A Better Chicago Announces New Investments in Three Youth-Serving Organizations

CHICAGO (2/25/25) – A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy focused on fighting poverty by creating opportunities for youth, announced today that the organization has made three new investments in youth-serving organizations: Project One Ten, Rush Education and Career Hub (REACH), and Springboard Collaborative. Each of these nonprofits are making transformative strides in supporting underserved youth and families across Chicago.

The grants, which total $300,000, represent unrestricted capital, meaning they can be used for a variety of purposes including personnel expenses, expansion costs, leadership training, and more. In addition, organizations also have access to management support dollars to tackle strategic and operational projects.

• Project OneTen is receiving a $75,000 grant. Project OneTen is an educational mentorship program designed to support Black and Latinx students who often don’t receive the academic and emotional support they need to excel. The program prioritizes personalized, relationship-driven support, with mentors and tutors collaborating to guide students both academically and personally, addressing an opportunity gap that disproportionately impacts students of color in Chicago. This investment will help support the program’s holistic model, which has proven effective in boosting freshman-on-track rates and increasing high school graduation outcomes.
• Rush Education and Career Hub (REACH) is receiving a $100,000 grant. As a comprehensive, STEM-focused program, REACH is designed to promote health equity and workforce development by offering educational pathways for historically marginalized youth. Through its Explorers and Pathways programs, REACH provides students from Chicago’s West Side with foundational healthcare knowledge, hands-on paid internships, and industry-recognized certifications. The program, which currently serves over 200 students, is led by a dedicated team of healthcare professionals and educators who integrate high-quality instruction, wraparound support, and mentorship to maximize student outcomes. This investment will help the program grow to reach over 1,500 students by 2030, ensuring more young people from historically marginalized communities are prepared to thrive in post-secondary education and career. REACH will also be a part of A Better Chicago’s One West Side partnership with the Chicago Blackhawks, which expands access and opportunity for youth on Chicago’s West Side.
• Springboard Collaborative is receiving a $125,000 grant. The organization partners with districts to scale reading programs, coaching both educators and parents to help students achieve reading proficiency by 4th grade. This enables school communities to accelerate learning by harnessing the untapped teaching potential within families. The national organization – which recently launched a Chicago site – serves 130,000 students nationally and nearly 1,200 in Chicago. Given the program’s rapid expansion, they are on track to serve 2,000 students in the 2024-25 school year. Students who participate in the program have an average rise of 15-17% in those meeting reading fluency benchmarks. This investment will help propel Springboard’s reach throughout Chicago, ensuring more students have the tools they need to thrive academically.

“These three organizations are playing a pivotal role in transforming the lives of young people across the city,” said Beth Swanson, CEO of A Better Chicago. “By investing in Project OneTen, Springboard Collaborative, and Rush Education and Career Hub, we are not only strengthening their capacity to reach even more youth, but we are also advancing our mission to build a city where every child, regardless of background, has the tools and support to succeed. We are proud to partner with these outstanding organizations and continue our work to create long-term, systemic change.”

“We’re beyond excited to join A Better Chicago’s investment portfolio. This partnership isn’t just about funding—it’s about expanding what’s possible for Black and Latino boys in Chicago,” said Dirrick Butler, Founder and Executive Director of Project OneTen. “With A Better Chicago’s support, we can deepen our impact, reach more students, and drive meaningful change in academic outcomes across our city. Having a partner that believes in our mission and is committed to real, lasting change means everything. We’re ready to build, grow, and create more opportunities together.”

“We are excited to partner with A Better Chicago and incredibly honored to receive this grant,” said Rukiya Curvey Johnson, Executive Director of Rush Education & Career Hub. “This support enables us to provide career-connected learning opportunities for Chicago youth, empowering them with the skills and knowledge needed to achieve greater economic mobility. Together, we are paving the way for a brighter future for our community’s young people.”

“Springboard Collaborative is thrilled to partner with A Better Chicago to continue increasing reading proficiency in partnership with CPS,” said Alejandro Gibes de Gac, Springboard Collaborative CEO & Founder. “This funding and A Better Chicago’s generous professional development offering will allow us to scale our impact while building staff capacity.”

The three new investments reflect A Better Chicago’s continued commitment to addressing the most pressing challenges faced by young people in Chicago, particularly Black and Latinx youth on the south and west sides of the city. Founded in 2010, A Better Chicago was modeled after a venture capital fund with a mission of building a more equitable city by breaking the cycle of generational poverty. As of 2025, the organization has reached over 115,000 students and deployed over $73 million to Chicago’s most promising youth-serving nonprofits.

The investments in Project OneTen, Springboard Collaborative, and Rush Education and Career Hub bring A Better Chicago’s portfolio count to 24 total nonprofit organizations that support children from cradle to career.

To learn more about A Better Chicago, visit https://www.abetterchicago.org/