Donors Forum: About Us

Donors Forum is an association of grantmakers and our mission is to advance philanthropy. The Donors Forum was founded in 1974.

Throughout the year, we offer more than 100 networking events and educational and professional development workshops for grantmakers and nonprofits. Donors Forum serves as both a public policy resource and advocate for the philanthropic sector through activities that include outreach, education and lobbying at the federal and state levels. Donors Forum publications, such as the Directory of Illinois Foundations, Individual Giving in Illinois and Foundation Giving in Illinois, offer comprehensive information about the philanthropic sector in Illinois and are essential tools for nonprofit leaders.

The Donors Forum Library is the Midwest's largest collection of resources on philanthropy. The Library and five Philanthropy Centers serve more than 7,500 people each year through trainings, educational workshops and reference help.

With more than 200 grantmaking Members and Associate Members and 1,210 nonprofit Forum Partners, the Donors Forum is committed to promoting and encouraging active relationships between grantmakers, nonprofits and the community at large.

Our Community

Our Members are grantmaking institutions, including private, community and independent foundations, corporate giving programs, grantmaking public charities, federated giving programs and other donors.

Our Associate Members include attorneys, financial advisors, estate planners, trust officers and other professionals who advise others concerning their financial and philanthropic goals.

Our Forum Partners are nonprofit executives, fundraising professionals, local government departments and agencies, consultants and others who work in and serve the nonprofit community.

Want to learn more about our Members and Forum Partners? Check out our Member and Forum Partner Demographics, which describe our membership by asset size, budget, type of organization and more.

Special Projects

Preserving the Public Trust Initiative
Donors Forum believes it is important for the philanthropic and nonprofit sector to have effective management and governance practices in place to better serve the public good. To this end, the Donors Forum created the Preserving the Public Trust Initiative in 2004 to help nonprofits and foundations strive for excellence in realizing their missions, managing resources effectively and governing well.

Learn more about the Initiative and read the Illinois Nonprofit Principles and Best Practices.

Chicago Global Donors Network
The mission of the Chicago Global Donors Network is to promote, encourage and support Chicago-based donors in their international giving in order to increase knowledge of international philanthropy and to deepen its impact. CGDN is a Donors Forum sponsored project.

The Chicago Global Donors Network aims to:

• Strengthen the effectiveness of Chicago-based global donors by providing information, networking opportunities, education and resources on global issues and on the practice of global philanthropy;
• Expand the community of donors who give internationally through targeted outreach strategies to key communities.
• Encourage greater involvement in global philanthropy by promoting engagement in global philanthropy, and highlighting Chicago's role in building global philanthropic resources.

Visit the Chicago Global Donors Network website for more information and resources on global giving and a list of Chicago-based organizations working internationally.

Giving Greater Chicago
Giving Greater Chicago was a three-year project of the Donors Forum and a coalition of 20 other organizations whose goal was to promote the creation of permanent philanthropic capital. GGC operated between 2000-2003. GGC offered donors and their advisors information and resources to help their philanthropy be more effective and rewarding. In 2000, GGC completed research of donors and professional advisors to inform the project’s future strategies. GGC, in partnership with its coalition member organizations, also hosted donor education events.

Tools and resources created by GGC are now available through the Donors Forum. Free resources for Individual Donors include "Donors Guide to Legal and Financial Advisors." Publications for individuals and professional advisors include: So You Want to Give, Advisor’s Toolkit for Giving and A Plan of One’s Own - A Women’s Guide to Philanthropy.

Fund for Immigrants and Refugees
In early 1997, a set of Chicago funders pooled dollars to create a short-term grantmaking body: the Fund for Immigrants and Refugees. Prompted by the disproportionate impact of welfare reform on immigrants and refugees, the Fund ultimately awarded grants to 66 nonprofits in metropolitan Chicago, for work that included naturalization services, legal services, advocacy, community organizing and health access. In all, 27 funders -- 24 Chicago-area foundations, one national foundation, the state of Illinois and Chicago's United Way -- contributed $6.8 million and countless hours of discussion, learning, analysis and decision-making. The Fund was closed in 2002.

Resources and reports created or sponsored by the Fund are available on our Research and Trends page. To request more information about the Fund or printed copies of its reports, contact the Donors Forum Library at (312) 578-0175 or info@donorsforum.org.