UChicago Awards Catalyst Grants to Tackle Racial Wealth Gap

Two Chicago Nonprofit Organizations Receive $35K Awards

With the support of philanthropic partners, the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement has awarded its new Urban America Forward Catalyst Grants to two Chicago-based nonprofit organizations. 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 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. 

“As an urban research and anchor institution, the University of Chicago is committed to identifying evidence-based solutions to the challenges facing our cities and partnering for civic impact,” said Derek Douglas, vice president for civic engagement and external affairs at the University of Chicago. “The grants will provide two top-notch nonprofit organizations with the resources to scale up their critical work on urban issues.”

Joel Hamernick, executive director of Sunshine Enterprises, said “The entrepreneurs we serve primarily live in areas of the city that suffer from high degrees of both racial and economic segregation. The byproducts of poverty in these communities often reinforces marginalization and hinders business growth. This grant gives us an opportunity to foster social capital for the entrepreneur that will better position them to make real and measurable economic impact in their community. Through strategic coaching and partnership development, we hope to connect entrepreneurs to a broader marketplace which will, in turn, contribute to the city’s economic landscape.”

Carrie Thomas, executive director of the Chicago Jobs Council, said “The project that received this grant is our Transit Table work, a coalition of diverse organizations working to dismantle transportation barriers for jobseekers and for people living in poverty. We're really excited to receive this grant, not just because of the resources, but because of the recognition that transportation barriers are major barriers to employment, and contribute to the inequality we see in the city.”
 
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. Grant winners were chosen by a diverse selection committee composed of urban policy experts and representatives of corporate philanthropy. The program is funded by the University of Chicago, Ariel Investments, LLC, and lead sponsor, The Prudential Foundation.

“At Prudential, we understand that our communities are facing urgent problems and systemic barriers that require immediate solutions to help foster inclusive economic growth,” said Shane Harris, vice president, corporate giving, Prudential Financial, Inc. “Our belief is that we need to emphasize the support of these systems to create change. We are proud to be the lead sponsor of the Catalyst Grant program and look forward to seeing the strategies and results that come out of the first two grant recipients – Sunshine Enterprises and Chicago Jobs Council.”

By Donald Gatlin