Flowers for Dreams Foundation directs modest, targeted grants to Chicago-area community organizations working at the intersection of violence prevention, public health equity, and neighborhood-based youth and food access programs. Their giving mixes advocacy groups and direct-service/community-building nonprofits, favoring hands-on local partners that combine prevention, wellness, and civic engagement.
A notable pattern in Flowers for Dreams Foundation’s recent giving is its mix of justice, health, and neighborhood-based support for small local organizations, with repeated awards to Chicago groups working on violence prevention, community care, and youth opportunity. The foundation has also backed advocacy-oriented work, including a large grant to Everyone for Gun Safety Support Fund and another to Healing to Action, showing that its portfolio includes both policy and direct-service efforts. Flowers for Dreams Foundation’s grants are usually modest, but they reach a broad set of community nonprofits across Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee. In Chicago, the foundation has supported organizations tied to neighborhood food access, mental health, and community-building, such as Grocery Run Club and My Block My Hood My City. It also appears in public education and youth-development work, with grants to Raise Your Hand Coalition for Illinois Public Education and Embarc Inc. The foundation’s current themes include community mental health, immigrants and refugees, youth empowerment, racial justice, and domestic violence, and its awards often function as general support rather than restricted project funding. It also funds individuals and makes direct grants to small, fiscally sponsored organizations within its service area.
Violence prevention is one of the clearest through lines in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $37,676 to Healing to Action for general support, and also supported Brave Space Alliance and The Night Ministry, both part of a broader pattern of community care and safety-focused grantmaking. Community health is another recurring theme. Flowers for Dreams Foundation gave $15,093 to Chicago Women’s Health Center Inc for general support and $18,708 to Hope for the Day for general support, while also funding Centro Sanar with supplies. These grants point to a blend of mental health, women’s health, and direct community support. The foundation also backs education and youth development. It gave $32,420 to Embarc Inc for general support and $13,736 to Chicago Learning Exchange for general support, alongside grants to Raise Your Hand Coalition for Illinois Public Education and Gyrls in the Hoodfoundation. Food access appears as well through awards to Global Gardens Chicago and Growing Home.
$191K
$65K
$215K
$238K
Most grants fall between $1K and $12K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$12K
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Concentrated, mid-sized awards to a small set of local nonprofits (6 grants totaling ~$225K) with no obvious repeat grantees; funding splits between advocacy organizations and direct-service/community-building groups.
Notable grantees: A Long Walk Home, EVERYONE FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND, HEALING TO ACTION, My Block My Hood My City
Typical grant size is small: the 25th percentile is $1,494, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $11,634. That fits a grantmaking model built around frequent, lower-dollar awards rather than large single grants. The foundation is classified as a regular funder and accepts unsolicited applications through its general grant programs. Many recipient organizations appear more than once in the recent grant list, including My Block My Hood My City, which suggests recurring support rather than one-off awards in at least some cases. The foundation also funds individuals and provides unrestricted support in many cases.
Flowers for Dreams Foundation’s giving is regional and concentrated in a few Midwest cities. Chicago receives the largest share of support, with 39% of grants going to recipients in Illinois, and many recent awards land in Chicago neighborhoods. Beyond Chicago, the foundation also gives in Detroit and Milwaukee, with recent grants to Tides Center-Detroit Action Education Fund in Detroit and Community First Inc in Milwaukee. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 91 grants in the United States.
The foundation supports small local nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations in its service area. Recent grant themes include mental health and community care, justice and civic engagement, animal rescue, Black lives and racial justice, domestic violence, youth services, education, and immigrant and refugee support.
Yes. Its active grant programs state that unsolicited applications are accepted, and the general grant programs are open to small local nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations within the service area.
The grant-size distribution is modest: p25 is $1,494, median grant size is $5,000, and p75 is $11,634. Several active programs also describe awards in the $5,000 to $20,000 range.
Its grantmaking is regional, with the highest concentration in Illinois. The data shows 39% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state of Illinois, and the top state by grant count is Michigan.
Yes. Multiple active programs describe unrestricted or general support grants, and many recent awards are labeled general support. The foundation also offers support to small nonprofits and fiscally sponsored organizations in Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Flowers for Dreams Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Must meet the Foundation's general eligibility (501(c)(3) or fiscal sponsor; located in service area; priority to local grassroots organizations). Preference given to organizations working in the declared Current Cause.
Deadline: Rolling; reviewed in quarterly cycles (March, May, August, December).
Who can apply: Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor; located within the Flowers for Dreams service area, with special emphasis on Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee; organizations that prioritize local issues, amplify disadvantaged communities, stand against racism/discrimination/injustice, foster civic engagement and equity, and/or advance environmental sustainability, food sovereignty, and local consumption. The foundation typically prioritizes organizations with annual operating budgets below $5 million. It does not fund research projects, scholarship funds, international organizations, or chambers of commerce.
Deadline: Rolling basis; applications reviewed in March, May, August, and December each year
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDWEST BOND FUNE | CHICAGO, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COALITION TO SAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS | CHICAGO, IL | $18,708 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HOPE FOR THE DAY | CHICAGO, IL | $18,708 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CENTRO SANAR | CHICAGO, IL | $16,692 | 2026 | SUPPLIES |
| THE NIGHT MINISTRY | CHICAGO, IL | $13,053 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL GARDENS CHICAGO | MONTGOMERY, IL | $12,324 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GARDENEERS DBA CHICAGO GROWTH FOOD | NORTHBROOK, IL | $12,324 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GROWING HOME | CHICAGO, IL | $12,324 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TEENS GROWING GREENS | MILWAUKEE, WI | $9,550 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GRAND AVE CLUB | MILWAUKEE, WI | $7,951 | 2026 | SENERAL SUPPORT |
| KEEP GROWING DETROIT | DETROIT, MI | $6,472 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GOT GRIEF HOUSE | DETROIT, MI | $6,411 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $5,400 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MICELLANEOUS ORGANIZED CHARITIES | CHICAGO, IL | $5,285 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COVENANT HOUSE ILLINOIS INC | CHICAGO, IL | $3,852 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ILLINOIS COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE RIGHTS | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ORGANIZED COMMUNITIEW AGAINST DEPORTATION | CHICAGO, IL | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FREEDOM HOUSE | DETROIT, MI | $2,230 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HMONG AMERICAN WOMENNS ASSOCIATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,128 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PALENQUE LSNA | CHICAGO, MI | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DETOIT PHOENIX CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $1,755 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PATHFINDERS MILWAUKEE INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $1,711 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FARMWORKERS & LANDSCAPERS ADVOCACY PROJECT | CHICAGO, IL | $1,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN UNITE | CHICAGO, IL | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HEALING TO ACTION | CHICAGO, IL | $37,676 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RAISE YOUR HAND COALITION FOR ILLINOIS PUBLIC EDUCATION | CHICAGO, IL | $21,758 | 2025 | SENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER INC | CHICAGO, IL | $15,093 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHICAGO LEARNING EXCHANGE | CHICAGO, IL | $13,736 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MY BLOCK MY HOOD MY CITY | CHICAGO, IL | $13,736 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TIDES CENTER-DETROIT ACTION EDUCATION FUND | DETROIT, MI | $10,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ACTBLUE-ALLIENCE FOR YOUT ORGANAZING LEADERS IGNITING TRASFORMATION EDUCAT | MILWAUKEE, WI | $10,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BRAVE SPACE ALLIANCE | CHICAGO, IL | $10,119 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FIRST STEP | PLYMOUTH, MI | $7,745 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESTORING THE PATH DBA CRUSHERS CLUB | CHICAGO, IL | $7,419 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| OUR NEXT GENERATION | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,633 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE WOMAN'S CENTER | WAUKESHA, WI | $5,383 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHALVA | CHICAGO, IL | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SHARK LITERACY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $4,516 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WOMEN'S MEDICAL FUND INC | MADISON, WI | $3,644 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSIDEOUT LITERARY ARTS | DETROIT, MI | $3,579 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COURAGE MKE | MILWAUKEE, WI | $3,056 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE KONNECTION | DETROIT, MI | $2,976 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ALTERNATIVES FOR GIRLS | DETROIT, MI | $2,679 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRUE SKOOL INC | MILWAUKEE, WI | $2,236 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RUTH ELLIS CENTER | HIGHLAND PARK, MI | $1,906 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CUSP-CHICAGO UNITED SOLIDARITY PROJECT VIA WOMEN UNTED | CHICAGO, IL | $1,271 | 2025 | SUPPLIES |
| DETOIT PHOENIX CENTER | DETROIT, MI | $1,254 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EVERYONE FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $42,252 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| EMBARC INC | CHICAGO, IL | $32,420 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| LITTLE VILLAGE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORGANIZATION | CHICAGO, IL | $20,022 | 2024 | SENERAL SUPPORT |
MIDWEST BOND FUNE
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COALITION TO SAVE OUR MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
$18,708GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL GARDENS CHICAGO
$12,324GENERAL SUPPORT
GARDENEERS DBA CHICAGO GROWTH FOOD
$12,324GENERAL SUPPORT
GRAND AVE CLUB
$7,951SENERAL SUPPORT
GOT GRIEF HOUSE
$6,411GENERAL SUPPORT
MICELLANEOUS ORGANIZED CHARITIES
$5,285GENERAL SUPPORT
FREEDOM HOUSE
$2,230GENERAL SUPPORT
HMONG AMERICAN WOMENNS ASSOCIATION
$2,128GENERAL SUPPORT
PALENQUE LSNA
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
DETOIT PHOENIX CENTER
$1,755GENERAL SUPPORT
WOMEN UNITE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
TIDES CENTER-DETROIT ACTION EDUCATION FUND
$10,500GENERAL SUPPORT
ACTBLUE-ALLIENCE FOR YOUT ORGANAZING LEADERS IGNITING TRASFORMATION EDUCAT
$10,500GENERAL SUPPORT
FIRST STEP
$7,745GENERAL SUPPORT
RESTORING THE PATH DBA CRUSHERS CLUB
$7,419GENERAL SUPPORT
THE WOMAN'S CENTER
$5,383GENERAL SUPPORT
SHARK LITERACY
$4,516GENERAL SUPPORT
COURAGE MKE
$3,056GENERAL SUPPORT
TRUE SKOOL INC
$2,236GENERAL SUPPORT
CUSP-CHICAGO UNITED SOLIDARITY PROJECT VIA WOMEN UNTED
$1,271SUPPLIES
DETOIT PHOENIX CENTER
$1,254GENERAL SUPPORT
EVERYONE FOR GUN SAFETY SUPPORT FUND
$42,252GENERAL SUPPORT