The Standard ClubCommunity Fund
The Standard ClubCommunity Fund

Carrying forward the Jewish heritage of the Standard Club's membership.

Created by a resolution of the Club’s members on June 26, 2025 and funded with $1,550,000, the Fund is held as a donor-advised fund at the Jewish United Fund.

Mission

The mission of the Standard Club Community Fund is to carry forward the Jewish heritage of the Standard Club's membership by making meaningful contributions to organizations that promote the welfare of the Jewish community and to any organizations that advance the interests of the people of Chicago. In making such contributions, the Fund will consider the degree to which organizations under consideration serve these objectives and also the extent to which they are in need of financial support. In addition, the Fund may underwrite programs that are designed to preserve the Jewish heritage and the history of the Standard Club.

Adopted unanimously by the committee, May 15, 2026.

Giving Pillars

In every pillar, and as the Mission directs, the Committee weighs two factors together: the degree to which an organization serves the Fund's objectives and the extent to which it is in need of financial support.

  • Welfare of the Jewish Community

    Grants under this pillar support organizations that promote the welfare of the Jewish community: its institutions, its people, and the programs that sustain Jewish life in Chicago and beyond. This is the heart of the Fund's purpose: carrying forward the Jewish heritage of the Standard Club's membership through meaningful contributions to the community that membership has long served.

  • The Interests of the People of Chicago

    Grants under this pillar support organizations that advance the interests of the people of Chicago. Consistent with the Standard Club's legacy of civic leadership, the Fund gives back to the city its members have called home — with particular attention to organizations meeting demonstrated need and serving those who stand to benefit most. This pillar is intentionally broad, encompassing the civic, cultural, educational, and human-service institutions that strengthen the life of the city.

  • Jewish Heritage & Standard Club Legacy

    Committee-initiated

    Beyond grants to outside organizations, the Fund may underwrite programs designed to preserve the Jewish heritage and the history of the Standard Club: its archives, its story, and the memory of the community it built. This pillar honors the Fund's founding purpose: ensuring that the Club's legacy endures even as the institution itself has closed.

Fall 2026

  1. Nominations open
  2. Applications close
  3. Committee scoring due
  4. Awards announced

How it works, start to finish

Nominate or apply

Any Standard Club member may nominate an organization. Any 501(c)(3) may apply.
Nominate an organizationApply for a grant