Chicago Beyond Invests $1.7 Million in Justice and Maternal Health Organizations Across the United States 

Pictured: Doula Alliance of Arkansas

Chicago Beyond today announced $1.7 million in new investments to eight community-led organizations advancing justice reform and maternal health outcomes across the country. The investments are part of Chicago Beyond’s national strategy to back leaders closest to the challenges and support solutions rooted in lived experience, community trust, and long-term systems change. 

“Communities already hold the solutions to many of the challenges they face,” said Liz Dozier, Founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “Our role is to help resource and support leaders building bold approaches that can create lasting impact.” 

The organizations are part of Chicago Beyond’s Seeding Fund, which provides one-time investments of $100,000–$300,000 to support leaders and organizations in building, testing, and strengthening community-rooted ideas and approaches with the potential for immediate impact. The new investment partners include: 

Justice Organizations 
 

Center for Justice and Human Dignity (National), whose mission is to safely expand alternatives to incarceration while improving conditions for incarcerated people and correctional staff. Illinois Justice Project (Illinois), which advances policies and practices that reduce violence, decrease prison recidivism and make the legal system more equitable.
• Ladies of Hope Ministries (New York), which connects women impacted by incarceration with wraparound support, including housing, healthcare, employment and education. 
• Organization of Exonerees (Michigan), which advocates for the exoneration of people who have been wrongfully convicted and imprisoned, secures their freedom, and provides them with supportive reentry resources to transition back into the community. 
• Women on the Rise GA (Georgia), a grassroots organization dedicated to building power among women currently and formerly incarcerated.
   

Maternal Health Organizations 
 

• Delighted to Doula (Texas), provides community-based postpartum doula services, mental health screening, lactation support, and resource navigation. 
Doula Alliance of Arkansas (Arkansas), works to strengthen maternal health outcomes through statewide doula advocacy and support resources
• Mother Africa’s support of Center for Indigenous Midwifery (Washington), aims to expand Indigenous-led midwifery care to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce trauma in birth experiences. 

Together, these organizations represent community-centered approaches to shifting systems, expanding care and opportunity, and creating more equitable outcomes with communities nationwide. 

The announcement reflects Chicago Beyond’s broader national investment strategy focused on justice and maternal health, while continuing to explore how philanthropy can more intentionally invest in leaders and organizations historically overlooked by traditional funding structures.