A collaboration between
the Field Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation
The Leaders for a New Chicago Award celebrates its sixth year in 2024. This unique, no-strings-attached $50,000 award ($25,000 for the individual and, if eligible, $25,000 for their affiliated not-for-profit corporation) is given to 10 individuals each year, promoting a range of leaders whose influence will inform decision making across the city of Chicago. We will announce the 2024 Leaders for a New Chicago in June.
About the Leaders for a New Chicago Award
Seeking to build a more inclusive Chicago, the Leaders for a New Chicago Award taps leaders outside of the city’s current power structure. Recipients may use their award as they see fit, including supporting work, reflection, and professional development. They also receive ongoing optional network programming and professional development opportunities.
The Field and MacArthur Foundations intend these awards to acknowledge past accomplishments and to invest in the promise of individuals to shape a new Chicago. Our goal is to recognize these leaders for their contributions to Chicago, to learn from them, and to incorporate insights about their experiences to better understand and support future leaders.
Meet the Leaders
Collectively the 55 reciptients of the Leaders for a New Chicago Award represent a broad array of Chicago residents and include a diversity of age, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, and sexual orientation. Coming from different geographic backgrounds and income levels, the awardees are artists, advocates, co-founders, educators, executive directors, organizers, social change agents, storytellers, and members of collectives or shared leadership models. Meet the leaders from our five cohorts below.
Eligibility
Eligible nominees for the Leaders for a New Chicago Award must be:
From existing grantee organizations within the past two years of the Field Foundation OR a) are a current direct grantee in the MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Committment or Chicago-based Journalism & Media portfolio; b) received an Expedited Grant “X Grant” in the past three years from the MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment and Chicago-based Journalism & Media portfolio.
Living in Chicago, Cook County, or the five collar counties at the time of the nomination.
Working in the fields of Art, Journalism & Storytelling, or Justice.
Maintaining a strong working relationship with the affiliated organization for at least one year at the time of the nomination.
Award Selection
An Award Selection Committee catalyzes the selection process, using a rubric to review nominations and recommend the next recipients of the Leaders for a New Chicago Award. The nomination process results in an award presented annually. The 2024 cohort will be announced in June.
