Illinois BEGIN is a new, growing funder collaborative.

Our work will continue to evolve as we listen to community partners, state agencies, and peer funders about needs and opportunities.

We use the collaborative to learn from each other, support one another’s strategies, and, when it makes sense, co-fund opportunities or recommend strong community-based partners to the group. We also work to build relationships and bring in new funders so that more dollars can reach work that sits across reproductive justice, birth equity, and early childhood.

The Collaborative is intentionally flat and welcoming to funders of all sizes. We try to leverage what each member can offer, whether that is dollars, relationships, administrative capacity, or a willingness to test new approaches. We recognize that funders have different strategies and risk tolerances, and we see that diversity as a strength for the group.