Mission Statement

For low-income working women, affordable housing is almost impossible to find. Housing costs aside, such women consistently struggle to afford necessities that most working people take for granted. Single mothers in particular face enormous challenges to both hold a job and hold their families together.

In 2002, after decades of providing low-cost housing to single working women in Chicago, the Eleanor Foundation adopted a new mission and focus. Based on new research that looked at the plight of single women, single mothers and their families, along with demographic trends, women's income standards, the cost of living of Chicago and other urban areas, and educational opportunities for lower-income women, we decided that our target population would be better served by making focused grants to local organizations.

The Foundation has adopted a new mission that more accurately reflects our goals and our continuing work:

The Eleanor Foundation is a premier grantmaking fund uniquely focused on helping working women determined to achieve sustainable economic independence. We leverage our expertise and resources to invest in innovative programs that provide housing opportunities and supportive services.

Guided by this mission, we focus on creating and sustaining programs that have been developed by local community and service organizations. We support research on women's needs. We help guide local organizations in improving their services to women.

To sustain our work, our programs, and the women we serve, we depend on the guidance and generosity of people like you. For information on giving to the Eleanor Foundation, please click here.