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People gather outdoors near tables and stacks of boxes labeled Food Box. Cars are parked in the background, suggesting a community distribution event in a parking lot.

Rapid Response Fund

Funding to those closest to the issues

Chicago Beyond’s Rapid Response Fund quickly delivers unrestricted grants to hyperlocal organizations and individuals with solutions for their own communities. Our investments in those closest to the issues strengthen partners’ wide-ranging work, including employment services, food security, re-entry supports, LGBTQIA+ safe spaces, art classes, environmental justice, wellness, and more. Our Rapid Response Fund began in 2021 as an evolution of our COVID-19 response initiative, through which we provided tens of thousands of families with basic necessities during the pandemic.

A group of people, including adults and children, gather around a tent set up outdoors. They are receiving backpacks and school supplies on a sunny day. A brick building and trees are visible in the background.

Rapid Response Fund Impact

  • $9.4M

    Since 2020, Chicago Beyond has distributed $9.4M in Rapid Response funding.

  • 91%

    91% of Rapid Response Fund grants have been made toward BIPOC-led organizations.

  • 190

    Chicago Beyond has distributed grants to 190 Rapid Response Fund partners.

  • A young man wearing a light blue shirt with a name tag speaks passionately. He is surrounded by a group of people, some engaged and others conversing, in a casual indoor setting at Chicago Beyond. The atmosphere appears lively and interactive.

    “As we gained more funding, anything we got came with restrictions, until Chicago Beyond’s award. It’s freedom and less of a stressor. It enables us to put more time into building and sustaining relationships with others."

    Jarvis Buchanan, Founder and Director, Legacy Disciples: Hood Heroes
  • Smiling woman with red hair stands in a room with colorful decor. She wears a white shirt with blue text GOD Giving Others Dreams and has one hand on her hip. A plant and bright artwork are in the background.

    “Grants can be very programmatic. With one, I can’t even buy someone a biscuit. With Chicago Beyond’s grant, I can feed people when they attend programs. Other grants don’t think of the social aspect that sharing food and breaking bread together builds community.”

    Celia Colon, Founder, Giving Others Dreams (G.O.D.)
  • Person wearing glasses and a bright purple shirt, smiling at the camera. The background is a light gray color.

    "With the unrestricted award, we are reaching out to more BIPOC disabled folks of color and organizations that share our vision. We also have constant access to resources such as plain language materials, ASL interpreters, and live captioning. We wouldn’t have done it without the support of Chicago Beyond."

    TIMOTHEUS “T.J. GORDON, JR. AND JAE JIN PAK, CO-FOUNDERS CHICAGOLAND DISABLED PEOPLE OF COLOR COALITION

Our Rapid Response Fund Partners

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