusing on behavioral and mental health, we are seeking to repair some of the damage and division caused by the historic inequities in our region and empower the solutions the community has called for,” said Elizabeth Chadri, Foundation program director. “We are now putting forth a grantmaking strategy that is responsive to our community’s expressed needs, through a process that engenders equity, trust, and inclusion.”
The 2024-25 Community Grants cycle will prioritize proposals that focus on creating pathways to a robust, representative workforce of mental and behavioral health professionals; or facilitate access to and/or provision of services or treatment for youth and young adults. These priorities will be further refined in 2025 by a steering committee made up of Foundation board, staff and members of the West Cook community to develop a multi-year grants process. The multi-year program will include convenings and shared decision-making, and will bolster opportunities for advocacy and other systemic change.
The deadline for applications was in October, and applicants will be notified of decisions no later than January 31, 2025. Funding will be disbursed shortly thereafter.
Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation
The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation invests in our future. We bring together nonprofits, businesses, civic officials, and caring residents to uncover and tackle issues of vital importance, and to attract resources to address unmet needs. Today we share our community’s vision to increase high quality childcare and education, support healthcare and mental health services, grow financial security, and enhance safety, belonging and stability for all who live and work in our region.
Join the Foundation and help fulfill our vision of a racially just society in which all members of our community thrive and prosper. Donate today at oprfcf.org.
