Working both with and within CPS, we’re your destination for CPS donations, corporate giving, philanthropic partnerships, grants, and more.
Whatever your giving capacity, there’s an opportunity for you to support CPS schools, students, and families. CFF responds to needs that come directly from Chicago Public Schools leadership, departments, schools, principals, educators, students, and families.
We treat all contributions with care and ensure their efficient use. By operating both with and within Chicago Public Schools, we’re best positioned to maximize impact for supporters of Chicago’s students.
Through giving and partnerships, we’re creating new ways for every Chicagoan to engage in the success of our students and schools. Join us to advance equity and expand learning in CPS school communities.
Chicago Public Schools students have been nationally recognized for their academic progress and growth.
Children First Fund advances and supports the CPS mission, facilitating partnership relationships and ensuring that resources get to the students, families, and schools where they can do the most good.
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Partners play an integral role in making the CPS mission into reality. Our philanthropic community in Chicago and beyond demonstrates inspiring generosity.
Working with CFF, partners donate to CPS and engage in fundraising for the district, for individual schools, and for specific initiatives. They make in-kind donations, volunteer their time and expertise, and more. Here are just a few of our many partners who are putting children first.
Chicago Connected is a nationally recognized model bringing together businesses, community groups, government agencies, and philanthropic organizations to provide no-cost internet access to over 200,000 students to eliminate internet accessibility as a barrier to digital learning. Partners who supported this citywide effort through CFF directly include the Obama Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and Chicago Community Trust.
Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper has supported dozens of CPS schools through his nonprofit foundation, SocialWorks. In support of Arts, Computer Science and Advanced Literacy, funding from SocialWorks has provided resources to expand programming, upgrade facilities, provide experiential learning opportunities and support teacher training. With a major assist from the Chicago Bulls—another longtime champion of CPS—and a number of other partners, the New Chance Fund for Arts and Literature helped 20 schools build innovative and sustainable performing and visual arts programming. SocialWorks doubled down on that commitment, pledging an additional $2 million over three years, this time with the support of Google, to fund new computer science programming at 20 CPS schools. Most recently, SocialWorks has provided funding to 10 schools to enhance their advanced literacy initiatives.
The Salesforce Foundation initially partnered with CFF and CPS to become Solorio High School’s Early College STEM Schools partner. Over the past several years, the partnership has expanded beyond Early College STEM Schools to include additional funding in support of district priorities such as leadership development, the Chicago Roadmap, and the Healing-Centered Project.
When Chicago Public Schools was forced to move into a remote learning environment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, corporate partners stepped up in a major way. Two such partners, Boeing and Allstate, provided substantial philanthropic contributions to purchase thousands of hot spots and computers for students to use in their homes throughout the remote learning period. Boeing’s gift supported thousands of students on the South and West sides of the city, and The Allstate Foundation’s grant supported thousands of students attending CPS’ Options Schools.
In 2008, Baxter International joined Linblom Math and Science Academy in creating a new program to support teacher training and student development in health sciences. Over the past eight years, the program has grown to include a fully equipped Innovation Lab, a competitive robotics team, Baxter Box lab Kits, and more. With Baxter’s support, Linblom has become the #11 high school in Illinois, renowned for its STEM programs, and the health sciences program has been adopted by a number of CPS high schools, reaching more than 174,000 students and more than 2,000 teachers.
A long time supporter of CPS and CFF, the McDougal Family Foundation has supported CPS students at dozens of schools through their Lesson Study and Demonstration Schools program. Since 2019, McDougal’s support has extended to a group of CPS educators and school leaders implementing change ideas for equity in their schools and classrooms. Change ideas include projects addressing implicit bias, providing young men of color with supportive mentors, activating student voice, and more.
Due to the increased demand for financial assistance directly to families during the Covid-19 pandemic, CFF responded through substantially expanding the purpose of the Compassion Fund. As a response to crisis needs, funders like McDougal Family Foundation supported the Compassion Fund’s emergency financial assistance initiative that provides gift cards to CPS families facing crisis.
The CME Group Foundation has been a stalwart partner supporting computer science education in Chicago for nearly a decade. They have funded work toward Computer Science (CS) curriculum development, supported CS teachers with professional learning and coaching, and provided resources for schools to begin their own computer science or robotics club. CS is an important skill in the 21st century workforce and can open up career possibilities, yet today many groups are underrepresented in CS fields. With the support of partners like the CME Group Foundation, CPS is working to offer CS education for all.
The CME Group Foundation has also supported a number of district priorities including financial literacy, early childhood education, violence prevention, and the Chicago Roadmap.
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