The 2020-21 school year posed many challenges to Chicago students and families, but throughout the stress and uncertainty, Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago remained a consistent presence. We continued to surround our students with a community of support – in schools and beyond – so that they stayed on the path to graduation.

Letter To Our Supporters

CIS of Chicago is the leading nonprofit in the city dedicated to removing barriers so that students can unlock their potential. We are grateful for the generosity of our supporters and the commitment of our team and partners who are invested in helping students reach graduation.

Unlocking Student Potential

“Throughout the school year, our focus remained squarely on the students, families, teachers, and administrators we serve, understanding that everyone was affected by the stress and uncertainty of the pandemic. We engaged students virtually, and when schools provided a hybrid option, we committed to being present at school as well. We continued to set goals with students and supported them to achieve their goals through innovative activities and outreach.”

– Lo Patrick, Senior Director of Integrated Student Supports

Intensive Support

We provided students tailored, one-on-one support through our Intensive Program.

“The CIS of Chicago Partnership Team knows the power of collaboration. During the last school year, we leaned into this pillar of our work while connecting not just programs and services, but also connecting people. We heard about the needs and the concerns, and we took the time to celebrate the wins, no matter how small. When things got challenging, and then got more challenging, we reminded our partners that they can depend on us because we know that when we work together, truly beautiful things happen.”

– Robin Koelsch, Senior Director of Partnerships

School Partnerships

We provided whole-school support through our Partnership Program.

Community Partnerships

We connected community partner resources and programs with schools who needed them the most.

We asked one CIS student what it was like to have a Student Supports Manager at their school. Here was the student’s response:

“It is important to have someone like (the CIS Student Supports Manager) here because she has helped not only me but so many others. She has made a safe place at the school for us. For me, she has made me a better person than I was before. She has also made me feel better throughout everything that has happened this past year.”

In Schools and Beyond

The 2020-21 school year began with remote learning. By the spring, schools provided a hybrid learning option for students, and then in the summer, schools prepared for a return to in-person learning, full-time. The changing landscape challenged students, families, school partners, and community partners, but it also created urgency for rapidly testing new ideas.

By The Numbers (2020-21)

0

students benefited from connected programs and services

0

students and families received essential needs items like school supplies, hygiene products, and direct cash assistance

0

programs and services were connected to students

0

school partners

0

community partners

0

Intensive Program sites

0

case-managed students

0 %

of case-managed students graduated or were promoted

< 0 %

of case-managed students dropped out

Fiscal Year 2021 Revenue Without Donor Restrictions was $7.0 Million

15%
Individuals
19%
Foundations
32%
Corporations
8%
Schools
24%
Government*
2%
Special Events

*Includes forgiveness of Paycheck Protection Program Loan and Employee Retention Tax Credit

Recognizing Our Students and Partners

CIS of Chicago celebrates young people and the caring adults in their lives with two annual awards: the Al Ward Spirit of Giving Award and the Carnahan Family Tenacity Awards.

“The Lefkofsky Family Foundation believes strongly in supporting students' holistic developmental needs, especially across school transitions. That is why we are honored to partner and support the work of CIS of Chicago and their Freshmen Rising program. As we continue to see an increased need for social, emotional, and mental health support in Chicago Public Schools, we feel that CIS of Chicago's proven track record in adapting to student needs through the pandemic ensured they were well-positioned to support schools. Combining the Foundation’s financial support with a collaboration between CIS and our Success Bound curriculum, the Lefkofsky Family Foundation looks forward to continuing to collaborate with CIS to support students throughout our city.”

– Rachel Graham, Director of Programs, Lefkofsky Family Foundation

Investors in Our Work

Students’ needs have only increased since the pandemic. They are balancing their focus on attendance and academics with other challenges, including but not limited to an uptick in violence in their community, an economic burden on their family, mental health issues, and more. Our supporters remained deeply engaged and concerned about how the pandemic was impacting students.

As in all aspects of our work, the pandemic required us to shift to the virtual realm. We hosted virtual school visits, bringing together donors with school principals and CIS Student Supports Managers to talk about how they were supporting students in this difficult time. We provided a quarterly Investor Call with school insights beyond the headlines. We held our first-ever virtual fundraising event, showcasing our donors’ trivia knowledge. We launched a Hope Notes program, where volunteers created short inspirational messages for students encouraging them to keep moving forward, and we did the same for our school principals. Our Principal Notes program shared messages of inspiration with principals, who had to work through enormous uncertainties and challenges as the pandemic unfolded.

CIS of Chicago is able respond to students’ needs with the help of our generous supporters. We are grateful for the individuals and organizations who recognize the importance of supporting students on their path to graduation. We could not do this important work without them.

Leaders in Learning Donors (2020-21)

Board of Directors (2020-21)

CIS of Chicago’s Board of Directors works directly with our leadership team to ensure that the organization cements its position as the most wide-ranging nonprofit empowering Chicago public-school students to graduate from high school prepared for success. We thank our board members for their dedication to our mission, their leadership, and their contributions during an unprecedented year. We honor their service.

Name Position Organization
Mark Brady (Board Chair) Managing Director, Investment Banking William Blair & Company, LLC
Jim Welch (Board Vice Chair) Co-CEO Nexgen Packaging LLC
Michelle Brown (Board Treasurer) VP of Digital Products and Analytics United Airlines
Brian Moncrief (Board Secretary) Managing Director, Credit Group Ares Management Corporation
Dr. Sherron J. Bibbie Retired Principal Chicago Public Schools
Don Bielinski Managing Partner SMB Interim Management LLC
Craig A. Bondy Managing Director GTCR LLC
Jodi J. Caro Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary Ulta Beauty
Lan Nguyen Chaplin, Ph.D. Associate Professor University of Illinois at Chicago
Barbara M. Ford Principal Ford Partners, LLC
Brian W. Good Wicker Park Ventures
John M. Greening Associate Professor, Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing and Communications Northwestern University
Jonathan Guryan Professor of Human Development and Social Policy, Chair of the Institute for Policy Research’s Program on Education Policy Northwestern University
Ryan D. Harris Partner Kirkland & Ellis LLP
John M. Hawn Retired YUM! Brands, Inc.
Torrence L. Hinton Vice President – Operations Peoples Gas
Alain LeCoque Principal, Chicago Colliers International Group Inc.
Ralph Leslie CFO and Associate Dean of Finance and Business Operations, Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences Northwestern University
Bradley H. Meyers Managing Director, Public Market Investments Grosvenor Capital Management, L.P.
Valli Perera Founder Occam’s Edge Advisors
David Schuppan Senior Partner Vistria Group

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