Forefront Membership provides you with the resources and services you need to meet your mission today, and deepen your impact in the future. On this page, you will have easy access to all facets of Forefront’s support, including:
As the country still struggles with the outbreak of COVID-19, Forefront remains committed to supporting the Illinois social impact sector. We continue to update our Grantmaker resources page with webinars, reports, and other assets to help you make the right choices for you and the sector at large. Access Forefront’s Grantmaker resources here.
Our librarians assist Members with a variety of research, sourcing reports, templates, articles, our webinars, and other support. Common requests include prospect research on foundations and individuals, samples and templates of requests for proposals, grant applications, budgets, and other aspects of the grantseeking/grantmaking process, salary surveys and job descriptions, and general research on philanthropic topics. Visit the Library Homepage or email Member411@myforefront.org for more information.
Foundation Maps Regional, a powerful tool with highly interactive maps that display a wide range of grants data, is provided free to our Grantmaker Members as a benefit of Membership. Click here to access this powerful data.
Through our partnership with Exponent Philanthropy, Forefront members receive 20% off the following publications (Use code FORUM20):
The Grantmaker Salary and Benefits Survey provides the sector with the most comprehensive data on staff composition and compensation in the United States for grantmakers like you to use in planning budgets, benchmarking personnel policies and practices, determining salary levels for new and existing staff, and more. Tables from the salary survey are made available to our Members through library reference requests or email Member411@myforefront.org. Forefront contacts all Grantmaker Members regarding the survey each year, and we encourage you to participate.
To promote transparency and increase awareness of the impact of the Illinois philanthropy community, Forefront has partnered with Foundation Center to bring top-line data about the philanthropy landscape to regional foundations, nonprofits, policymakers, and media with Illinois Foundation Stats.
This public-facing interactive dashboard represents the latest available data from Illinois foundations and the IRS and offers insights into:
Forefront regularly gathers funders and philanthropic institutions to discuss how to listen and support service providers, grantees, and nonprofits through the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. These calls are opportunities for funders to communicate with each other and collaborate with fellow Forefront Grantmaker Members. Access previous briefings here.
Open to all Forefront Members, Peer Skill Share is your opportunity to connect with your colleagues from across the state to share your skills and learn from peers. All you’ll need to do is access our portal through the Forefront website, fill out what you can share with, or want to learn from, a peer, and our team will connect you for a one-on-one skill-sharing session.
Our Members-only job board connects you with professional opportunities throughout Illinois. Our job board shares opportunities from Forefront Member organizations and is available to the public. Organizations that are hiring and would like to have their job openings posted on myforefront.org must be current members of Forefront. Log in to submit a new opportunity from your organization.
As part of Forefront’s statewide community of grantmakers, Members have access to our Member and Peer Networks. Networks are a great way to learn and network with colleagues. Groups sponsor lively discussions, develop educational programs, and create collaborative efforts to address relevant issues.
Foundations on the Hill (FOTH) is an annual event that brings foundation leaders from across the country to Washington DC for meetings with Congress on issues essential to foundations and philanthropy. The event is co-sponsored by the Council on Foundations and United Philanthropy Forum. As a Member, you have the opportunity to join Forefront’s Illinois delegation and meet with elected representatives in Washington.
Grantmaker Members have access to free professional development workshops hosted by Forefront, plus a discount to Forefront’s acclaimed Grantmakers Institute. To see all of our upcoming programs, check out our calendar.
Forefront provides family foundation Members with full access to the National Center for Family Philanthropy’s online Knowledge Center and to monthly webinars. Contact Membership@myforefront.org for additional information about the list of benefits.
The Back Office Cooperative (BOC), a Chicago-based nonprofit, aims to improve nonprofit performance by increasing buying power for the nonprofit community, delivering expert expense management services, and technology services. Forefront Members receive a free BOC Office Supply/Janitorial Supply Membership for organizations with less than a $5 million operating budget and free consultation on expense management for any size Operating Nonprofit Member. BOC will provide this same service to Grantmaker Members’ grantees and Advisor Members’ clients (regardless of Member status). To find out more and set up an account, email info@thebackofficecoop.org.