We all have the power to change the world through our ideas and actions.
Our goal is to cultivate an environment that links entrepreneurs—regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status, or geography—to the resources that drive business growth.
In the entrepreneurial spirit of Mr. Duchossois, we seek to cultivate a sustained, healthy local ecosystem that supports all businesses of all sizes, strengthens neighborhood businesses and commercial districts, encourages innovative early-stage lending and funding models, and not least, creates quality jobs that offer a living wage.
Areas of focus include:
Access
We envision a Chicagoland where entrepreneurs have equitable opportunities to access the technical, relational and financial capital they need to achieve their professional goals.
Emerging Talent
Great companies require great leaders, but effective and inspiring CEOs are forged by time, lived experience, mentoring, education, and peer-to-peer learning. Grantmaking will target entrepreneurial training and technical assistance to business leaders who have historically lacked access to necessary resources and connections, and programs that create and attract business talent in greater Chicago. We will also invest in convening efforts that bring peer entrepreneurs together to learn and network.
Business
We seek to support the development of companies by strengthening their business operations. Our goal is to promote business development in low-income neighborhoods, advance the work of business accelerators and business service organizations, support social enterprises, and foster high-tech innovation.
“Combat and business are very similar. There is no textbook. You get the tools, but you have to know how to use the tools.”
Richard L. Duchossois
