Since its creation in 1994 as a private family foundation, Girl's Best Friend Foundation (GBF) has provided approximately $4.6 million in grants in support of policies and programs that ensure girls' self determination, power, and well being. Grantees receiving core or Sisters Empowering Sisters grants also receive an additional 10 percent over and above their grant award to support the evaluation of their project. This 10 percent is included, where applicable, in grant totals below.

In fiscal year 2005, GBF awarded $1,039,606 in grants. GBF makes core grants twice a year to support organizations and programs focused on gender conscious youth development, leadership, and activism that furthers feminist social change.

Fall 2005 Core Cycle Grants

Spring 2005 Core Grants

2005 Sisters Empowering Sisters Grants

2005 Fund for Professional Development Grants

2005 Discretionary Grants

2005 Capacity-Building Initiative Grants

2005 GIRL Project Grants

2005 Special Opportunity Grants

2005 Safe Space Grants

2005 Freedom School Grants

Alternatives - $16,500
4730 N. Sheridan
Chicago, IL 60640
tel: 773-506-7474
fax: 773-506-9420
Carima Watkins, Program Director
jpalmert@alternativesyouth.org
www.alternativesyouth.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support Girl World, a program that provides mentoring, sports, leadership development programs, and career and media workshops for girls and young women from Uptown, Edgewater and Rogers Park neighborhoods in Chicago. 

Beyondmedia Education - $16,500
7013 N. Glenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
tel: 773-973-228
fax: 773-973-3367
Salome Chasnoff, Executive Director
salome@beyondmedia.org
www.beyondmedia.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support Girls! Action! Media!, a program that teaches media/technology arts and academic skills to girls. The program fosters leadership development, public speaking, community activism, and girl-led social change.

Blocks Together - $16,500
3914 W. North Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
tel: 773-276-2194
fax: 773-276-2296
Irene Juaniza, Executive Director
blockstogether@riseup.net
www.blockstogether.org

Support for the youth organizing project, which offers disenfranchised youth the tools to affect systemic change in their communities and throughout Chicago, and asserts young people's role as agents of change who are building a powerful and effective movement for equity and justice. Blocks Together is a multi-issue, nonprofit grassroots direct action community organization made up of residents, schools, and churches in West Humboldt Park and North Garfield Park communities.

Chicago Women in Trades - $16,500
1657 W. Adams, Suite 401
Chicago, IL 60612
tel: 312-942-1444 ext 203
fax: 312-942-0802
Lauren Sugerman, Executive Director
lsugerman@cwit2.org
www.chicagowomenintrades.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support Aspiring Tradeswomen, a program that develops leadership and advocacy skills and a peer support system for high school-aged young women enrolled in vocational classes, to promote their continued interest in and entry into high-wage nontraditional jobs.

Developing Communities Project - $16,500
212 E. 95th St.
Chicago, IL 60619
tel: 773-928-2500
fax: 773-928-2513
Marsha Cherry, Program Director
dev_comm_project@ameritech.net
www.dcpinc.org

Support of the Young Women's Leadership Development project, which provides girls and young women ages 8-18 with opportunities to build leadership skills and contribute in positive ways to their personal growth and advocate for community change.

Family Matters - $16,500
7731 North Marshfield
Chicago, IL 60626
tel: 773-465-6432
fax: 773-465-6425
Tawanna Brown, Program Director
tarbrown@yahoo.com
www.familymatterschicago.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support of Sisters of Struggle and Sisters in Unity, programs for middle school and high school girls and young women living in the North of Howard neighborhood in Chicago. The program focuses on community building, entrepreneurial skills, and reaching leadership and academic goals.

Family Planning Service of Western Illinois, Inc. - $16,500
311 E. Main St., Suite 409
Galesburg, IL 61401
T: 309-343-6162
F: 309-343-3802

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support of Initiative For Girls, a girl-driven program promoting leadership development, asset-building, and peer education for girls ages 11 to 17. The focus of the program is on sexual and reproductive health.

Girl Talk - $16,500
28 E Jackson, Suite 710
Chicago, IL 60604
tel: 312-427-4460
fax: 312-427-0757
Wenona Thompson, GIRLTALK Coordinator
girltalkjtdc@yahoo.com

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for support of Girl Talk, a program consisting of weekly workshops for young women ages 12 to 17 detained in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center that address such topics as HIV/AIDS/STIs, healthcare, legal information, self-esteem, identity, sexuality, relationships, career options, and conflict resolution.

Girls in the Game (GIG) - $16,500
1501 W. Randolph
Chicago, IL 60601
tel: 312-633-4263
Amy Skeen, Executive Director
amy@girlsinthegame.org
www.girlsinthegame.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support general operating. GIG provides and promotes sports and leadership programming for girls to enhance their physical well-being, self-esteem, leadership, team-building skills, and academic excellence.

Guild Complex - $8,910
1212 N. Ashland, #211
Chicago, IL 60622
tel: 773-227-6117
fax: 773-227-6159
Ellen Placey Wadey, Executive Director
www.guildcomplex.org

Support for the Young Women Writers Program, an after-school program for young women interested in writing arts. The program engages high school girls as readers and creators of cross-cultural literature by increasing their exposure to literature by women, creating access to living women writers, and writing as a skill and means of personal expression.

Music Theater Workshop - $16,500
7359 N. Greenview
Chicago, IL 60626
tel: 773-973-7266
fax: 773-561-7077
Scott Lundius, Executive Director
scott@mtwchicago.org
www.mtwchicago.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support for Fabulous Females, a playwriting and performance program for young women incarcerated in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center of Chicago and recently released young women living in the Warrenville Illinois Youth Center. Program participants write and perform original plays.

Project Exploration - $16,500
990 E. 61st St.
Chicago, IL 60637
tel: 773-834-7623
fax: 773-834-7625
Conor Barnes, Youth Programs Coordinator
youthprograms@projex.org
www.projectexploration.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support Sisters 4 Science, an after-school and fieldwork program that combines leadership development with natural science explorations for girls in sixth through eighth grades on Chicago's southwest side. The program works to inspire and empower urban girls through hands-on experiences with paleontology and natural science.

Redmoon Theater - $16,500
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
tel: 773-388-9031
fax: 773-388-9034
Joanie Friedman, Dramagirls Director
jfriedman@redmoon.org
www.redmoon.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support of Dramagirls, a performance group of thirty middle school aged girls from Chase School in the Logan Square community of Chicago. Dramagirls teaches lessons of young people valuing their contribution as communicators, artists, writers, leaders and thinkers.

Street-Level Youth Media - $16,500
1856 W. Chicago Ave., 1st Floor
Chicago, IL 60622
tel: 773-862-5331
fax: 773-862-0754
Manwah Lee, Managing Director
manwah@street-level.org
www.street-level.org

Support for Female Action Voice, a media arts program for high school aged young women to explore gender issues in a safe, supportive, and participatory environment. Using video production, computer arts, and the Internet, young women address community issues, access advanced communication technology, and gain insight into information-based society.

Women & Gender Research Initiative - $16,500
2219 N Kenmore Ave.
460 Byrne Hall
Chicago, IL 60614
tel: 773-325-4758
fax: 773-325-4412
Beth S. Catlett, Director
bcatlett@depaul.edu
www.depaul.edu/~wms/researchinitiative

Support for Take Back the Halls: Ending Violence in Relationships and Schools, a school-based empowerment program designed to prevent relationship violence among teens. Teens explore domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexual abuse, as well as the variety of social structures that facilitate violence in our culture. (Women & Gender Research Initiative is a project of Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty.)

Women & Girls Leadership Project - $16,500
28 E. Jackson Blvd., Suite 710
Chicago, IL 60604
Melissa Spatz, Executive Director
melissaspatz@juno.com

Support for The Women and Girls' Leadership Project, a new project aimed at developing a citywide network, led by low-income women, women of color, and young women, to organize around issues affecting women and girls. This network could develop a common platform for change; prioritize the voices of young women, low-income women, and women of color, both in shaping the platform and in serving as leaders. (The Women & Girls Leadership Project is a project of Illinois Caucus of Adolescent Health.)

Women with Disabilities Center (WWDC) - $16,500
345 E Superior St, Room 106
Chicago, IL 60611
tel: 312-238-1051
fax: 312-238-1205
Judy Panko Reis, Director
jreis@rehabchicago.org
www.disabledwomen.net/healthres.html

Continued support for the M & M (Mentee and Mentor) Role Model Program, which pairs women with disabilities with teenage girls with disabilities in mentoring relationships and holds monthly group meetings for all participants. WWDC works with young women to reach out to the medical community and create advocacy projects within their own communities.

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Spring 2005 Core Grants - Total $294,800

About Face Theatre - $14,300
1222 W. Wilson Ave.
2nd Floor W.
Chicago, IL 60640
Tel: 773-784-8565 ext. 111
Fax: 773-784-85557
Megan Carney, Director of Educational Programs
meganaft@aboutfacetheatre.com
www.afyt.com

Support for the About Face Youth Theatre, a project devoted to the creation of original performances and performance-based workshops focused on education, leadership development, and empowerment for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and their allies from around the Chicago area.

Access Living - $16,500
614 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: 312-253-7000
Fax: 312-253-7001
Susan Nussbaum, Independent Field Coordinator for Transitional Independence
snussbaum@accessliving.org
www.accessliving.org

The first year of a two-year renewable grant for Empowered FeFes, a program for young women with disabilities.  The program works to motivate participants to participate fully in community life and build disability pride and self-esteem. Program workshops include discussions on issues such as gender and disability, employment, self-image, and sexuality.

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council - $16,500
4477 S Archer Ave
Chicago, IL 60632
Tel: 773-523-7110
Fax: 773-523-7023
Sarah Hinkley, Youth Organizer
shinkley@bpnc-chicago.org
www.bpnc-chicago.org

In support of the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council's Girls' Group, a space for girls ages 13-19 to discuss issues affecting them and realize their power to affect change through girl-led campaigns to bring programs and resources into their community. This grant also supports BPNC's work to incorporate a gender lens within the overall work of the organization.

Chicago Girls' Coalition - $16,500
c/o Girl Scouts of Chicago
222 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 2120
Chicago, IL 60606
Tel: 312-416-2500 ext. 260
Fax: 312-416-2932
Lesley Kennedy, Executive Director
lkennedy@girlscouts-chicago.org
www.chicagogirlscoalition.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support of the Chicago Girls' Coalition, a network working to build programs and centralized communication of program facilitators working with girls and young women in Chicago communities. (The Chicago Girls' Coalition is a project of the Girl Scouts of Chicago.)

Chicago Women's Health Center - $16,500
3435 N. Sheffield
Chicago, IL 60657
Tel: 773-935-5665
Fax: 773-935-7145
Courtney Bell, Executive Director
cb@chicagowomenshealthcenter.org
www.chicagowomenshealthcenter.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to continue to expand the outreach and education program, which provides health-focused education in medically underserved Chicago communities, empowering women and girls to make informed choices about their lives and health. The program collaborates with other organizations to advocate for public policy changes to eradicate conditions that cause poor health.

Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation (CESO) - $16,500
c/o Mental Health Association in Illinois
188 West Randolph, Suite 2225
Chicago, IL 60601
Tel: 312-368-9070 ext. 12
Shannon Kenney, Project Director
skenney@mhai.org
cesocoalition@aol.com

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continuing support of CESO, a coalition of organizations ensuring the safety and well being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth in Illinois through education, public policy, research, and student involvement.  (CESO is a project of the Mental Health Association of Illinois.)

Global Girls, Inc.- $16,500
8110 S. Luella
Chicago, IL 60617
Tel/fax: 773-374-5009
Marvinetta Woodley-Penn, Executive Director
globalgirlsinc@aol.com
www.globalgirlsinc.org

Global Girls engages girls ages 8 - 14 in activities that build stronger communication skills, life skills, and character. Girls, staff, volunteers, and board members collaborate in creating projects that demonstrate their core values: exposure, expertise, enlightenment, and empowerment. In weekly sessions, participants learn and practice new skills as they challenge themselves creatively.

GLSEN Chicago - $16,500
961 W. Montana
Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: 773-472-6469, x235
Fax: 773-472-6643
Aren Drehobl, Program Manager
drehobl@glsenchicago.org
www.glsenchicago.org

In support of the Chicago chapter's work to "create safe schools for all people regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender identity." They meet goals "through work on policy, education, training, and youth leadership, focusing these activities primarily on the Chicago Public Schools."

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $16,500
28 E. Jackson, Suite 710
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: 312-427-4460
Fax: 312-427-0757
Jobi Peterson, Executive Director
jobi@icah.org
www.icah.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for continued support of a plan to build a policy organization structured to become the leading source of information and initiative on adolescent sexual health and youth parent issues in the state. Over the next three years, work will include development and implementation of a direct youth recruitment, training, and leadership development strategy.

Korean American Resource & Cultural Center - $16,500
2701A W. Peterson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
Tel: 773-506-9158
Fax: 773-506-9159
Kat Choi, Program Director
katchoi@krccweb.org
www.krccweb.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for Building Sisterhood, a program that works to empower Korean American young women in high school by providing them with an opportunity to develop critical analysis, leadership skills, and a sense of sisterhood. Young women organize social action campaigns to raise community consciousness on issues of their choice.

Latina Girls' Club - $16,500
Lake View SBHC
4015 N. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60613
Tel: 773-404-0447
Isabel Lopez, Teacher
Catherine Cooper, Health Educator
catherine.quinn@advocatehealth.com
www.advocatehealth.org

Latina Girls Club at Lake View High School is a project that was created by and for young Latina students. The girls explore options for their future that enable understanding of their heritage, take control of their lives, and make informed choices for their futures. (Latina Girls' Club is a project of Advocate Charitable Foundation.)

Multicultural Youth Project - $16,500
1016 W. Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640
Tel: 773-784-2900 ext 119
Fax: 773-784-2984
Jennifer Tani, Project Coordinator
jennifert@chinesemutualaid.org
www.chinesemutualaid.org/services/mcyp

Multicultural Youth Project is a collaboration of immigrant and refugee agencies that promote the development of a diverse group of youth leaders dedicated to mutual understanding and social justice. Through the Youth Leadership Council and Youth Organizing Team, young people are empowered and equipped with the tools to combat racism, sexism, homophobia, and economic injustice in their schools and communities. (Multicultural Youth Project is a project of Chinese Mutual Aid Association.)

Questioning Youth Center (QYC) - $16,500
1163 E. Ogden Ave.
Suite 705-337
Naperville, IL 60563
Tel: 630-415-2053
Nancy Mullen
Executive Director
qycexec2@aol.com
www.questioningyouth.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant to support general operations. Part of QYC's work includes a multi-phased program for adolescent lesbian and bisexual females called Our Turn. Young women plan and organize the direction and the focus of the group; the participants receive and facilitate trainings about health, wellness, and personal safety during the coming-out process. The female youth leaders co-facilitate presentations in other Questioning Youth Centers and in the community on various topics.

Southwest Youth Collaborative - $16,500
6400 S Kedzie Ave
Chicago, IL 60629
Tel: 773-476-3534x262
Fax: 773-476-3615
Charity Tolliver, SOUL Organizer
ctolliver83@hotmail.com
www.swyc.org

For Sisters Organizing for United Leadership (SOUL), a program designed to support young women as leaders in their schools and communities. Young women develop strong political analysis and the critical thinking skills to establish and identify resources for building sustainable support networks that are nurturing and foster a sense of pride, community, and self-determination.

Umoja Student Development Corporation (USDC) - $16,500
2935 W. Polk St., Room 116
Chicago, IL 60612
Tel: 773-534-8877
Fax: 773-534-6924
Lila Leff, Executive Director
lleff@umojacorporation.org
www.umojacorporation.org

The first year of a two-year renewable grant for USDC programs for young women and multiple gender programs that address issues affecting young women at Manley Career Academy High School. USDC programs include meetings that are driven by topic, such as violence against women, women in careers, health, sexuality, and comprehensive and accurate reproductive health information. Young people design and lead community projects and conduct seminars with other young women in the school community.

Young Chicago Authors (YCA) - $16,500
2049 W. Division, 2nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60622 ext 2
Tel: 773-486-4331
Fax: 773-486-0326
Anna West, Program Coordinator
anna@youngchicagoauthors.org
www.youngchicagoauthors.org

The second year of a three-year renewable grant for GirlSpeak, a discussion, writing, and performance program for high school-aged young women. Writing is used as a gateway to explore, discuss, and exchange ideas on feminism, power, body image, street harassment, and other issues. Girl Speak is part of the core programming at YCA and highlights women writers and explores and complicates issues of gender with young people in YCA programs.

Young Women's Empowerment Project (YWEP) - $16,500
2334 W. Lawrence Ave., Suite 209
Chicago, IL 60625
Tel: 773-728-0127
Fax: 773-728-4590
Claudine O'Leary, Executive Director
youthworker@youarepriceless.org
www.youarepriceless.org

Support for nonjudgmental, safe, and respectful space for girls and young women ages 11-21 who are impacted by the sex trade and street economies.  Participants are engaged through group and individual activities. Young women are trained to be peer-outreach workers to get community resource information to other young women who are not always accessing any organizational services.  YWEP provides authentic and open-minded education to schools, nonprofit organizations, and funders while working to inform the public and participate in advocacy and policy change efforts.

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2005 Sisters Empowering Sisters Grants - Total $30,910

Center on Halsted - $3,300
961 W. Montana
Chicago, IL 60614
Tel: 773-472-6469
Fax: 773-472-6643
www.centeronhalsted.org

Drop-in program for young queer women wants to create an anthology of written works that they can distribute to other communities (schools, neighborhoods, etc). Anthology submissions will be based off of workshops held with speakers on various health issues that girls prioritize.

Centro Comunitario Juan Diego - $2,200
8812 S. Commercial Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
tel: 773-731-0109
fax: 773-731-0119
Rosa Perea, Assistant Director
rosaiselaperea@yahoo.com

Young group of Latina girls wanted to create a short documentary on breaking down racial and gender stereotypes (by working with Beyondmedia) - in the Latino/a communities.

Centro Romero - $2,200
62116 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60660
Tel: 773-508-5300
Fax: 773-508-5399
romeroyouth@aol.com

Group of Latina girls/young women will study feminist activists and will hold an awareness/celebration day on March 8th (International Women's Day) by creating displays about their lives & achievements for the community to view.

Community Extension Project (CEP) - $3,300
47 S. 6th Ave.
LaGrange, IL 60525
Tel: 708-579-5898
Fax: 708-579-5899
www.cep4youth.org

CEP wants to hold their annual girls' holistic health conference and will include topics such as self-defense, healthy relationships and safer sex, body image, etc.

Family Rescue - $3,300
6822 S. Ridgeland
Chicago, IL 60649
Tel: 773-667-0715
Fax: 773-667-1038
www.familyrescueinc.org

Young women residents of this domestic violence shelter want to make a short film on a young woman using conflict resolution as an alternative means to using violence to deal with violence.

Global Girls, Inc. - $3,135
8110 S. Luella
Chicago, IL 60617
Tel/Fax: 773-374-5009
Marvinetta Woodley-Penn, Executive Director
globalgirlsinc@aol.com
www.globalgirlsinc.org

Global Girls wants to create a documentary on careers and jobs that are considered nontraditional for women, including interviews with young women on what they want to be. After the documentary is complete, they also want to hold a conference that screens the video as well as looks at what career choices are considered "traditional" for women and why more in-depth.

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $3,300
28 E. Jackson, Suite 710
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: 312-427-4460
Fax: 312-427-0757
Jobi Peterson, Executive Director
jobi@icah.org
www.icah.org

A peer educators' group at Curie High School wants to formalize their work within the school specifically on sexual and reproductive health, rights, and choices.

Redmoon Theater - Drama Girls - $1,650
2936 N. Southport Ave.
Chicago, IL 60657
Tel: 773-388-9031
Fax: 773-388-9034
Joanie Friedman, Dramagirls Director
jfriedman@redmoon.org
www.redmoon.org

Performing arts program at Chase Elementary in which older girls will teach younger girls theatre, performance, and self-esteem through craftmaking and performance art.

Sarah's Inn - $1,925
P.O. Box 1159
Oak Park, IL 60304
Pat Prinscevalle, Executive Director
Tel: 708-386-3305

Teen peer education project on dating violence and healthy relationships - their project will culminate in a spring awareness event.

Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart - $3,300
760 E Westleigh Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Tel: 847-234-4300 ext 333
Fax: 847-234-4348
Marsha Marko
hope@woodlandsacademy.org

An existing peer education project that puts high school age young women as trainers for younger grades on issues like anti-bullying and respect.

Young Women's Leadership Charter School - $3,300
2641 S. Calumet
Chicago, IL 60616
Tel: 312-949-9400
Fax: 312-949-9192
Mary Ann Pitcher
ywtchr@aol.com

The young women's chapter of Kuumba Lynx, a performing arts group, in Young Women's Leadership Charter School wants to inform their art-making by attending youth plays and youth poetry slams.

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2005 Fund for Professional Development Grants - Total $30,489

Professional development grants are made to support staff and board development opportunities that benefit girls programs and build the field of girls' development, organizing, and/or advocacy.

About Face Youth Theatre - $650
Support for the Director of Educational Programs with youth program participants to attend the National Teen Institute Conference in Baltimore, Maryland

Arab American Action Network - $50
First year dues for Chicago Girls' Coalition membership

Beyondmedia Education - $60
Support for a board member and the executive director to attend a workshop sponsored by Chicago Women in Philanthropy: How Agencies Serving Women and Girls Can Attract Major Gifts and Bequests.

Beyondmedia Education - $50
First year dues for Chicago Girls' Coalition membership

Donors Forum of Chicago - $11,090
Underwriting of fees to the Donors Forum for 89 trainees to attend various workshops in its 2005 development training series and partner dues for 11 organizations. Beneficiaries: About Face Theatre; Alternatives, Inc; Center on Halsted; Chicago Girls' Coalition; Chicago Women in the Trades; Chicago Women's Health Center; Developing Communities Project; Family Matters; Friends of Battered Women and Their Children; Girls in the Game; Girl Talk; Guild Complex; Health and Medicine Policy Research Group; Korean American Resource and Cultural Center; Mikva Challenge; Music Theater Workshop; Project Exploration; Questioning Youth Center; Redmoon Theater; Street Level Youth Media; Umoja Student Development Corporation; Young Chicago Authors; Women with Disabilities Center; Young Women's Empowerment Project.

Family Matters - $2,915
Support for training for a youth program intern and two youth program staff by Theater of the Oppressed Laboratory in New York

Family Matters - $700
Registration for two-day FileMaker Pro 7 class in Arlington Heights by development staff

Girls in the Game - $1,000
Support for eight staff to attend the 2004 Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference, in St. Charles, IL

Girls in the Game - $800
Support to send the development staff person to a fundraiser's conference put on by National Council of Nonprofit Associations

Global Girls, Inc. - $400
For board to receive facilitation at their annual retreat in Hyde Park, IL

GLSEN Chicago - $400
Support for one local staff person to attend a four-day conference (Teach Respect for All) by GLSEN National in Washington, DC.

Health & Medicine Policy Research Group - $1,000
In support of a screening of Girl Trouble and post show discussion among young people and adults in Chicago with the film maker and young women at the Young Women's Development Center in San Francisco, CA who collaborated in the making of the film.

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $1,300
Travel, housing, and attendance at the School of Unity and Liberation (SOUL) three-day Training for Trainers in Oakland, CA by Vivian Barrett.

Project Exploration - $904
Support of travel, accommodations, and food for the executive director to attend a two-day pro bono charette provided by Bob Weis and Design Island Associates in Orlando, FL, for board and a few staff members.

Redmoon Theater - $255
To send the program director to the 2005 American Association of Theater Educators conference in Chicago

Southwest Youth Collaborative - $2,000
For a staff member and two youth leaders of Synergy, an all female hip hop group, to attend the 16th World Federation of Youth and Students in Caracas, Venezuela.

Southwest Youth Collaborative - $1,400
Support for the Sisters Organizing for United Leadership (SOUL) Director to attend the 2005 World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Wellington Ave Church - $2,420
Support for one staff person from Latina Girls Club and two young people to attend the People's Health Movement 2005 conference in Cuenca, Ecuador

Women & Girls Leadership Project - $395
Support for travel to New York, NY by the executive director to visit other not-for-profit organizations that are doing youth organizing work.

Young Chicago Authors - $500
In support of one program director and one young person from Young Chicago Authors to attend the planning retreat for Brave New Voices National Council in San Francisco, CA

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2005 Discretionary Grants - Total $29,772

Discretionary grants are support of an unanticipated opportunity or crisis in feminist social change organizations, when a small grant can make a difference. GBF also makes discretionary grants in support of philanthropic feminist, inclusive values.

Beyondmedia Education - $5,000
To hire a development consultant to develop a more comprehensive fundraising plan, at a time of organizational change

Beyondmedia Education - $3,040
In support of travel by two members of the Empowered FeFes (of Access Living) and one peer mentor to travel to the Berkeley International Media Fest on Disabilities for a screening of Beyond Disabilities: The FeFe Stories (created with Beyondmedia), and to visit the first Center for Independent Learning and the World Institute on Disability

Chicago African Americans in Philanthropy - Donors Forum of Chicago - $1,000
In support of the annual Handy Lindsey Inclusiveness Lecture and Scholarship Fund.

Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation - $1,900
To complete strategic planning

Chicago Area Project - Youth Development Program [MSOffice] * - $332
Underwriting for three youth organizers to participate in Advancing Youth Development training
* Please check this name for accuracy - site is offline now.

Crossroads Fund - $1,500
To underwrite continued programming for young feminists and teens by Women & Children First Books

Crossroads Fund - $5,000
In support of a second year's participation in the Chicago Capacity Building Initiative, and to explore the feasibility of a new Queer Activism Fund

Head 2 Toe - $1,000
Partial underwriting for the 2005 Women's Empowerment Conference

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $5,000
In support of a new gender equity organization: the Women & Girls' Leadership Project

Ms. Foundation for Women - $1,000
In support of grantee technical assistance with fundraising and financial management at the summer 2004 convening of the Collaborative Fund for Youth-Led Social Change

Young Women's Action Team - Friends of Battered Women and their Children - $4,000
To support eight young women of the Young Women's Action Team to present a workshop on stopping street harassment at the 2005 Color of Violence III conference of INCITE! in New Orleans, LA

Young Women's Action Team - Rogers Park Community Council - $1,000
Support for the 2005 She Said/He Said teen event

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2005 Capacity-Building Initiative Grants - Total $220,000

Capacity-building grants are made by GBF to selected core grantees in support of a variety of kinds of work to increase organizational or program sustainability and effectiveness.

Access Living - $20,000
To support documenting and archiving the Empowered FeFes' history and curriculum; to create a curriculum and a three-day training session; to create an Inclusivity Training Manual for youth programs working with "mainstreamed" youth, providing guidance around including youth with disabilities into community-based programming.

Alternatives, Inc. - $20,000
To support a plan to diversify fundraising efforts; including support for two strategic fundraising positions. In addition, Alternatives is researching the possibility of adding a social entrepreneurship component to the organization.

Blocks Together (BT) - $20,000
To support the critical consciousness building of the entire BT membership regarding gender and its intersection with race, class, sexual orientation, immigrations status, ability, and age and to develop a plan to build a strong foundation for promoting gender justice in leadership development and issue campaigns.

Chicago Girls Coalition (CGC) - $20,000
Year two support for a move to a new home; development of systems that involve girls in the organizational and direction going forward; and planning and implementing CGC's public message and a marketing strategy.

Family Matters - $20,000
To support the enhancement of Family Matters development plan; to strengthen their individual giving revenue; and increase development staff from one to two positions.

Girl Talk -$20,000
To support the development of a strategic plan to expand corporate and individual giving, increase the level of girls' leadership in the Talk Out program with girls released from incarceration, create a new organizational strategic plan with a focus on expanding group partners and developing an advisory committee and evaluation plan, and develop a moving plan to relocate Girl talk in a neighborhood.

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health (ICAH) - $20,000
To support general operating to continue the process of building organizational capacity, including hiring two positions and implementing plans to build a policy-related organizational structure and organizational power across IL.

Project Exploration - $30,000
To support a four-part plan including a five-year strategic plan with youth and community members' voices in the process. Working to stabilize and enhance contributed revenue streams, creating a longitudinal evaluation and documentation of methodologies and success indicators, and creating a business plan and site strategy for a permanent home.

Questioning Youth Center (QYC) - $20,000
To support organizational assessment and a facilitated strategic planning process that includes board, staff, youth, and community members. QYC will also hire a grant writer.

Young Chicago Authors (YCA) - $30,000
To support the leadership transition and restructure of the organization, to formalize the mission and work of the organization, and to develop a common language and understanding to support the internal and external structure of YCA's work.

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2005 GIRL Project Grants - Total $25,000

Getting Inside Real Life Situations (GIRL) Project Grants support inquiry into compelling questions that may focus on girls/youth, a girls program, or a community. Using participatory evaluation research, teams of youth and youth workers choose a question, decide how to collect data, gather and analyze info, and articulate and respond to their findings.

Blocks Together - $5,000
Brighton Park Neighborhood Council - $5,000
Family Matters - $5,000
Global Girls, Inc. - $5,000
Multicultural Youth Project (Chinese Mutual Aid Association) - $5,000

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2005 Special Opportunity Grants - Total $68,375

Chicago Girls' Coalition (Girl Scouts of Chicago) - $21,375
Underwriting for a girls' voices radio campaign

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $34,500
The second installment of a two-year grant for the Campaign for Responsible Sex Education

Ms. Foundation for Women - $10,000
To help support the planning process of developing the next national, youth-focused, gender conscious collaborative fund

Sisters in Action for Power - $2,500
In support of girl-led community organizing

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2005 Safe Space Grants - Total $68,375

Advocates for Youth (AFY) - $23,000
To support the addition of the GBF-supported Safe Space Toolkit on AFY's youth worker-friendly website

Coalition for Education on Sexual Orientation - $10,000
To support organizational assessment and consultation with three nonprofits (to be chosen by Safe Space Project partners: Chicago Foundation for Women, Crossroads Fund, and GBF) to assist them in creating more safe space for LGBTQ youth and adults throughout their organizations.

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2005 Freedom School Grants - Total $34,350

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $14,000
Additional support to enable youth participation for a feasibility study of a Freedom School

Illinois Caucus for Adolescent Health - $20,350
For early research and development of the Chicago Summer Freedom School

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