17 Resources
Chicago Foundation for Women at 140 S Dearborn, Suite 400 has invested $50M+ in Chicago-area women's and girls' programs since 1985. While the foundation funds direct-service nonprofits rather than serving individuals, mothers can find their grantee network across Cook County including BV, Mujeres Latinas, and Between Friends. Call (312) 577-2801 weekdays 9am-5pm for grantee referrals or to learn about willPower donor circles.
(312) 577-2801 · 140 S Dearborn St Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60603 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Women Employed at 65 E Wacker Pl, Suite 1500 has advocated for working women's economic advancement since 1973, with policy wins including Illinois's pregnancy-accommodation law and paid sick leave. The organization runs the Career Foundations program for low-income Chicago mothers entering or returning to work. Call (312) 782-3902 weekdays 9am-5pm to learn about workshops, scholarships, and policy advocacy.
(312) 782-3902 · 65 E Wacker Pl Suite 1500, Chicago, IL 60601 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Dress for Success Worldwide-Central at 2457 W Jackson on Chicago's West Side provides referred clients with free interview suits, ongoing career coaching, and the Professional Women's Group network. Mothers leaving DV shelters, prisons, or workforce programs are referred by partner agencies. Call (312) 527-2774 weekdays 9am-5pm; appointments are required and the boutique-style fitting includes shoes, accessories, and a follow-up workwear suit after job placement.
(312) 527-2774 · 2457 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago at 1 N LaSalle, Suite 1150 operates childcare resource and referral, sexual-assault advocacy, early-childhood education, and economic empowerment programs across Cook, Lake, and DuPage counties. The agency serves 200,000 women and children annually. Call (312) 762-2719 weekdays 8am-5pm; intake routes mothers to financial-coaching, free tax prep through Ladder Up partnership, and YWCA's Family Support Services.
(312) 762-2719 · 1 N LaSalle St Suite 1150, Chicago, IL 60602 · Mon-Fri 8am-5pm · Visit Website
Girls Inc. of Chicago runs research-based programming for girls ages 5-18 in Chicago Public Schools and after-school sites, focused on STEM, financial literacy, and healthy-relationship skills. Mothers of school-age girls can enroll daughters through partner schools; programs are free or sliding-scale and operate Mon-Fri 8am-6pm. Local affiliate work is centered on Chicago's South and West sides where research shows the greatest opportunity gaps for girls.
Chicago, IL · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm · Visit Website
WBDC at 8 S Michigan, Suite 400 is the nation's oldest SBA-funded Women's Business Center, serving Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin since 1986. Free workshops, lender connections, and government-contracting certification (WOSB and WBE) help Illinois women start and grow businesses. Call (312) 853-3477 weekdays 9am-5pm; Spanish-language programming runs out of the Pilsen office and downstate satellites operate in Peoria and Springfield.
(312) 853-3477 · 8 S Michigan Ave Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60603 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
Mujeres Latinas en Acción at 2124 W 21st Pl in Pilsen is Illinois's oldest Latina-led nonprofit, serving Chicago Latinas with domestic-violence counseling, sexual-assault advocacy, youth programming, and family support. All services are bilingual Spanish-English. Call (773) 890-7676 weekdays 9am-5pm; a 24-hour DV crisis line operates separately. Walk-ins are accepted at the Pilsen office and outreach extends to Little Village and other Latina-heavy neighborhoods.
(773) 890-7676 · 2124 W 21st Pl, Chicago, IL 60608 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Visit Website
The Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty, based in Springfield, develops state policy to cut extreme poverty by half — a population that disproportionately includes women-headed households and Black/Latina mothers. The commission publishes annual reports tracking Illinois benchmarks and recommends legislative reforms. Call (217) 782-1200 weekdays 8:30am-5pm for hearing schedules and public-comment opportunities.
(217) 782-1200 · Springfield, IL · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Women's Treatment Center at 140 N Ashland on Chicago's near West Side is one of the nation's only providers offering long-term residential addiction treatment to pregnant women and mothers with children — clients can bring their children into residence. Programs include detox, outpatient, and women-only group therapy with on-site childcare. Call (312) 850-0050 around the clock; most beds are funded through Medicaid and IDHS.
(312) 850-0050 · 140 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607 · 24/7 · Visit Website
AAUW has 30+ Illinois branches from Chicago to Rockford, Peoria, Bloomington, and Carbondale offering local scholarships, advocacy, and networking. Branches fund scholarships averaging $500-,000 for Illinois women returning to school or pursuing graduate degrees, and host Lobby Day at the Illinois State Capitol each spring. Branch finder shows current local meetings and contact information for prospective members.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Illinois NOW operates as a statewide chapter with active local affiliates in Chicago, Springfield, and the Quad Cities. The chapter focuses on Illinois-specific issues including ERA implementation, reproductive-rights advocacy, and Title IX enforcement at Illinois universities. Sign up online for action alerts on Illinois General Assembly bills affecting women, and find local meeting times for chapters near you.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
League of Women Voters of Illinois, founded in 1921, has 39 local leagues covering Cook County, Champaign-Urbana, the Quad Cities, and downstate communities. The League runs Illinois-specific voter education, candidate forums during state primaries, and lobbies the General Assembly on redistricting and election reform. Local leagues welcome new members and run free voter-registration drives ahead of every Illinois election.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
YWCA USA federates Illinois YWCAs including YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, YWCA Sauk Valley, YWCA McLean County, and YWCA of the Sauk Valley. Programs span DV shelter, racial-justice initiatives, childcare, and youth empowerment for Illinois women. The national locator routes Illinois mothers to the nearest YWCA, which often has the most accessible sliding-scale childcare in their county and free advocacy for survivors.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Women's Funding Network is the coalition of women's foundations including Chicago Foundation for Women, which serves the six-county Chicago region. Illinois donors and grantee nonprofits use WFN's resources for capacity-building and to align local grantmaking with national trends. The network publishes Illinois-relevant research on the gender-and-race wealth gap that informs CFW's funding priorities.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Illinois hosts Junior Leagues in Chicago, Evanston-North Shore, Rockford, Peoria, Springfield, and the Quad Cities. The League trains women for civic leadership and runs flagship community projects — Junior League of Chicago founded the Lyric Opera children's program and Junior League of Evanston runs longstanding literacy work. Membership runs roughly 00/year; provisional classes welcome new women annually.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Soroptimist clubs across Illinois — including Chicago, Peoria, Springfield, Rockford, and Quad Cities — run the Live Your Dream cash awards for Illinois mothers heading households while pursuing education. Local clubs award
,000-$5,000 grants annually and refer winners to the regional and international levels for larger awards. The site's club-finder helps Illinois women apply locally where chances of winning are highest.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Zonta International, headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, advances the status of women globally and runs the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship and Amelia Earhart Fellowship. Illinois clubs including Zonta Chicago, Zonta Quad Cities, and Zonta Peoria fund local women's scholarships and partner with DV shelters. Zonta's worldwide headquarters in Oak Brook coordinates Illinois club activities and recruits new members.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Frequently Asked
- How many women's programs resources are in Illinois?
- Women's Corner tracks 17 women's programs resources for women in Illinois.
- Are women's programs resources in Illinois free?
- 16 of the 17 listed women's programs resources in Illinois are explicitly free or low-cost.
- Which cities in Illinois have women's programs resources?
- Listings span cities including Chicago, Springfield.
- What are some examples of women's programs resources in Illinois?
- Featured entries include Chicago Foundation for Women, Women Employed — Chicago, Dress for Success — Chicago, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Chicago.
- Do these listings include phone numbers?
- 8 of 17 Illinois women's programs listings include phone numbers.
- What do women's empowerment programs actually offer?
- Most combine peer support groups, financial literacy and credit-building classes, job training, GED prep, leadership development, and help navigating benefits and legal systems. Many include free childcare during sessions. Programs like Dress for Success, Bottomless Closet, and YWCA chapters serve women rebuilding after divorce, abuse, or job loss.
- Are there programs for single moms specifically?
- Yes. The Life of a Single Mom (TLSM) operates in 30+ states with peer groups and crisis grants. Helping Hands for Single Moms funds college for single mothers. Modest Needs gives short-term emergency grants. Many United Way 211 calls connect single mothers to local single-mom funds for rent, car repair, or childcare.
- Do these programs cost money?
- Almost all empowerment programs are free for income-qualifying women, often funded through HHS Office of Family Assistance, state TANF dollars, or private foundations. Many include free meals, transportation stipends, and childcare. Bring ID, proof of income, and any benefits letters when you enroll.
- Can I get help starting a business as a woman?
- Yes. The SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership funds 140+ Women's Business Centers nationwide offering free training, mentorship, and loan readiness. SCORE provides free women-mentor pairings. Grants like the Amber Grant (
0,000/month) and Cartier Women's Initiative target women founders. Many states have additional women-owned business certifications that unlock contracts.