JUSTICE
The Field Foundation’s Justice portfolio seeks to support organizations working to address the root causes of inequity and systemic racism through community organizing, advocacy, and policy.
This looks like community organizing campaigns—driven by communities of color on Chicago’s South and West Sides—that engage community members directly impacted by inequities, challenge the status quo, demand changes in policy and practice, educate communities about root causes, and advocate for systemic and just solutions.
Photography by Felton Edward Kizer
What We Fund
Field has prioritized several focus areas, including housing, immigration, and systems impacted by justice reform. While the Justice portfolio is interested in supporting and funding organizations working in these focus areas, we want to learn from communities addressing other critical issues and encourage applicants to organize and advocate outside of these issue areas.
Things to keep in mind:
Field is committed to supporting organizations strongly rooted in local communities to identify root causes of inequity.
We fund organizations working to address problems at both systemic and policy levels.
Areas not funded:
Direct services to individuals, families, or communities
Capital campaigns
Schools or school programs for schools
Social services that are not linked to a clear organizing strategy
Application process
In October 2023, we moved from a Letter of Inquiry application process three times each year to a more streamlined grantmaking process that will allow us to consider funding needs on a rolling basis. This change will allow our grantees from community-centered nonprofits working in justice—as well as our Field staff—to, together, focus more closely on the work. Removing rigid process deadlines will also enable us to move faster with our grantmaking dollars to invest in community priorities. Submit your application here.
JUSTICE GOALS
In our Justice portfolio, we prioritize capacity building and sustainability of grassroots organizing. This includes organizations and collectives working toward leadership development to collectively build and advance racial justice, political education, root-cause analysis, and narrative change. Priority organizations include those within Field’s heat map communities and other communities of color.