A collaboration between
the Field Foundation and the MacArthur Foundation
The Leaders for a New Chicago Award celebrates its seventh year in 2025. This unique initiative provides a $50,000 no-strings-attached prize for individual leaders and a $25,000 general operating grant for their affiliated not-for-profit organizations. On May 20, we were delighted to announce the eight leaders comprising the 2025 cohort, each of whom are redefining civic leadership and reimagining our city’s future.
About the Leaders for a New Chicago Award
The Leaders for a New Chicago Award was created in partnership with the MacArthur Foundation in 2018. The award recognizes leaders from outside the city’s traditional power structure with the aim of bringing new voices, creativity, and innovation into the systems that shape Chicago.
Meet the Leaders
Collectively, the 73 recipients of the Leaders for a New Chicago Award represent a broad array of Chicago residents doing community-based work. The awardees are artists, advocates, co-founders, community developers, executive directors, journalists, organizers, social change agents, storytellers, among other roles. Meet the leaders from the seven cohorts below.
Eligibility
Eligible nominees for the Leaders for a New Chicago Award must be:
A Field Foundation grant recipient within the past two years OR a current direct grant recipient of the MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment or Chicago-based Journalism & Media (JAM) portfolio; or received an Expedited Grant (X Grant) in the past three years from the MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment and Chicago-based JAM portfolio.
Living in Chicago, Cook County, or the five collar counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will) at the time of the nomination or selection.
Working in the fields of Art, Journalism & Storytelling, or Justice.
Art. Nominees are deeply rooted in community, creating art and advancing the capacity of emerging artists.
Journalism & Storytelling. Nominees tell untold stories and bring diverse viewpoints to the public square. They fill information gaps with narratives, news, and investigations accurately reflecting community needs.
Justice. Nominees increase the visibility of critical issues affecting their communities and demonstrate impact in addressing them. They build deep community relationships and develop local leaders.
In a strong working relationship with the affiliated organization for at least one year at the time of the nomination.
Award Selection
A selection committee, facilitated by Field and MacArthur staff members, 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.
