A Better Chicago

A Better Chicago We are changing how Chicago fights poverty by investing in bold ideas that create opportunity for youth. Learn more at abetterchicago.org.

A Better Chicago is fighting poverty by leveraging the collective power of Chicagoans who want to make our city more equitable for everyone. We raise funds through public donations and direct those resources to support low-income, underserved communities. We find high-potential, high-impact programs and leaders that serve young people from cradle to career. Then, we invest both dollars and strateg

ic support to empower organizations to grow and make an even greater impact. We know that giving our young people the support and tools they need to thrive—a great education, a wage that can sustain a family, the ability to buy a home and live in a safe community—can lead to breaking the cycle of poverty for this generation and generations to come. Since 2010, we have raised over $40 million from more than 2,200 donors, invested in dozens of local, youth-serving nonprofits, and supported over 100 capacity-building projects—ranging from strategic planning to leadership development—to strengthen the organizational capacity of our grantees. In total, our portfolio serves over 32,000 youth annually in the Chicago area.

Every Day Counts is our new initiative where we’re committing $10 million over the next five years to help strengthen st...
06/02/2026

Every Day Counts is our new initiative where we’re committing $10 million over the next five years to help strengthen student attendance and belonging.

In case you missed it, this op-ed from our CEO Elizabeth Swanson and board member Janice K. Jackson, highlights the urgency of ensuring young people are engaged, supported, and thriving in school.

Read more about this critical issue in the full piece in the Chicago Sun-Times: https://lnkd.in/gDkTSpQf

Around this time each year, we’re thrilled to celebrate new graduates across the city.Congratulations to the Class of 20...
05/28/2026

Around this time each year, we’re thrilled to celebrate new graduates across the city.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026 at City Colleges of Chicago and to Roosevelt University, an A Better Chicago portfolio organization, on their recent graduation ceremonies.

And best wishes to the future graduates of portfolio organization National Louis University, who will celebrate their commencement ceremonies next week.

We are honored to be selected as a 2026 Catalyst Award Honoree by our portfolio partner, Project OneTen.We look forward ...
05/26/2026

We are honored to be selected as a 2026 Catalyst Award Honoree by our portfolio partner, Project OneTen.

We look forward to celebrating alongside Project OneTen at their annual Summer Soirée fundraiser and recognizing the impact of their work and achievements.

Congratulations to Marshana Pace, A Better Chicago’s Managing Director, on graduating as an IMPACT Leadership Developmen...
05/22/2026

Congratulations to Marshana Pace, A Better Chicago’s Managing Director, on graduating as an IMPACT Leadership Development Fellow with the Chicago Urban League! 🎓

The IMPACT fellowship brought together a diverse cohort of professionals for civic education and leadership development within Chicago.

We’re proud to celebrate Marshana’s accomplishment and grateful for her commitment to creating brighter futures for our city.

“When innovation begins with the realities of people and landscapes, rather than with the assumption that solutions must...
05/20/2026

“When innovation begins with the realities of people and landscapes, rather than with the assumption that solutions must scale, different possibilities come into view.”

At a time when entire industries are built around the ability to scale, what happens in the social sector when meaningful change doesn’t scale so directly?

This piece in Stanford Social Innovation Review by contributor Tanya Kak does just that, explores what philanthropy can be doing differently in a world that demands scalable models.

It’s worth the read.

In a world that no longer behaves like a scalable system, success must be something other than growth.

Congratulations to One Million Degrees, an A Better Chicago portfolio organization, and City Colleges of Chicago for ann...
05/14/2026

Congratulations to One Million Degrees, an A Better Chicago portfolio organization, and City Colleges of Chicago for announcing a five year expansion on their partnership.

Their wraparound services and automatic enrollment will help remove barriers to college access for over 3,000 students.

We look forward to seeing the impact you will make!

Read more about the partnership here: 04/28/city-colleges-of-chicago-announces-five-year-expansion-of-partnership-with-one-million-degrees-to-scale-wraparound-support-to-reach-over-3000-students-annually/

Sometimes it takes more than a village. It takes an ecosystem. Across the country, a new movement is reimagining learnin...
05/13/2026

Sometimes it takes more than a village. It takes an ecosystem.

Across the country, a new movement is reimagining learning beyond the walls of schools and into the larger community.

At the core of this work are place-based strategies that encourage collaboration between schools, employers, and community organizations to expand what learning can look like.

In this article for Education Week, Evie Blad explores this new effort: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/a-new-national-effort-aims-to-spread-learning-beyond-school-walls/2026/0

A new commission will explore strategies for schools to collaborate with their communities.

Every day counts and addressing chronic absenteeism must be a citywide priority.In this op-ed from A Better Chicago CEO ...
05/08/2026

Every day counts and addressing chronic absenteeism must be a citywide priority.

In this op-ed from A Better Chicago CEO Beth Swanson and board member Janice Jackson, they highlight the urgency of ensuring young people are engaged, supported, and thriving in school.

Earlier this year, we announced our Every Day Counts initiative, a call for organizations to submit innovative strategies to combat chronic absenteeism in six Chicago neighborhoods. A Better Chicago has committed to investing at least $10 million over the next five years to support these plans.

“Our grants will provide funding to support partnerships between community-based nonprofit organizations and schools that prioritize interventions centered on prevention for elementary students and additional support for high school students already struggling with attendance.”

�Read more about this critical issue in the full piece in the Chicago Sun-Times:

Lingering effects of the pandemic, immigration enforcement and other social issues keep many Chicago kids from attending school. A nonprofit aims to make a dent in chronic absenteeism on the South and West sides.

It’s National Teacher's Appreciation Week! A huge thank you to the teachers who educate, support, and inspire the next g...
05/04/2026

It’s National Teacher's Appreciation Week!

A huge thank you to the teachers who educate, support, and inspire the next generation. One week of appreciation can’t capture the lifetime of impact you make.

We’re grateful for all that you do.

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200 West Madison Street, 3rd Floor
Chicago, IL
60606

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