About Us

1 17 FOUNDATION

Who We Are

1 17 FOUNDATION is a private, independent foundation based in Chicago, Illinois.
We exist to provide grants and scholarships that help fuel meaningful charitable programs and community impact projects.

From local grassroots initiatives to emerging leaders and students with a vision, we partner with people and organizations who are working every day to make their communities stronger, safer, and more hopeful.

Our Mission

Our mission is simple:

We do this by:

  • Providing financial support through grants and scholarships

  • Investing in community-led solutions and ideas

  • Helping remove financial barriers so good work can grow and last

What We Support

We focus on initiatives that create real, measurable impact in people’s lives.
Depending on the funding cycle and priorities, this may include:

  • Scholarships that help students pursue education and training

  • Community programs that address local needs and opportunities

  • Nonprofit projects that improve quality of life and expand access to resources

  • Innovative ideas that test new ways of serving communities

Each opportunity is evaluated on alignment with our mission, potential impact, and the capacity of the people and organizations behind it.

How We Work

We see our role as a partner, not just a funder.

  • We listen to communities and the people closest to the work

  • We review applications with care, transparency, and fairness

  • We aim for relationships built on trust, respect, and shared responsibility

  • We look for long-term impact, not just short-term activity

Our processes may evolve over time, but our goal stays the same:
to help good work happen where it matters most.

Our Values

We strive to reflect these values in everything we do:

  • Integrity – We act honestly and responsibly in how we steward our resources.

  • Equity – We recognize that not everyone starts from the same place, and we aim to support opportunities that increase access and fairness.

  • Community – We believe the best solutions often come from within the community itself.

  • Impact – We focus on work that can create real change, whether small and local or broad and long-term.

  • Respect – We respect the time, energy, and lived experience of applicants, partners, and community members.

Our Commitment to Transparency

As a private foundation, we take seriously our responsibility to:

  • Use our resources in line with our charitable purpose

  • Comply with all applicable laws and reporting requirements

  • Communicate clearly about our funding priorities and processes

  • Handle personal data responsibly, as described in our Privacy & Data Policy

We aim to be clear about what we fund, how decisions are made, and what is expected from grantees and scholarship recipients.

Looking Ahead

1 17 FOUNDATION was created with a simple belief:

As needs evolve and new challenges emerge, we will continue to adapt our programs and priorities—always with community impact at the center of our work.

If you are a student, community leader, nonprofit, or partner organization interested in learning more about our grant and scholarship opportunities, please visit our program pages or reach out to us directly.