This week’s member briefing served as a biannual focus-group to help inform Forefront’s 2026 legislative agenda.
This week’s briefing consisted of a weekly policy update but no guest speakers.
Representatives from the National Council of Nonprofits addressed the current Supreme Court Docket and potential impacts to nonprofits.
Representatives from Illinois Partners for Human Service joined this week’s briefing to discuss federal impacts on nonprofits.
Representatives from The Immigration Project joined us this week. | Slides
Representatives from Council on Foundations joined us this week.
Angie Jean-Marie from Fait La Force Strategies joined us this week to speak about civic engagement.
Representatives from BDO Nonprofit & Grantmaker Advisory joined us this week. | Slides
Start Early’s Illinois Legislative Director Jonathan Doster discussed early childhood issues in Illinois. | Slides
Guests from WGLT Bloomington-Normal’s Public Media and Press Forward Chicago discussed budget cuts to public media. | Slides
This briefing focused on philanthropic support for voter engagement with a guest from Fait La Force Strategies, LLC.
Slides: OBBBA Medicaid and ACA Changes
Slides: Overview of the Changes to Immigrant Eligibility for Health Coverage in H.R.1
This briefing focused on medicaid, gender affirming care and the HR1 immigrant health impact with guests from AIDS Foundation Chicago, Shriver Center, and ICIRR.
This briefing focused on environmental nonprofit impact/funding cuts and regulatory changes with a guest from the Ecology Action Center.
This week’s briefing featured a policy update and updates from Mitch Lifson from Children’s Advocates for Change
This briefing featured Forefront’s Holly Ambuehl and Suzy Lee discussing messaging guidance from UPF and NCN.
Slides: Federal Budget Cuts to Snap
This briefing focused on SNAP benefits and featured guests from the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
July 11, 2025
This briefing focused on foundations moving to gifts rather than contracts and what that looks like operationally for foundation. Guests from Comer Family Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, and Woods Fund Chicago attended.
July 4, 2025
No Briefing due to Independence Day
June 27, 2025
This briefing focused on current observations & activities of legal services organizations with guests from Chicago Bar Foundation and Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.
June 20, 2025
No briefing notes available.
Slides: Technology Association of Grantmakers, Cybersecurity Basics
June 13, 2025
This briefing focused on ‘Meet the Moment’ call to action campaign with guests from Trust-Based Philanthropy Project.
June 6, 2025
This week’s briefing featured a policy update and updates from Tiffany Carter, National Council of Nonprofits, and Matthew L. Evans, United Philanthropy Forum.
May 30, 2025
This week’s briefing featured a policy update and comments from Jeanne Schultz Angel, Naper Settlement, and Julie Emig, McLean County Museum of History.
May 23, 2025
No Briefing due to Memorial Day
May 16, 2025
Briefing Notes
Slides: Federal Funding and Policy Shifts Impacting Public Health
This briefing included info on public health cuts and featured guests from the Illinois Public Health Institute.
May 9, 2025
This briefing included a public statement from MacArthur Foundation and their response to executive orders.
May 2, 2025
This briefing focused on how to talk to elected officials and the guest was a congressional staffer.
April 25, 2025
This briefing focused on SNAP impact and food advocacy as well as large foundations and the collective response to executive orders. Guests attended from IL Stewardship Alliance and Council on Foundations.
April 18, 2025
Slides: National Council of Nonprofits, Meeting the Moment
This briefing focused on lawsuits and federal funding cuts with guests from National Council of Nonprofits and the Illinois Environmental Council.
April 11, 2025
Slides: Chicago Coalition to end Homelessness Federal Impacts on the Housing Continuum
This briefing focused on the impact on housing and homelessness prevention with guests from Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness and Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness.
April 4, 2025
This briefing focused on the impact of executive orders on libraries and museums with a guest from the Illinois Library Association.
March 28, 2025
This briefing focused on federal funding contract restrictions with guests from Illinois Humanities, YWCA Metro Chicago, Openlands and Arts Alliance IL.
March 21, 2025
Slides: Weathering Uncertainty
This briefing focused on contingency planning with guests from Penchina Partners and Mission + Strategy.
March 14, 2025
This session started with policy updates and then focused on what members were hearing and experiencing on the ground. Forefront continually updates its page on executive orders, so information and resources can always be found there.
March 7, 2025
This session featured ongoing updates as well as updates from Foundations on the Hill, which occurred the previous week. Thoughts were shared by Alex Pleasant, Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation; Celeste Flores, Mano a Mano Family Resource Center; and Brian Peckrill, William G. McGowan Charitable Fund.
February 28, 2025
This week’s briefing focused on legal implications of and responses to the Trump executive orders and featured presentations from Katy Youker, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Amy Cook, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; Aneel Chablani, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law; and Bob Glaves, Chicago Bar Foundation.
February 21, 2025
This briefing focused on the impact of recent executive orders on the LGBTQIA community, along with updates on other fronts. Featured speakers included John Peller, AIDS Foundation of Chicago; Brian Johnson, Equality Illinois; and Kevin Fee, ACLU.
February 14, 2025
This session featured Grace Hou, Deputy Governor for Health and Human Services, and Ryan Croke, First Assistant Deputy Governor.
February 7, 2025
The discussion was led by Monique Jones, Forefront; Holly Ambuehl, Forefront; and Lauren Wright, Illinois Partners for Human Service.