Fuel for the Future: Grantee Victories from 2025

January 2026 — Moving the Needle // Woods Fund Chicago

In one of the darkest parts of the year, and in a moment when many of us are feeling deep and warranted dread over the actions of a government that is at turns violent, repressive, and neglectful, it feels critical to take stock also of our victories, of all of the ways in which our peers and partners are pushing on, fighting back, and breaking new ground.

Woods Fund Chicago funds community organizing and grassroots advocacy because we believe that it is our single best hope for the groundbreaking systemic change required to build a world in which all people can thrive. The birds-eye-view below scratches the surface of the myriad diverse, creative, urgent tactics Chicago’s organizers are using every day. We are proud to be a partner and enthusiastically committed to backing this transformative work in 2026 and beyond.

In the courts, the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership is suing DHS for access to Broadview’s ICE facility, where detained Chicagoans have been denied humane conditions, medication, and pastoral care. “I think we should be stubborn about this,” said one priest, “The church has been around a long time, and we won’t get tired very quickly.” ICIRR and Common Cause have filed a motion to prevent the federal government from compelling Illinois to hand over confidential voter information. In a case school districts across the country are watching, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council is suing the Department of Education for pulling grant funding midyear.

In every part of Chicago, organizers are fighting for more and better resources for their communities. COFI-trained parents secured income-based energy discounts from ComEd in Chicago and Ameren Electric downstate, a critical win in a moment of rising costs of living. Southwest Organizing Project broke ground on an affordable housing development in Chicago Lawn, and Lawndale Christian Development Corporation is helming a new neighborhood rec center on the West Side. Alliance of the SouthEast and other environmental justice organizations won the withdrawal of an Army Corps of Engineers proposal that would have expanded toxic waste disposal in Calumet Park: in its place, the City and Park District have announced the creation of a long-promised lakefront public park.

Southside Together organized South Shore tenants who suffered an ICE raid this past fall.

In the State Legislature, organizers have won a host of protections and advancements of our fundamental rights. The Clean Slate Coalition celebrated the passing of the Clean Slate Act: signed into law in January, the act will create a process for automatic records sealing for millions of eligible convictions. Immigrant rights groups fought and won a diverse platform of protections against ICE enforcement — in schools, universities, courthouses, and workplaces — and affirmation of the right to sue ICE for violating US law. At the city level, organizers won $3 million in funding for the city’s Legal Protection Fund to support Chicago’s immigrants.

Behind those marquee victories is the steady basebuilding work many of these organizations are constantly engaged with, even as they throw themselves into the fights above.

Steeped in Mutual Aid practices, grantees have set up free meal programs in direct evocation of the Black Panthers and coordinated school watch, transportation, and grocery deliveries to support families under threat of ICE enforcement. In a rapidly changing landscape, grassroots organizations have been critical in equipping people with knowledge and expert support — rapid response trainings and multilingual Know Your Rights workshops, but also clinics for everything from brake light replacements to gender-affirming name changes to records expungement. In many cases, attendees leave not just armed with knowledge, but connected to a wider movement.

Finally, many of the organizations that Woods Fund Chicago supports are engaged in explicit work to train organizers across diverse models, from Chicago United for Equity’s formal fellowship, to GoodKids MadCity and Chicago Freedom School’s youth-led work, to Southside Together’s organizing of the South Shore tenants who suffered an ICE raid this past fall, preceded by years of neglect and followed by eviction notices.

We take two lessons from this work: first, that in bleak political moments, we are still surrounded by people fighting fiercely for a better world. And second, that this work is long-haul, and requires funders who can commit to go the distance. Ask the organizers behind the headlines, and they’ll reference years or generations-long fights. In moments of crisis and moments of quiet, the work goes on: we are proud to back our partners now and tomorrow.

Kimberley has 30 years of writing, strategic marketing and communications, and coaching experience. A skilled project manager, she is trusted to provide counsel, support, and ideas to clients. She honed these skills while working at Burrell Public Relations, managing marketing and sponsorship for the Chicago Park District and, later, the national nonprofit KABOOM!, and serving customers at two brick-and-mortar retail businesses she owned and ran in Chicago. She is a board member of the Publicity Club of Chicago and a charter board member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women's Chicago Metropolitan chapter.

Kimberley now helms Rudd Resources LLC, a Chicago-based communications agency that provides strategic business communications leadership and support to philanthropic organizations, nonprofit organizations and enterprises. She has served on the Woods Fund Chicago board since 2022. We're deeply grateful for her incisive voice and principled leadership, and look forward to her bringing her skills to bear as board chair.

"As a Woods Fund trustee, I get to see what it takes to support those who are fighting for justice, while also questioning and challenging how philanthropy responds to and champions their work. I'm honored to step into this leadership role, one that means I'll have to keep up with a wise and thoughtful board, an amazing leader, and a smart and passionate staff."

Kimberley succeeds outgoing Board Chair L. Anton Seals — we are deeply grateful for Anton’s years of service with Woods Fund Chicago, both his four-year term as board chair, and his leadership on our board since 2015!

Applications for the Woods Fund Chicago 2026 grantmaking cycle are opening soon! Woods Fund Chicago has separate application windows for new applicants and returning grantee partners.

⮕ New applicants: The application portal opens on Tuesday, February 10! The deadline for new applicants is 11:59 PM on Tuesday, March 10.

⮕ Returning grantee partners, save the date! You will be sent an Organizational Update form on Wednesday, April 1. The deadline for returning grantee partners is 11:59 PM on Thursday, April 30.

Learn more about our grants, what we're looking for, and how to apply at woodsfund.org/our-grants. For questions, reach out to the Grants and Administrative Manager Brittany Ward at brittany@woodsfund.org.

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