Individual Donations

Gifts to the Chicago Public Schools are tax deductible.

Donors have four ways to give. They can give directly to schools, to CPS, or to the Children First Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization, and credit card donations can be made using our secure online donation page.

NEW: View specific donation opportunities with systemwide CPS programs seeking support.

Giving Directly to a School

When giving directly to a school, you can make your check payable to the name of the school and mail it to the school’s address, which can be found in the School Directory.

Please be sure to send an email to donation@helpCPS.org letting us know the amount, school name, purpose, and your contact info.

Giving to CPS or the Children First Fund

If you’d prefer to donate to CPS, you can make your check payable to the Chicago Public Schools. Mark the check with the name of the school or CPS program that is to receive the funds and send it with an accompanying letter to the following address:

Chicago Public Schools
Partnerships Office
11th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603

Giving Via the Children First Fund

(CPS’ 501c3 organization)
You can make your check payable to the Children First Fund. Mark the check with the name of the school or CPS program that is to receive the funds and send it with an accompanying letter to the following address:

Children First Fund
125 S. Clark Street
11th Floor
Chicago, IL 60603

A Few Thoughts about Giving to CPS

  • Gifts to Chicago Public Schools can significantly impact the lives of children here in Chicago
  • Education consistently ranks as one of the leading sectors for charitable donations; however, most of the donations flow to Private institutions and universities. We want to create greater awareness of the many tangible and immediate opportunities to give to public education.
  • CPS serves over 400,000 students and we can tailor donations to specific interests, populations, subject matters or needs. We have also identified funding needs in the following areas: Math and Science, Music, Arts and Culture, Post Secondary, Reading, Regional Gifted Centers, Sports, and Technology.

Examples of Innovative and Committed Donors to CPS

  1. Donor to a Variety of Needs ($100,000)
    Method: given through the Children First Fund
    A donor approached CPS with an interest in donating $100,000 spread over a number of years. Working with the CPS Department of External Resources and Partnerships, the donor contributed $10,000 to support student participants in the Summer Quest Program, through which CPS high school students participate in a summer program at a college or university campus. The donor also purchased laptops for two high school students who scored a 20 or above on the ACT exam. Another gift of $2,300 enabled an autistic high school student to join his classmates on a trip to France by funding the travel of an additional chaperone.
  2. Gary Comer and Revere Elementary (Multimillion dollar donation)
    Method: given directly to the school and through third parties
    Gary Comer, founder of Land’s End and an alumnus of Revere Elementary, funded the rewiring of the school to accommodate computers, donated 5,000 new library books and underwrote a curriculum review centered on reading. Comer also funded the construction of the Gary Comer Youth Center, which provides a variety of academic programs for elementary and high school students and houses the South Shore Drill Team.
  3. Anonymous Donor and Math and Science Curriculum ($262,000)
    Method: given through the Children First Fund
    An anonymous donor who works as a scientist has provided $262,000 to be used for mathematics and science. The funds have been used to support schools participating in the Chicago Math and Science Initiative, the CPS plan to transform mathematics and science instruction by providing better curriculum and support for teachers.
  4. Jim Mills and Clinton Elementary (Multimillion dollar donation)
    Method: given through the Children First Fund
    Jim Mills, co-founder and CEO of Medline Industries and an alumnus of Clinton Elementary, pledged $2 million to Clinton School. Part of the funds have been used to provide students with savings bonds in recognition of academic achievement. The remainder will be used for other programs at the school.
  5. John W. Rogers, Jr. and Ariel Community Academy (Multimillion dollar donation)
    Method: given directly to the school and through third parties
    John Rogers, Chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Management, in partnership with CPS, created the Ariel Community Academy a public school in Kenwood. In addition to providing overall operating support for the Academy, John and the Ariel Education Initiative fund an extended day and saving and investment program for the building. Through a partnership with Nuveen Investments, a Chicago-based investment and trust company, the Ariel-Nuveen Investment Program awards each incoming first grade class a real $20,000 portfolio. As the students advance through the school’s unique investment curriculum, they become actively involved in making the investment decisions and ultimately use the profits for college scholarships and for a philanthropic gift for the Academy.
  6. Newlyweds Donate Wedding “Gifts” to Students in the Lawndale Community
    Method: given through the Children First Fund
    A CPS Elementary school has been designated to receive “wedding gifts” from a couple who will be married in September. In lieu of presents they are asking their guests to participate in a nutrition and school supply drive for students in the Lawndale community.

Contact

External Affairs & Partnerships
773-553-1540

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