Western Suburbs Giving Circle
Who We Are
The Western Suburbs Giving Circle (WSGC) of Chicago Foundation for Women is a group of Chicago-area women who combine their funds to address the needs of women and girls in the western suburbs with a special focus on economic security and freedom from violence. By leveraging the power of collective gifts, our grants create meaningful impact and improve lives.
Since our first grantmaking cycle in 2016, we’ve grown our membership and have invested almost $250,000 in the health, safety, and economic security of women, girls, trans-, and gender non-binary individuals in the western suburbs.
2024 – 2025 Co-Chairs
Kendra Hyett and Julie Olafson
Who We Support
The Western Suburbs Giving Circle invests in organizations providing direct service and advocacy for women and girls in our community around the issues of economic security and freedom from violence.
In eight years, we have awarded almost $250,000 to local organizations such as:
FY24 Grantees:
FY23 Grantees:
- Center for Advancing Domestic Peace
- Immigrant Solidarity DuPage
- INellas Restoration Center
- Magdalene House
How It Works
- Members make an annual contribution that supports the circle’s collective grantmaking. Membership levels include both General and Junior Membership to meet members where they are. Both memberships are payable in installments. Junior Membership* is an annual gift of $500. General Membership is an annual gift of $1,000.
- All members participate in the Giving Circle grantmaking process, a cooperative effort to select the recipients of grants. Members choose their level of involvement which can include identifying eligible organizations for funding, reviewing and discussing applications, participating in meetings and social events, conducting local site visits, and voting on grants each cycle.
- The Giving Circle’s grantmaking year begins in the fall, but Members are welcome to join at any time throughout the year.
- Meetings 6-8 times per year, occurring monthly during the grantmaking cycles (in-person and/or virtual), plus social events.
- Grantmaking occurs in the fall and spring, with funding being awarded in June.
Membership Benefits
WSGC is a place for members to engage and be a part of a community of women that addresses needs and increases opportunities for women and girls in the communities in which they live and work. Help a woman, help a family. Help a girl, empower the next generation. Women invest back in their communities when they are lifted up.
WSGC offers the opportunity for hands-on, collaborative philanthropy:
- Meet local leaders who work daily to improve women and girls’ lives.
- Hear interesting speakers and visit innovative organizations in our area.
- Learn how to be a philanthropic leader by becoming a Chicago Foundation for Women community member.
- Be inspired to support women and girls that help uplift entire communities. Be a witness to lives changed for the better.
WSGC is a fund of Chicago Foundation for Women. CFW invests in women and girls as catalysts, building strong communities for all and funding organizations working to solve the biggest problems facing women and girls: economic insecurity, violence, and lack of access to health care and information. Since 1985, CFW has invested more than $45 million in hundreds of organizations, impacting over 226,000 women, girls, trans, and gender nonbinary individuals in our region and guiding thousands of women and girls into becoming philanthropists.
Contact
Interested in becoming a member? For more information, contact Vanessa Lee (Program Officer) at vlee@cfw.org.