Application Deadline: January 30

If you would like to apply, please click here.

To complete the Illinois Database of Racial Equity Asset Map Survey, please click here.

Forefront—Illinois’ membership organization of operating nonprofits and grant makers —is committed to building a vibrant and empowered social impact sector. Learning from and being led by communities across Illinois catalyzes Forefront’s ability to build trust and collective power. As such, Forefront’s Racial Equity Collective (REC) of multi-sector leaders and organizations will work together to change practices, policies, and organizational cultures so all Illinoisans can thrive. 

In 2023, Forefront engaged with community leaders and organizations across the state to build the Illinois Database of Racial Equity Asset Map, a publicly accessible interactive map of over 800 racial equity programs and policies across the state.  In 2024, along with this tool, the REC launched the Racial Equity Collective Inaugural Cohort (REC Cohort) to support and help coordinate our collective efforts to advance racial equity.  

The Racial Equity Collective’s REC Cohort 2026 program will strengthen leadership to build a multiracial democracy in Illinois. The Racial Equity Collective Cohort will continue to build a sustainable statewide cross-sector partnership dedicated to reimagining how leaders across regions can collaborate to advance racial equity. Through six thoughtfully designed sessions and a co-designed community conversation, participants will deepen networks, strengthen shared leadership, and gain the tools needed to co-design bold, innovative solutions that address systemic inequities regionally and statewide. Scaled compensation up to $3,500 is available for attendees from 501(c)3 operating non-profit organizations.

Those interested in building a cross-sector collective to coordinate their efforts to cultivate inclusive and equitable communities in their regions and across the state.  

Participants from non-profit, government, educational, philanthropy, or private sector with 

• 10+ years of formal or informal organizational and community leadership
  • We define leadership as an impact on individuals, systems and policies, and developing partnerships and fostering civic discourse in their communities to effect positive change. 

• 5+ years of experience advancing racial equity
  • We define racial equity as both a process and an outcome. As a process, racial equity identifies and calls out historical and contemporary injustices affecting and impacting racial and ethnic groups, then works to build new structures that eliminate these systemic barriers and discriminatory practices. This process is most effective when it centers Black and Brown community members in decision making and vision, and when it teaches about and explicitly works against white supremacy. 
  • As an outcome, racial equity closes the gap where race and ethnicity no longer predict one’s quality of life and ability to thrive. 

Participants should be available to participate in:

• Six monthly sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • March 11; April 8; May 11; June 10; October 14; November 11
  • May 11 is a full day in-person session in downtown Chicago including a statewide Racial Equity Leaders Lunch.
• Three small group planning sessions of 1-2 hours in the summer.
• One workshop in Sept/Oct in 2026 to facilitate regional roundtables.

Forefront’s REC will prioritize the following in selecting the cohort: 

• Organizations led by and/or serving People of Color
• Organizations in southern, western, central, and northwestern Illinois
• Cohort composition will balance nonprofit, philanthropic, private, governmental and educational sector representation.
• Continued representation of regions represented by Cohort ’24 or ’25 (East St. Louis, Carbondale, Macon County, Springfield, Aurora, Park Ridge, Lake County, South Suburbs)

Apply Here