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Funding Opportunities

August 15, 2025

Are you looking for funding for your business or nonprofit? Here are a few funding opportunities:

Apply to the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund (NOF) presented by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD). This grant provides up to $250,000 for construction or renovation of business owners, property owners, community developers and entrepreneurs. The deadline to apply for Q3 is Friday, August 15 at 11:59 PM.

Applications are being accepted for the BMO Celebrating Women Grant Program, presented in collaboration with Deloitte. Fifteen small businesses will receive a $10,000 grant to take their businesses to the next level. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, August 19 at 7:00 PM CST.

Apply to the DCASE Arts Relief Fund presented by Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. This emergency grant program offers one-time grants ranging between $10,000 - $25,000 to eligible nonprofit arts and culture organizations that serve Chicago residents and have experienced federal funding losses in 2025. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, August 20 at 2:00 PM CST.

The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) opened for applications on Friday, August 1 in the following districts: 107th/Halsted, 63rd/Ashland, 24th/Michigan, Northwest Industrial Corridor, and Stevenson/Brighton. The deadline to apply is Sunday, August 31.

Apply to the Foot Locker Foundation Community Empowerment Program. Eligible applicants are nonprofits that have an organizational budget of $5 million or less, maintain at least one full-time staff person focused on youth programming, deliver programs and services to connect youth to mentorship, education, career development, and health services, and serve youth in low-to-moderate income communities where support and opportunity are scarce. Nonprofits in the following fourteen cities are eligible Atlanta, Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Houston, TX; Los Angeles, CA; New York City, NY; Newark, NJ; Oakland, CA; Philadelphia, PA; San Francisco, CA; Tampa, FL; and Washington, DC. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, September 30.

Need assistance applying for funding? Schedule a consultation with a West Side Forward Client Success Advisor.