At Crossroads Fund we believe that BIG CHANGE comes from community-led, grassroots organizing.

Some of the biggest victories we’ve seen in this city from accessible public transit for people with disabilities, to the successful campaign to abolish the death penalty in Illinois, to the campaign to end the use of money bond, all of which started out as small grassroots movements that were considered too radical for most funders. That’s where Crossroads Fund comes in.

At Crossroads Fund, WE BELIEVE that the people who best understand the issues at hand should participate in our funding decisions.

That’s why our grantmaking committees include people who intimately understand the need for systems change, including past and current grantees, community organizers, donantes, academics, and community allies. This rich pool of knowledge lets us ask hard questions, and direct our funds to the most effective and innovative groups.

At Crossroads Fund, we do MORE THAN GIVE GRANTS, we build movements.

We help to build city-wide movements for social change. We provide workshops and trainings that help our grantees build their capacity and refine their organizing and advocacy strategies. We organize public programs that help provide a platform for our grantees to educate about their issues and influence public debate. And we bring together our grantees in convenings that allow them to share strategies and build alliances.