Sponsor the Future of Chicago Philanthropy

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Emerging Donor Alliance

Emerging Donor Alliance connects new philanthropists with local nonprofits, fostering collaboration and impactful giving. Our mission is to empower emerging donors through education and community engagement to enhance their philanthropic efforts.

Join us for our final signature event of our first year!&nbsp;All Emerging Donor Alliance founding members, nonprofits partners, and advisors are invited to a celebration, where we will recognize the collective impact of our community and the dedicated local nonprofits that we&#39;re honored to support.&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;">Date: Monday, June 8th from 6-8pm</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;">Location: Pilot Project Brewing Logan Square (2140 N Milwaukee Ave)</li></ul>If you are not an Emerging Donor Alliance member, tickets are $20 to attend. We look forward to celebrating our first year of programming together as we close out our first grantmaking cycle. Food and drinks will be available for all guests.

6/8 Celebration with Grant Partners

🗓️ Saturday, April 25th from 9am to 12pm📣 Optional Coffee at Bueno Days (2901 W. Cermak Rd.) before walking over to LVEJO (2727 S. Troy St.) for Toxic Tour Join us on Saturday, April 25th, at Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO) for an immersive, two-hour walking tour of the Little Village neighborhood, beginning at 10am. This tour begins at Semillas de Justicia Community Garden (2727 S. Troy St.) and is designed to educate participants on the &quot;toxic presence&quot; in the community while highlighting the local solutions and hard-won victories achieved through decades of grassroots organizing. Rather than focusing solely on pollution, the Toxic Tour serves as a classroom for understanding climate change, public health, and the power of community action. Optional coffee meetup beforehand at Bueno Days (2901 W. Cermak Rd.) at 9am for those who would like to walk over together!

4/25 Little Village Visit

Join us for our fourth signature event of the year! RSVP by 4/6 to attend for security purposes at Impact House.&nbsp;All Emerging Donor Alliance founding members are invited to our &quot;Grantmaking in Action&quot; workshop, where members will deliberate on which nonprofits to support with collective grants via a ranked choice voting system. Dinner and drinks will be available for all guests.<ul fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;">Date: Thursday, April 9th from 6-8pm</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important; font-weight: bold;">Location: Impact House, 4th floor Classroom A+B</li></ul>This event is for Emerging Donor Alliance members only.

4/9 Grantmaking in Action Member Deliberations

🗓️ Thursday, March 26th from 12-1pm📣 Richard J. Daley Center Plaza (50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL &nbsp;60602) The Equal Pay Chicago Coalition is a diverse collective of more than 50 organizations, businesses, and government agencies in Chicago united around a shared objective: advocating for equal and equitable pay for all, with the ultimate goal of eradicating the persistent pay gap and ensuring a more just and inclusive future. As the leader of the coalition, nonprofit partner Women Employed invited Emerging Donor Alliance members to take a lunch break and join the annual Chicago Equal Pay Day Rally to raise awareness of the gender wage gap and advocate for fair pay for all.

3/26 Equal Pay Rally with Women Employed

Volunteer with <a fr-original-style="" href="https://hellobabychgo.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">HelloBaby</a> on 3/21 from 10am - 12pm to see early childhood support up close 🧸. This hands-on opportunity lets you connect your interest in youth development with real families in Chicago.<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">When: Saturday, March 21st from 10am - 12pm</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Where: 600 E 61st St, Chicago, IL 60637</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">What: volunteers will read and make Spring-themed crafts with families visiting HelloBaby. HelloBaby is the nation&rsquo;s first (and only) free standing, free of charge drop in play space for babies, toddlers and their caregivers.</li></ul>

3/21 Volunteering with HelloBaby

Join us on Saturday, February 28th to volunteer with Chicago Abortion Fund!&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Time: 1:00 - 3:00pm CT</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Location: Chicago Abortion Fund&#39;s offices (address will be sent to volunteers the week of the event)</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Who: Limited to 15 EDA members</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">What: We&#39;ll learn from CAF&#39;s team, and pack post-abortion care packages (kits with pads, pain relief, comfort items, and notes of affirmation for people getting care in Illinois clinics)</li></ul>Thank you for being a part of our growing community of young Chicagoans dedicated to collective giving and action.&nbsp;

2/28 Volunteering with Chicago Abortion Fund

Join us on Sunday, February 15th to celebrate Black History Month and explore the DuSable museum together! We&#39;ll meet at the museum at 11am, and then head over to Ja&#39; Grill Hyde Park for lunch afterwards.&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Time: 11:00am - 1:30pm</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Location: DuSable Museum (740 E 56th Pl, Chicago, IL 60637) and Ja&#39; Grill Hyde Park (1510 E Harper Ct, Chicago, IL 60615)</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Who: All are welcome! We&#39;ll buy tickets for all attendees, though guests will buy their own lunch at Ja&#39; Grill.&nbsp;</li></ul>Thank you for being a part of our growing community of young Chicagoans dedicated to collective giving and action.&nbsp;

2/15 Black History Month Outing

Join us for our third signature event of the year! RSVP by 2/6 to attend for security purposes at Impact House.All Emerging Donor Alliance founding members are invited to a member mixer and workshop on our grantmaking practices for our inaugural year. Giving circles will meet in groups to discuss giving priorities and community engagement. Dinner and drinks will be available for all guests.<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Monday, February 9th from 6-8pm</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: Impact House, 3rd floor</li></ul>This event is for Emerging Donor Alliance members only. If you are not a contributing member of Emerging Donor Alliance, you can apply by the 2025-2026 deadline at the following: <a data-fr-linked="true" fr-original-style="" href="https://www.emergingdonors.org/join" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.emergingdonors.org/join</a>. Applications will close on 2/9, and everyone who joins as a member (and every referrer) will be entered in to win a gift card from <a fr-original-style="" href="http://naduchicago.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Nadu</a> - winners will be announced at the event.&nbsp;

2/9 Intro to Grantmaking and Member Mixer

Join us for a webinar on skills-based volunteering with Compass Pro Bono!&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Wednesday, January 14th at 7pm</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: via Zoom</li></ul>One of the best ways that young people can get engaged in our communities (outside of proactively giving our $ to high-impact nonprofits!) is using our skills to make an impact with local nonprofits. Compass Pro Bono runs pro-bono consulting projects and volunteering opportunities for dozens of local nonprofits, and will share their best practices on volunteering, along with opportunities to get engaged in their programming if you&#39;re interested.

1/14 Use Your Skills for Good Webinar with Compass Pro Bono

Join us on Sunday, January 4th to kick off the new year with volunteering and a happy hour! We will pack lunches for <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.inspirationcorp.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Inspiration Corporation</a>,&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: rgb(14, 36, 93); font-family: Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: 0.25px; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial;"><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Location: Solemn Oath Brewery Still Life (2919 W Armitage in Logan Square)</li><li fr-original-style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;" style="box-sizing: inherit; max-width: 100%; color: inherit !important;">Activities: Make sandwiches and pack bagged lunches, meet other EDA supporters, and have a drink on us!</li></ul>Thank you for being a part of our growing community of young Chicagoans dedicated to collective giving and action. This event is open to both current and prospective EDA members! Not a member yet? Apply today: <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.emergingdonors.org/join" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.emergingdonors.org/join</a>.

1/4 Volunteer Meal Packing for Inspiration Corporation

Join us for a virtual book club featuring Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something and author of When We&#39;re in Charge: The Next Generation&rsquo;s Guide to Leadership!&nbsp;<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Tuesday, December 16th from 7-8pm</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: via Zoom</li></ul>Buy the book prior to the event <a fr-original-style="" href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-we-re-in-charge-the-next-generation-s-guide-to-leadership-amanda-litman/41c027d75028b528" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">via Bookshop</a> or at your local book store. Amanda is an expert on helping get more young people engaged in their communities, and we&#39;re honored to have her join us to share her wisdom and the opportunity to ask questions as many of us step into leadership roles in our careers.

12/16 When We're In Charge Virtual Book Club with Amanda Litman

Join us for our Giving Tuesday Panel and Member Dinner!For our second signature event of the year, all Emerging Donor Alliance members (and prospective members) are invited to a dinner and community networking event. The program will include a panel discussion from 6:45-7:30pm with local nonprofit leaders in honor of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.givingtuesday.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Giving Tuesday</a>, the international day of giving.<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Tuesday, December 2nd from 6-8pm</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: Impact House, 2nd Floor</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Panelists: Erica Patrick of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.southsideblooms.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Southside Blooms</a>, Jason Coleman of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://projectsyncere.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Project SYNCERE</a>, and Sharmili Majmudar of <a fr-original-style="" href="https://womenemployed.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Women Employed</a></li></ul>Giving circles will also have breakout sessions to meet each other and connect. Dinner will be catered from a local restaurant, and drinks will be provided by Goose Island. We will also be hosting a board book drive with Hello Baby -&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://hellobabychgo.org/giving-tuesday-2025/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">visit this link for a list of books needed</a>!&nbsp;

12/2 Giving Tuesday Panel and Member Dinner

Join us on Sunday, November 16th for a weekend volunteering opportunity and happy hour!&nbsp;We will pack lunches to share with local community-led nonprofits and connect with the Emerging Donor Alliance community.<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Time: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: Goose Island Taproom in West Loop</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Activities: Make sandwiches and pack bagged lunches, meet other EDA supporters, and have a drink on us! We will be packing meals for <a fr-original-style="" href="https://sarahs-circle.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: initial; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">Sarah&#39;s Circle</a> and other community centers collecting food donations in response to the recent SNAP disruptions.</li></ul>Thank you for being a part of our growing community of young Chicagoans dedicated to collective giving and action.

11/16 Volunteering and Happy Hour

Join us for the first event of our 2026&ndash;2027 program year! Emerging Donor Alliance, in partnership with the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC), invites you to an evening exploring community violence intervention (CVI) and public safety in Chicago. We&#39;ll screen Choose Peace, a short film on CVI work in the city, followed by a panel discussion and conversation with EDA community members and INVC staff about perceptions of violence, safety, and what it will take to build a safer Chicago together.<ul fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Date: Thursday, October 8th from 6:30&ndash;8:00pm (doors open at 6pm)</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Location: Impact House Training Room, 200 W Madison, 2nd Floor</li></ul>This event is free to attend! Food and drinks will be provided. We look forward to kicking off our second year of programming with you. About Emerging Donor Alliance (INVCEDA (pronounced &quot;Etta&quot;) is a member community for young people (ages 22-35) in Chicago. Our mission is to accelerate philanthropy to create more informed, engaged neighbors. Our 2026-2027 program year will run from October 2026 through June 2027. Membership dues are $50, plus $450 to join the giving circle track and make collective grants to high-impact, Chicago nonprofits. Learn more at <a data-fr-linked="true" fr-original-style="" href="https://www.emergingdonors.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.emergingdonors.org/</a>. About the Institute for Nonviolence Chicago (INVC) INVC is a respected leader in gun violence prevention, intervention, and reduction. Its evidence-based model brings together civilians and organizations to implement wraparound services for high-risk individuals in Austin, West Garfield Park, Back of the Yards, and portions of Brighton Park&mdash;bringing more peace, compassion, hope, and love to our streets and keeping Chicago safe for generations. Learn more at&nbsp;<a fr-original-style="" href="https://www.nonviolencechicago.org/" id="isPasted" rel="noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer noopener noreferrer" style="text-decoration-color: currentcolor; user-select: auto; box-sizing: inherit;" target="_blank">https://www.nonviolencechicago.org/</a>.

Emerging Donor Alliance

Events

Events

10/8 Let's Talk: Public Safety in Chicago

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