CHICAGO, Aug. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- United Way of
Metro Chicago today opened applications for their new United
Neighborhoods Equity Fund (UNEF). UNEF aims to support small, Black
and brown-led nonprofits predominantly located on the city's south
and west sides and south suburban region, and connect them to new
investment opportunities. Each of the 10 grantees will be awarded
$50,000 of unrestricted funds over a
two-year cycle to be used according to the needs of each
nonprofit.
Research by Echoing Green and The Bridgespan Group shows that
leaders of color face challenges connecting to funders, building
rapport, and securing and sustaining support for culturally
relevant strategies. This has led to significant disparities in
investment. Black-led organizations dedicated to improving outcomes
for Black men have revenue that is 45% lower than organizations
with white leaders.
With UNEF, United Way will assist Black and brown-led
organizations in building capacity at the grassroots level to
accelerate neighborhood-driven outcomes and mentor them to plan for
long-term success.
UNEF is made possible with the generous support of founding
sponsor Peoples Gas, which committed $1
million to the initiative, and corporate sponsors Nicor Gas
and Target. DePaul University is
providing professional leadership development and training to the
grantees.
"Investing in community-based organizations and the leaders who
have the knowledge and expertise to maximize the potential that
exists in those communities is essential to the prosperity not just
of each neighborhood, but of the entire region," said Charles Matthews, president and CEO of Peoples
Gas. "When we learned about the opportunity to support the Equity
Fund, we immediately came on board because like United Way, we're
committed to strengthening the neighborhoods where we work and live
on Chicago's south and west
sides.'"
Over the course of the two year grant cycle, grantees will be
connected to corporate partners in the communities they serve,
receive a year of capacity building support from DePaul's nonprofit management program and have
opportunities to network with their cohort of other selected
grantees.
"We're fortunate to have exceptional corporate partners who
believe in our efforts to support and fund neighborhood-led
coalitions that galvanize resources, ideas and energy so every one
of our neighborhoods and our region becomes stronger," said
president and CEO of United Way Sean Garrett.
Applications for UNEF close on August
15th. Visit United Way of Metro Chicago's website to
learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
United Way of Metro Chicago brings together businesses,
government, nonprofits, and community leaders to deliver funding,
resources, and expertise to nonprofit organizations across greater
Chicago. We are working alongside
our partners at the neighborhood level to tackle the systemic
issues that have plagued our region, creating communities where
children and families can thrive. United, we're building stronger
neighborhoods for a stronger Chicago region. To learn more, visit
www.liveunitedchicago.org.
Peoples Gas, a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), is
a regulated natural gas delivery company that serves more than
878,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the
city of Chicago. You can find more
information about natural gas safety, energy efficiency and other
energy-related topics at peoplesgasdelivery.com. Follow us on
Twitter and Facebook @peoplegaschi.
Contact: Walker Post
Phone: 773-597-7504
walker@prosper-strategies.com
Marilyn Jackson
Phone: 312-906-2387
marilyn.jackson@liveunitedchicago.org
Peoples Gas: David Schwartz
312-240-7854
(office)
312-420-1628 (cell)
david.schwartz@peoplesgasdelivery.com
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SOURCE United Way of Metropolitan Chicago