NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy
NextGen Leaders is a giving group for emerging professionals and philanthropists in the Oak Park-River Forest area whose mission is to make a positive impact on the community and to develop its members into lifelong philanthropists.
Each spring we award capacity-building grants for small organizations or projects with operating budgets of less than $1,000,000 to increase their operational effectiveness and bring them to the next level of growth.
It is our hope that through organic membership growth, we will expand our Funds and presence in the community as one of its long-standing philanthropic contributors.
Join NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy to…
- Collaborate with a diverse network of emerging professionals
- Engage in social and fundraising events
- Directly participate in our grant-awarding process
Download a new member application here.
Questions about the grant submission process or how to become a NextGen Leaders member?
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Development Associate, or call 708-848-1560, x105
2021 Grants & Grantee Partners:
NextGen is proud to share that these three organizations were selected in 2021 to receive capacity building grants:
YEMBA
"Empowering our youth for a better tomorrow by enhancing our capacity to serve using technology in a virtual environment. We look forward to using the NextGen funds to acquire more workstations needed to fulfill our technology center."
– Ed Redd, Executive Director, YEMBA
Welcome to Fatherhood
Welcome to Fatherhood is a 501c3 nonprofit created by Dr. Raheem Young and Sir Royce Briales. We work with dads to help them cope with the pressures and stresses of fatherhood.
“We are extremely honored to be selected to receive the NextGen Leaders in Philanthropy Capacity Building Grant. This opportunity will allow us to become more effective at engaging the fathers currently connected with our program as well as recruiting and retaining more fathers.”
– Dr. Raheem Young, co-founder, Welcome to Father (WTF)
Pro Bono Network
PBN will purchase technology to support new staff who will advance the racial equity legal assistance program and projects.
Member Roles
General Membership
In collaboration with the NextGen Chair, determines overall strategy for group
- Encourages and welcomes new members
- Gives or fundraises to support mission, as able
- Attends social events, as able
- Volunteers on a committee
- Elects NextGen Chair and Committee Chairs
- Approves grant recommendations from the Grants Committee
- Meets quarterly
Committees
Grants Committee
- Develops criteria for award and selection
- Completes initial screening of proposals; determines final candidates
- Reviews previous years’ awardees progress
- Meets bi-monthly
Membership Committee
- In collaboration with the NextGen Chair, sets new membership and retaining membership goals
- Recruits and welcomes new members
- Plans social and volunteer events, with support from CF Staff
- Meets bi-monthly
Members
as of March 2022