Donate Search Close Search Menu Close Menu Our LocationsExpand About SubmenuWe actively engage with local communities to identify needs not being met and invite in best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to address them. See our portfolio of investments Find GreenLight in Your City Atlanta Baltimore Boston Charlotte Chicago Cincinnati Denver Detroit Greater Newark Kansas City Philadelphia San Francisco Bay Area Twin Cities Our Approach Our ImpactExpand About Submenu Annual Impact Report Stories of Impact About UsExpand About Submenu Our Team Our Board National Investors Our Values Centering Racial Equity Our Portfolio News + Insights Careers Get In Touch Donate Search Search Close Our Portfolio News + Insights Careers Get In Touch Our LocationsWe actively engage with local communities to identify needs not being met and invite in best-in-class nonprofits uniquely suited to address them. See our portfolio of investments Find GreenLight in Your CityAtlantaBaltimoreBostonCharlotteChicagoCincinnatiDenverDetroitGreater NewarkKansas CityPhiladelphiaSan Francisco Bay AreaTwin CitiesOur ApproachOur ImpactAnnual Impact ReportStories of ImpactAbout UsOur TeamOur BoardNational InvestorsOur ValuesCentering Racial Equity Donate Search Close Chicago Enabling innovation and collaboration for equity and prosperity CHI Team & Advisors Investors News & Insights Get In Touch Overview Big-city strengths and challenges with a passion for positive change The city was founded as a transportation hub linking the east and west and more recently has been named the best big city in the US six years in a row. The vibrant community, made up of distinct neighborhoods with diverse personalities and strengths, has a storied history with innovation, change and rebuilding at its core. Yet education, economic, health and other deeply rooted inequities continue to persist. That’s where GreenLight comes in. In partnership with the community, we’re working to break down persistent barriers to prosperity and shift outcomes related to the toughest challenges. Addressing Challenges in Chicago 16% of public school teachers are either Black, Hispanic, or Asian, despite these groups making up 49% of the student population 10.5% of Black workers were unemployed in Illinois in 2023 2X median income for white residents compared to Black residents and 72% higher than LatinX Chicago Team and Partners GreenLight Chicago is made up of a diverse group of changemakers from across the community, working together for positive impact. Team & Advisors Investors What Our Community is Saying “I am thrilled to welcome GreenLight to Chicago and look forward to tackling complex issues together, tapping into innovative programs from around the nation to drive sustainable positive change and help our region thrive.” Sean Garrett President and CEO, United Way of Metro Chicago “I look forward to partnering with GreenLight as they engage with the community, including those most impacted by poverty, to bring proven models to our city that will make a real impact towards opening equitable economic mobility opportunities and increasing hope.” Arne Duncan Managing Director, Chicago CRED “GreenLight’s community-driven approach shares in this philosophy of listening first and trusting those closest to the issue to find solutions that meet a community’s unique needs.” Francie S. Richards Vice President of Social Impact at Allstate and The Allstate Foundation “We really like the innovative approach that GreenLight has brought to philanthropy, it’s a different approach built to be sustainable over time.” Elizabeth and Derek Sammann “I’m both inspired and impressed by GreenLight. Inspired by their conviction and confidence. Impressed with their ability to galvanize local support to collaborate on solutions that can better our city.” Brian Grzelakowski Midwest Region Head, Goldman Sachs Team Tanicia Burns Tanicia Burns Program Manager, GreenLight Chicago Hermilo Hinojosa Hermilo Hinojosa Executive Director, GreenLight Chicago Jordan Thomas Jordan Thomas Coordinator, GreenLight Chicago Advisory Council Andres Alvear BUILD Chicago Juana Ballesteros American Medical Association Mary Kate Daly Healthy Communities, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago LaTrice Davis The Ellevate Group LLC Marco De La Rosa Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago Shayne Evans The Academy Group Ghian Foreman Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative Nora Garcia The Healthy Communities Foundation Sean Garrett United Way of Metro Chicago Brian Grzelakowski Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC – Chicago Luis Gutierrez Latinos Progresando JD Heinz SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP Khari Matthew Humphries City of Chicago Mike Kennedy Northwestern University – Science in Society Jeffrey Lampe Customers Bank Michael Marrion Cresa Aldo Quinones Wells Fargo Jackie Rosa City of Chicago Ayoka Noelle Mota Samuels City Colleges of Chicago Greg Simoncini Simoncini Strategies Mark Van Grinsven Civic Consulting Alliance Sara Wasserteil Corporate Coalition Founding Investors Chris Abbinante Anonymous Nicholas Antoine Jon Ballis Larry Barden Eve and Richard Biller Rebecca and Dan Blumenthal Jennifer and Alex Brown Karen and Ethan Budin Ed Chandler Liz and David Chandler Kim and Stephen Chipman Christy and Bryan Cressey Daube Family Foundation Liz and Kent Dauten Debbie and Mike Dickerson Andy Dunn Michelle and Michael Episcope Finnegan Family Foundation Jenny and P. Jay Fortner Linda and Bill Friend Lauren and Brian Gallagher Garling and Wilson Foundation Paul Gearen Julia and Mark Gerstein Eve and John Goebel Goldman Sachs Chicago Office Scott Goodman Donna and Jack Greenberg Derek and Becca Goldstein Groothuis Emily and Brian Grzelakowski Erik Hammer Ambassador Fay Hartog-Levin JD Heinz Tanner Holmes Paul Hsu Nichole and Scott Humphrey Israel Idonije Debbie and Pran Jha Pete Kadens Marcy and David Kirshenbaum Knight Family Foundation Cary Kochman Harry Kraemer Jeff Lampe Kris and Nate Laurell Jessica and Mats Lederhausen Liz and Eric Lefkofsky Millie Tadewaldt and Ben Levi Stephanie and Michael Macakanja Mayer Brown LLP Anne and Rob Metzger Steve Miller Hannah and Joe Musselman Northern Trust Julie and Jim O’Connor Amy and Jim O’Donnell Winnie Park Shelley and Brett Paschke Molly and Jim Perry Dani Petrie Ann and Steve Potter Momei Qu and Nathan Tang Deborah and Stephen Quazzo John Raitt Alyssa Rapp and Hal Morris Paul Reilly Mark Richey Brian Richter Jim and Michelle Ryan Family Foundation Elizabeth and Derek Sammann Muneer Satter MacKenzie Scott Joanne and Mike Sekulic Jenny and Nick Semaca Valerie and Lee Shapiro Marie Tillman and Joe Shenton Susan and John Simon Gregory G. Simoncini and Ed Dudley Karen and Jon Skinner Jim Streibich Mark Sullivan Kurt Summers Thierer Family Foundation Genevieve Thiers and Dan Ratner The Tullman Family The University of Chicago University of Illinois System Nancy and Mark Van Grinsven Winforest Partners Sam and Jessica Droste Yagan Robin and Mike Zafirovski Type Lifelong Learnings Lead to GreenLight Insights Lifelong Learnings Lead to GreenLight Apr 29, 2024 Chicago GreenLight Fund Names Ali Knight as Chief Executive Officer Announcement, News, Press Release GreenLight Fund Names Ali Knight as Chief Executive Officer Apr 16, 2024 GreenLight Fund Annual Impact Report July 2022 – June 2023 Insights GreenLight Fund Annual Impact Report July 2022 – June 2023 Oct 20, 2023 Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Greater Newark, Kansas City, National, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Twin Cities GreenLight Announces Founding Executive Director for Chicago Announcement, News, Press Release GreenLight Announces Founding Executive Director for Chicago Jul 19, 2023 Chicago National nonprofit GreenLight Fund announces Chicago location Media Mention Crain's National nonprofit GreenLight Fund announces Chicago location Jan 26, 2023 Chicago The GreenLight Fund Launches GreenLight Chicago, its 12th Site Announcement, News, Press Release The GreenLight Fund Launches GreenLight Chicago, its 12th Site Jan 26, 2023 Chicago Join our work in Chicago We rely on champions and supporters who believe in the power and potential of community-driven change. 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