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Chicago Community Grant Program

In 2012 Burners Without Borders Chicago in conjunction with BURN (Bold Urban Renaissance Network) helped create the Chicago Community Grant Program with the aim to provide funding to grass-roots civic projects that directly affect Chicago citizens.

HOW DOES IT WORK?
Our inaugural grant process received 8 applications focusing on various social issues.  A panel of judges chose four projects to come and present their ideas at a dinner provided by a local food co-op Edible Alchemy. BURN provided seed money of $500 for the first grant, BwB purchased the dinner, and a 5$ per head entry fee was charged to each participant to crowd source further funds for the grant.  Each group presented for ten minutes, which was followed by a Q&A session.  During dinner each participant was given one vote, which was totaled by the end of the night.
‘One Heart, One Soul’ a group focused on providing art resources and classes to homeless teens was chosen- and received a grant of 771$. Burners Without Borders will assist the winning group with media follow-up and volunteers.
This was a landmark program for both BURN & BwB-Chicago reaching out past the borders of their own communities- and bringing art to those who do not have the same privileges many of us are so lucky to have received. The program will continue on a bi-annual basis.