What is 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, through an innovative video grant making process, 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.
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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.
Committees & Roles
Advisory Committee (3 meetings)
- determine overall strategy for group
- recruit new members
- elect committee officers
- review fund performance
- approve grant recommendations
- meet quarterly
Grants Sub-Committee (4 meetings)
- develop criteria for award and selection
- complete initial screening of proposals; determine final candidates
- review previous years’ awardees progress
- meet bi-monthly
- members at large may volunteer
Social & Fundraising Event Sub-Committee (4 planning meetings)
- plan fun quarterly social and philanthropic events
- recruit speakers
- meet bi-monthly
- members at large may volunteer
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., Philanthropic Advisor, or call 708-848-1560 x112.
Advisory Committee Members
Jennifer Convey, Senior Associate Consultant at Giving Tree Associates
Judy Conway, Attorney at Cooney & Conway 
Connor Flynn, Buyer at Alliance Paper & Foodservice Equipment
Laura Gutierrez, Administrative Assistant, Programs at The Chicago Community Trust
Darien Marion-Burton, President at D.M. Burton
Courtney Polos, Program Coordinator at American College of Surgeons
Diana Shea, Yoga Teacher and Director at The Yoga Centre, www.DianaShea.com
Ross Wasserstrom, Technical Account Manager at Onward Technologies, Inc.
Cheryl Wisniewski
Members-at-Large
- Carina Diaz, Director of Sales and Marketing at Acorn Wire and Iron Works
- Meridian Herman, Market Maven, The Salvation Army Chicago Metropolitan Division
- Sarah Najera, Artistic Director, MOMENTA
- Michael Starrick, Community Manager at M&M Property Management, Inc.
- Mark Walden, Program Coordinator, Oak Park-River Forest Chamber of Commerce
- Rhea Yap, Senior Philanthropic Advisor, Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation
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