RLD Foundation’s Inaugural Grantee Partners

The belief that the most persistent social issues facing Chicago’s communities can be addressed through innovation, diligence, and collaborative action is at the core of the Richard L. Duchossois Foundation’s vision and mission. 

Guided by the values and legacy of its namesake Mr. Duchossois, the Foundation focuses on three
primary giving areas — Entrepreneurs, Veterans, and Strong Families — supporting organizations that provide pathways to opportunity.  

In that spirit, RLD Foundation is proud to share the inaugural group of grantee partners whose missions reflect these aspirations, and whose work is creating tangible, lasting change for communities across the city. 

Strong Families

Strong families need economic stability to thrive – when parents can earn steady incomes and build financial security, children have better outcomes and families can weather unexpected challenges.  The Foundation partners with organizations that deliver multi-generational solutions across three interconnected areas: quality flexible childcare, family-sustaining jobs, and affordable family-sized housing. Together, these levers promote family stability, help break cycles of economic hardship, and increase upward mobility for the next generation. 

The Foundation is honored to support these Strong Families grantees, each building innovative and integrated solutions across childcare, employment, and housing that empower families to achieve economic stability and create lasting prosperity for future generations. 

Founded nearly 50 years ago, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning’s mission is to educate, enrich, and empower children and families. Their programs, delivered across 27 of Chicago’s communities, serve children and youth at every stage of development from prenatal to age 17. Their programming includes early childhood education, parent career pathways, and youth development opportunities. 

For over 130 years, Chicago Commons has empowered individuals, families, and communities to overcome poverty and systemic barriers and embrace opportunities to thrive across generations. Commons provides high-quality early childhood education and family-centered career pathways to increase economic mobility.  

LIFTChicago works to break the cycle of poverty by investing in parents while lifting two generations at once. LIFT builds families’ well-being, financial strength, and social connections by implementing solutions that Invest in families and change systems at scale. 

For over 40 years, New Moms, Inc. has been building on the strength, skills, and potential of young moms. Their comprehensive programs help mothers achieve housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being. 

Women Employed advances women’s economic status through research, programs, and collaborative initiatives, creating practical pathways and removing barriers that enable families to achieve financial security. 

YWCA Metropolitan – Chicago Early Childhood Services connects parents to childcare resources while they work or go to school, builds the capacity of childcare providers, and provides economic equity support to families. 

Entrepreneurs 

Entrepreneurship has long been a catalyst for economic mobility, but its full potential is only realized when everyone is equally afforded the chance and the tools to succeed. The RLD Foundation supports organizations and initiatives that expand access to capital, support emerging and established entrepreneurs, and invest in the infrastructure that helps businesses launch, grow, and flourish. 

By putting equitable resources and support within reach, these inaugural Entrepreneurship grantees are opening doors and turning ideas into successful, sustainable businesses. 

Builders Avenue supports diverse entrepreneurs in the construction trades. The organization helps business owners strengthen their financial health and build the skills to plan, manage, and fund their businesses through one-on-one training and implementation support. 

Chicago:Blend is dedicated to creating a more inclusive venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem. They provide industry data and insights, support emerging venture talent, and work with VC funds to strengthen Chicago’s entrepreneurial community. 

The Greater Southwest Development Corporation helps cultivate a vibrant and resilient entrepreneurial ecosystem, especially within historically disinvested neighborhoods. They foster inclusive economic growth by empowering entrepreneurs, advancing workforce development, and building local capacity through targeted training, technical assistance, and resource access. 

mHub plays a pivotal role in supporting Chicago’s entrepreneurs advancing HardTech innovation and commercialization in sectors like energy, medical devices, quantum, and sustainable manufacturing. mHUB provides entrepreneurs with access to prototyping facilities, expert mentorship, supply chain networks, and comprehensive business support.  

Sunshine Enterprises empowers high-potential entrepreneurs in under-resourced neighborhoods to grow their businesses and transform their communities. They deliver business planning and management services to entrepreneurs through core programs aimed at training, coaching, and connecting them for success. 

For over 50 years, Women Employed has been working to create fundamental, systemic change for working women. Through their Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub, Women Employed provides targeted support for women entrepreneurs, including financial training, mentorship, access to capital, and networking opportunities.  

The YWCA Metropolitan Chicago – Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center delivers programs that uplift women entrepreneurs whose businesses face barriers to securing capital. The YWCA believes that investing in these women fuels innovation and generates catalytic impact throughout Chicago communities.

Veterans

With over half of Illinois’ veterans living in the greater Chicagoland area, the RLD Foundation is dedicated to ensuring they have access to resources and opportunities to help them thrive. The Foundation invests in organizations with innovative approaches to addressing underemployment, underutilization of benefits, and housing instability among the veteran population. 

The grantees within the Veterans program area honor the service of our military community with forward-thinking solutions that build opportunity, stability, and success in civilian life. 

In addition to their traditional initiatives Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity offers veteran-specific support through their Veterans Build Initiative. They are working to address the lack of affordable housing by partnering with military service members, their families, and veterans to help build and repair affordable housing.  

The Illinois Equal Justice Foundation and their Illinois Armed Forces Legal Aid Network champion equal access to civil justice for low to moderate income veterans, service members and their families, providing comprehensive legal services for those who cannot afford private attorneys.  

Inner Voice supports people experiencing homelessness in their quest to achieve well-being, self-reliance and a place to call home. With a specific focus on veterans experiencing or at-risk of experiencing homelessness, Operation Homefront Connect provides dignity-centered care and support through housing placement and case management. 

Vetsintech is a national nonprofit expanding its reach in Chicagoland by assisting veterans with re-integration services, and by connecting them to the technology ecosystem. Vetsintech brings together a tech-specific network, resources, and programs for veterans interested in education, entrepreneurship, and employment. 

Warrior-Scholar Project (WSP) is a national nonprofit that helps enlisted veterans and service members transition from the military into higher education. Through college prep programming offered in partnership with colleges and universities, WSP provides academic support to prepare participants for success in a four-year degree program. This grant will support WSP’s work within the state of Illinois.