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RDLF News: Issue 38
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A Year and a Half as Co-Executive Director
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A message from Crystal Logan:
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What a time to begin in this new role. I began formally working at the Foundation about 8 years ago as a program officer, building out a journalism portfolio more relevant to this age of globalization where issues don’t stop at borders, but have spent a lifetime observing both my grandfather and my father lead the organization. They brought very different approaches to the direction and leadership of the Foundation, but their visions are ultimately similar: hard work, dedication, a true desire for radical change and justice, and Tikkun Olam* in the truest sense.
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Becoming the third generation to help lead the Reva and David Logan Foundation is an immense honor.
The past several years have been tough. First Covid, where we pivoted as an organization to provide PPE, sanitary supplies and food; and then to a second pandemic of sorts—the arrival of this Administration's second term. Widespread dismay and panic shaded many of our grantees and the wider sector because of USAID cuts, federal funds becoming unreliable or withdrawn on a whim and the persecution of communities across the US. Chicago in the last couple years has been in the spotlight with busloads of new arrivals, the Midway Blitz and SNAP benefits being cut, and more. Chicagoans have shown powerful resistance and unity in the face of these onslaughts making us proud to call Chicago our hometown, and our grantees have led the charge in protecting and supporting our neighbors, colleagues and the most vulnerable.
Domestically and globally, our journalism grantees have continued to hold power to account, doggedly reporting on issues and not allowing the accelerating authoritarian threats to deter them. I mentioned in a panel at the iMEdD journalism conference in Athens that "Courage deserves courage," and I stick by that.
In the past year, I have travelled to four continents to meet with grantees, spend time face-to-face, learn, listen and act. They have inspired me and taught me so much.
Attacks on philanthropy are real and will continue to persist.
In 2025 we have striven harder than ever to support grantees, work with others in the sector, coordinate emergency relief and support our communities. It has been exhausting. Our team is tired but also energized and hopeful. We are a tiny (not even double digits) team with over 200 grantees, an open LOI process, and 15 or so Foundation properties. We see the dedication of our grantees and their tireless sacrifice day after day.
So, has it been an easy time to begin in this role? Not at all, but it is a great privilege to continue the legacy of those before me and the shared mission of those who work alongside me. My father and I are very different people with different life experiences and viewpoints, but we agree on the key things. As I learn lots from him—and I hope he can learn a few things from me—we will continue to work together to make the world just a little bit better.
Finally, I thank my father and Co-Executive Director, Richard, for his support and guidance, my partner Waldo and my two children, the team for their dedication and good humor, colleagues at other foundations for their insights and kindness, and, most of all, our grantees and partners for the stellar work they do every single day.
2026 will surely be a difficult and unpredictable year. We remain determined, focused and ready for the challenges that lie ahead.
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*Tikkun olam is a religious concept in Judaism, which refers to various forms of action intended to repair and improve the world. In the modern era, tikkun olam has come to refer to the pursuit of social justice, based on the idea that "Jews bear responsibility not only for their own moral, spiritual, and material welfare, but also for the welfare of society at large"
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Grantee Accomplishments
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Challenging as it has been, we have been thrilled to visit several grantees over the past couple months whose work has inspired a frisson of hope in our team and their communities.
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About Face Theatre recently ended its run of "Modern Gentlemen," a rom-com play about Adam, who must navigate the world of dating for the first time since coming out as a trans man. The play offered an interesting perspective on the experiences trans individuals often encounter, such as dating while experiencing gender dysphoria, transitioning in the middle of a relationship, and battling the rigid expectations of the gender binary. Members of About Face's Queer Youth Ensemble attended the March 28th show and dug deep after the show in a conversation about the unique aspects of set, sound, and color design.
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On March 30th, Onward Neighborhood House broke ground on the CARES Community Center, a new one-stop hub for health and human services in Chicago's Northwest Side. This center will expand access to care and bring critical resources under one roof, including primary and behavioral health services, food access, education, and immigrant support. Onward House Executive Director Mario Garcia, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, and our very own Richard Logan gave celebratory remarks.
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On March 30th, D-Composed made their solo debut with the Chicago Civic Symphony, playing Michael Abels' "Delights and Dances" with charisma, flair, and pure joy. Given how the piece was written 10 years ago to celebrate Sphinx Organization's efforts to make symphony orchestras more inclusive for musicians of color, it was also a stark reminder of how much work there is left to do. D-Composed fills that gap of representation in a way that invokes pride and celebration, and as there were many of us in the audience smiling and grooving along, they seem to be succeeding.
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On April 13th, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) celebrated the opening of its new headquarters the BPNC Service Center. The new building will serve as the center of BPNC’s operations, and will also function as a community center on the southwest side of Chicago. The ribbon cutting featured celebratory comments from Patrick Brosnan, former RDLF board member and Executive Director of BPNC, Anita Caballeros, Board President of BPNC, and lifelong resident of Brighton Park and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
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Upcoming Opportunities
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Open Applications
- PD and Training Grant: AMPT's Professional Development & Training Grant focuses on expanding equitable access to professional development and learning opportunities for nonprofit organizations. Through this grant, nonprofits will be able to take advantage of external learning opportunities, such as events, learning certificates, webinars, or work internally with a consultant through workshop-style engagements. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting May 4th.
- Small Business Improvement Fund: The Small Business Improvement Fund (SBIF) provides reimbursement grant funding for permanent building improvements and repairs across the city. These grants are offered to tenants and owners of industrial and commercial properties in select TIF districts each month. Program participants can receive grants to cover between 30 percent and 90 percent of the cost of remodeling work. The following TIF districts are eligible to apply until May 30th:
*35th/Halsted
*47th/State
*Bryn Mawr/Broadway
*Elston/Armstrong
*Ogden/Pulaski
- Midway Airport Public Art Opportunities: The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) in partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) invites professional artists and artist teams to submit qualifications for consideration for two (2) site-specific public art commissions at Chicago Midway International Airport. Each project budget is inclusive of all costs and fees associated with execution of the public art commission for the specified site from beginning through completion. The application deadline is June 12th.
- W.K. Kellogg Foundation: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation offers a rolling grant opportunity supporting work that improves outcomes for children, families, and communities, with a strong emphasis on racial equity and long-term impact. They fund throughout the United States. After submitting an LOI, you will hear back in 30 business days with a request for a proposal or a decline.
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Public Health Watch: The serial podcast follows two politically conservative residents of Channelview, Texas, a riverfront community near Houston, as they try to slow encroachment by the ever-expanding petrochemical industry. Produced by a team of Public Health Watch journalists, Fumed won first place in the narrative podcast category of the National Headliner Awards.
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CCWF Paper Trail: "The five women profiled in this article ... recognized the differences between male and female incarcerated gang members while trying to pursue a better way of life, change their belief systems, and understand their values ... And, unlike their male counterparts, women gang members coexist and even have pseudo-families while incarcerated."
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Wisconsin Watch: "The ads ... point to an Assembly Republican strategy cognizant of a national mood that has turned on President Donald Trump and the Republican establishment. The bills also highlight a political issue that appeals to female voters, a voting group that Republicans have often struggled with at the national level."
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Oklahoma Watch: "Rural hospitals face a structural disadvantage: they serve smaller populations but carry many of the same fixed costs as larger facilities. When reimbursements fall, Rasmussen said, those hospitals have fewer options to absorb the losses, often forcing difficult decisions about which services to maintain and which to cut."
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We craft this newsletter for you. If you have any comments or suggestions, please reply to this email and you might see your ideas implemented in our next issue.
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We have an open call for content from our partners to highlight the brilliant work they're doing in the community. If you are a current grantee or partner with The Reva and David Logan Foundation, please send your content to Sabrina Boggs, Communications Coordinator at sabrina(at)loganfdn(dot)org. Please note that we will not share fundraising campaigns.
Thanks for reading, and see you next time!
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