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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2020 Grants & Grantee Partners:
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, NextGen Leaders provided mini-grants in 2020 to each of our past grantee partners.
- PING!
- Opportunity Knocks
- Pro Musica Youth Chorus
- Beat the Streets Chicago
- New Moms, Inc.
- Pro Bono Network
- Echo Theater Collective
2021 Call for Submissions
Find out more on the Grant Opportunities page and download the Eligibility Form. Submission deadline: April 30, 2021.
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., Senior Philanthropic Advisor, or call 708-848-1560
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
Maggie Sullivan, Account Coordinator at C.H. Robinson
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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