Centering Innovation & Equity: The Story of Chicago Beyond

If you believe that change must emerge from within communities — not imposed from the outside — then Chicago Beyond is a model worth watching. Founded in 2016, this philanthropic organization sets out not merely to give grants, but to transform the way inequity is addressed. 

What Is Chicago Beyond?

At its core, Chicago Beyond is a national philanthropic organization that invests in solutions led by people closest to the problems they aim to solve. Their vision is bold: a world in which everyone — regardless of ZIP code — has equal access to opportunity. Their mission includes:

• Making strategic investments in individuals and organizations. 

• Leading national initiatives that challenge systems in justice, health, education, and more. 

• Sharing insights to shift philanthropic practice itself — how funding, power, and accountability are structured. 

Since its founding, Chicago Beyond has invested more than $100 million into over 200 changemakers and organizations.  That’s not just funds; that’s a commitment to systemic change.

Their Philosophy: Doing Things Differently

What sets Chicago Beyond apart is its intentional approach:

In practice, this looks like fewer hoops for grantees, trust in their vision, and a focus on long-term partnership rather than one-off projects. 

Focus Areas & Impact

Chicago Beyond works across multiple domains, often at the intersection of them:

• Justice & Safety — promoting holistic safety, reforming corrective systems, and reimagining public safety.

• Health & Maternal Equity — funding work around Black maternal health and births on Chicago’s South Side. 

• Education & Equity — supporting healing-centered approaches and addressing structural disparities in schooling. 

• Rapid Response & Crisis Funds — offering catalytic support when urgent needs arise. 

One recent example: Chicago Beyond announced $3 million in new investments alongside hosting a maternal health special, indicating their dual role as funder and convener. 

Why It Matters for Us

In many ways, Chicago Beyond’s approach echoes themes we care deeply about: starting over, reinventing, and centering marginalized voices. As your journey unfolds — shifting direction, dreaming anew, building something that aligns with your values — there’s much to learn from how they structure power, trust, and risk.

• Trust over control — They believe those closest to issues often know best how to solve them.

• Flexibility over rigidity — They give space for change, iteration, and learning.

• Perspective over deficit — They look for strengths and possibilities, not just problems to “fix.”

For someone like you, stepping into new ventures or pivoting careers, Chicago Beyond is a reminder that impact is not just what you build, but how you build it — who you partner with, how you share power, and how you remain adaptable.

Final Thoughts

Chicago Beyond doesn’t promise overnight transformations or “silver bullet” solutions. What they offer instead is a model rooted in humility, patience, and deep partnership. For those of us reimagining what’s possible — whether in business, wellness, or personal reinvention — their work is a beacon: change is hard, but change is possible when we uplift voices close to the work.

Check out Chicago Beyond website here.