Excellerator Fund
The Excellerator Fund is a community-driven grantmaking 5 Year initiative that promotes equitable social and economic recovery in Chicago's Black and Mexican communities.
Introducing the Excellerator Fund, a thrilling joint venture between the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and Latinos Progresando that is set to transform Chicago’s social and economic landscape through visionary investment for the City’s Black and Mexican leaders.
We believe that investing in strong community-based leadership is the key to building equitable communities, and that's why we are passionate about empowering Black and Mexican voices to direct investments toward their communities.
Our ultimate goal? We aim to raise $10 million over the next five years through our community-driven grantmaking model, which focuses on supporting Black and Mexican-led organizations. This model also fosters cross-community collaboration and unity. Currently, we secured an incredible $4 million and invested in 86 deserving organizations – 75% of which have budgets under $500,000!
Our objectives are clear:
Invest in the inherent talent of our communities
Center Black and Mexican people in visioning and leadership
Advance cross-community collaboration and foster unity
Develop an agile shared learning environment
Reimagine traditional philanthropy pathways
Increase the sustainability of Chicago's nonprofits to drive social and economic equity
Statistics that Matter
>60% of Chicago residents are Black and Latino
Black communities receive >2% of philanthropic investments
Latino communities receive ~1% of philanthropic investments
Assets in Black & Latino organizations are 76% less than White-led organizations
Our Approach
-Grant Making
-Convening
-Capacity Building
Excellerator Partners
The Excellerator Fund program’s trusted group of partners includes the Healthy Communities Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, Crown Family Philanthropies, Discover, Shine Bright Community Center, and Builders initiative.
Convenings
Excellerator Fund convenings help GAGDC achieve three key goals: Create a culture and environment of continuous learning, forge relationships between organizations and communities, and gather feedback on current challenges and suggestions for innovative funding opportunities that we can share with philanthropy to enhance the work of nonprofit organizations.
Grant Cycles
GAGDC has two grant cycles a year that are given, one in the spring and one in the fall. Organizations interested in applying for the Excellertor Fund should contact Yerendi Cintron or email excelleratorfund@gagdc.org. You can find more information at www.excelleratorfund.org
MODERATORS: Laura P. Trejo, Sr. Director of Strategic Initiatives, Latinos Progresando; Haya Muhammad, Program Manager, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation. PANELISTS: Luis Gutierrez, Founder and CEO, Latinos Progresando; Carlos Nelson, CEO, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation Dale Cain , Executive Director, Advocates for Community WellnessNury Ortega, President, Friends of Spry.
Launching the Excellerator Fund
As philanthropists, civic leaders, and policymakers consider exploring effective pathways to build a more equitable Chicago, we can look to a model that has successfully addressed significant challenges in the city’s neighborhoods. The pandemic has highlighted the power of Black and Brown-led collective impact organizations in tackling these major challenges. As Chicago looks to rebuild, there is an opportunity to leverage these organizations with the same urgency beyond times of need to recovery efforts that ensure that Chicago’s Black and Brown neighborhoods thrive.
Critical community impact has been a focus for over 20 years. The summer of 2020 ignited a renewed emphasis on racial equity. Two organizations exemplify this opportunity. Leaders from Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and Latinos Progresando are driving change in the Auburn Gresham and Little Village neighborhoods. Engaging with their local networks and collaborating in citywide efforts that prioritize Black and Brown organizations in Chicago’s rebuilding initiatives.
This edition of Respond, Recover, and Rebuild will focus on solutions for neighborhood recovery that center Black and Brown voices and outline tangible steps leaders can take toward investing in the future of our city.
Testimonies
Ronda Howard, Executive Director
Bounce For Joy Project
“GAGDC was instrumental in supporting Bounce for Joy's teen intervention retreat to Lewistown, IL. Thanks to their grant, the program was able to provide a transformative experience to a group of teenagers who had never traveled out of Chicago or been on a camping trip in the woods. Despite initial challenges, including behavior issues and resistance to following rules, the male mentors provided tough love and took the teens fishing, where they opened up and expressed their problems in life. The mentors shared life lessons with them and created a life skills program for them to participate in for the balance of the year. Bounce for Joy plans on returning to the camp during winter break and spring 2023. The grant from GAGDC helped bring positive changes in the lives of these youth, and we are grateful for their support.”
Grantee Spotlight
Sones de Mexico Ensemble & South Merrill Community Garden - Cross Community Collaboration to promote unity.
