Developing an equitable community in Evanston depends on elevating leaders and amplifying the voices of the entire community. ECF must be equitable and inclusive in our programming and grantmaking, and expand our leadership, outreach, advocacy, and educational offerings, especially to communities that have been historically excluded. Here’s how we will do it:

• To elevate underrepresented voices in community listening, program development, advocacy, and grantmaking.
• Expanding our unique program, Leadership Evanston, into a Leadership Institute, with a focus on new models of community leadership, previously underserved audiences, including youth and people of color, preparing the next generation of active, informed, and concerned citizen leadership within Evanston.
• Prioritize addressing barriers to equity and justice in our grantmaking.
• Support community advocacy efforts and collective impact initiatives.

Nonprofit organizations are the heart and soul of Evanston. A strong, vibrant, and collaborative nonprofit sector is absolutely crucial to building an equitable and healthy community and maintaining a good quality of life. Here's what we'll do to help achieve that:

• Leading opportunities for shared operations and efficiencies among Evanston's non-profit organizations, empowering organizations to pursue their missions more assertively.
• Expand ECF's nonprofit learning series to better meet current and future needs, including management during transition, stabilizing the nonprofit workforce, and building fair and equitable profits in the nonprofit sector.
• To support non-profit organizations in developing the capacity to effectively serve the Evanston community.

The pandemic highlighted the enormous disparities in resources and opportunities that exist in Evanston. And while the initial crisis has largely passed, we know that many of these disparities have existed for generations, and many Evanston families continue to struggle. We need to empower everyone in our community to face whatever challenges the future may bring. Here's how we'll take it a step further:

• Develop and collaborate on programs that specifically improve family economic stability in communities of color, including supporting and expanding repairs.
• Working in Evanston.
• To play a leading role in the creation and funding of a permanent guaranteed core system.
• Income program in Evanston.
• Relocate ECF offices to a community where we can serve as an economic anchor, including partnering with local businesses owned by women and people of color.
• Take a leadership role in the Savings for Success early childhood education savings program

Using the principles of Ubuntu, we are committed to continuing to build a connected and equitable organization by implementing the lessons learned from our past.