In 2013-2015, only 22 percent of grants to arts organizations in Chicago went to Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC) organizations, but a report on Funding Equity from Enrich Chicago found that increased to 40 percent of grant recipients in 2020-2023. Organizations also saw more unrestricted support—from 30 percent to 71 percent of grants.
The report identified funder strategies that helped allocate resources in a way that better reflects the demographic makeup of Chicago, including broadening eligibility criteria and simplifying application processes. Enrich Chicago includes a framework to understand how foundations can better support BIPOC arts organizations and build on progress in the arts and culture sector in Chicago, with accessible, accountable, flexible, and relevant practices such as increased transparency and relationship building between funders and grant recipients.
