RFP: Together Fund (Local Business) – We Rise Together

Background

We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery is a coalition of public and private funders and communities accelerating equity in the Chicago region’s economic recovery so everyone who lives here can reach their full potential. To catalyze an equitable economic recovery from the COVID recession, We Rise focuses on grantmaking and engagement in communities hardest hit by COVID and those that are a majority Black and Latine because they are the places and people disproportionately affected by the pandemic. 

Need/Opportunity Statement

In historically underserved, low-income neighborhoods across the Chicago area, mid-stage businesses and worker-owned cooperatives play a critical role in fostering economic vitality, creating jobs, and strengthening social connections. However, many of these businesses face persistent challenges in scaling their operations, securing the tools and resources necessary for growth, and effectively harnessing growth opportunities.  

We know that mid-stage businesses are uniquely positioned to drive inclusive economic growth. However, they often operate with constrained resources and limited access to the capital, vendors, and infrastructure needed to achieve their full potential. Similarly, worker-owned co-ops offer a powerful model for shared ownership and wealth-building, empowering employees with a direct stake in the success of their enterprises. Yet, co-ops face unique challenges in securing resources for infrastructure, awareness, and technical support, particularly in sectors like retail, manufacturing, and trucking that are traditionally underfunded. 

By moving resources directly to nonprofits working alongside these businesses, we aim to catalyze their ability to grow revenue, expand capacity, and invest in transformative initiatives like acquiring commercial spaces, adopting advanced tools, and strengthening their operational resilience. This RFP invites applications that present strategic approaches to strengthen these enterprises, supporting a sustainable recovery and fostering a resilient economic foundation across the region. 

Goals & Outcomes

While this is a one-year grant, the activities supported through this funding should be designed to contribute to the broader, long-term goals of improving local economic resilience. Work completed during the grant period should build a strong foundation for continued progress toward the following goals:  

• By supporting business growth and cooperative development, projects should create stable job opportunities, increase local spending, and increase economic resilience within low-income neighborhoods. 
• Through cooperative models and local business growth, projects should promote shared wealth-building, economic autonomy, and the growth of the local economy. 
• Programs should enable businesses to scale effectively, increasing their capacity to serve and uplift their communities. 
• Measure changes in access to capital, financial literacy, and use of business management tools. 
• Track the number of new jobs created or maintained, particularly full-time roles with family-sustaining wages. 
• Monitor improvements in operational resilience, such as enhanced access to infrastructure, technology, or technical assistance. 

While this is a one-year grant, the activities supported through this funding should be designed to contribute to the broader, long-term goals of improving local economic resilience. Work completed during the grant period should build a strong foundation for continued progress toward the following goals: 

• By supporting business growth and cooperative development, projects should create stable job opportunities, increase local spending, and increase economic resilience within low-income neighborhoods. 
• Through cooperative models and local business growth, projects should promote shared wealth-building, economic autonomy, and the growth of the local economy. 
• Programs should enable businesses to scale effectively, increasing their capacity to serve and uplift their communities. 
• Measure changes in access to capital, financial literacy, and use of business management tools. 
• Track the number of new jobs created or maintained, particularly full-time roles with family-sustaining wages. 

Monitor improvements in operational resilience, such as enhanced access to infrastructure, technology, or technical assistance. 

Outcomes include up to three of the following:

1. Build Knowledge and Narrative 
2. Improve Overall Financial Health 
3. Increase Fundamental Business Finance Knowledge and Application 
4. Strengthen Workforce 

Priority Strategies & Activities

We Rise Together seeks to support innovative initiatives that address the following priority strategies. While these two strategies are prioritized, We Rise Together welcomes creative and emerging approaches that applicants feel would effectively support sustainable economic growth within underinvested communities. Proposals should clearly demonstrate how the proposed project contributes to the overall mission of equitable economic recovery. 

1. Technical Assistance and Capital for Mid-Stage Businesses: Grants in this area will provide targeted technical assistance and capital to mid-stage businesses positioned for growth. Activities may include: 
   • Designing and facilitating knowledge-building opportunities that blend consulting, coaching, training, leadership development, or mentorship. These learning opportunities should be concise and highly focused, offering tailored support and training designed to address the unique needs and challenges faced by business owners. Business owners should be equipped with practical strategies and actionable insights to drive growth and success in their businesses. 
   • Providing specialized technical assistance (e.g., financial planning, digital marketing, legal, licensing, operational strategy) to enhance business scalability. 
   • Supplying direct capital for critical scaling expenses, such as facility upgrades, equipment, inventory expansion, and hiring. 

2. Support for Worker-Owned Cooperatives (Co-ops): This area focuses on strengthening cooperative models at any stage — from start-up to established — particularly in underserved industries. The ultimate goal is to enable community wealth-building through shared ownership. Suggested activities may include: 
   • Providing technical assistance for cooperative governance, financial management, and business planning. 
   • Developing shared infrastructure, such as facilities or equipment, to support co-op operations. 
   • Launching awareness campaigns that educate communities about the benefits of worker-owned cooperatives. 

Grant Type

Program Support