The Osa Foundation supports organizations that empower human potential in underserved communities by creating Opportunities, offering targeted Support and improving Access to resources.

The Osa Foundation’s work is grounded in the following values:

Self-reliance: We value the dignity of hard work and consider self-reliance and sustainability to be the ultimate goal of our philanthropy.
Equity: We believe that every person should have access to the resources needed to pursue and achieve their full potential. We will examine the pervasive and institutional barriers to equitable access of resources and employ this lens in our grantmaking.
Diversity: We value and respect the diversity in our society. We acknowledge our obligation to examine our own biases and will work to stand up for social justice.
Innovation: We value critical, original thinking and creative problem solving.
Integrity: We value honesty and transparency: accordingly we endeavor to conduct our work in a manner consistent with the highest ethical standards.

We seek to support grantee organizations that embody these beliefs and values.

To learn more about our story and investment philosophy, please click here.

Current Program Priorities

The Osa Foundation currently partners with organizations and initiatives operating in underserved communities that promote the following drivers of opportunity.

1. Education to Career

Vision: High school and college graduates have the information about career pathways, career readiness skills, and job experiences they need to enter the workforce on a path to a financially sustainable career.

Funding opportunities: We support

programs that provide training and support to youth in progressive post-secondary pathways;
programs that work with youth to expose them to and offer guidance on career opportunities and to cultivate their career readiness skills; and
systemic efforts to create an infrastructure in the Chicago area that affords students a seamless transition from high school to a variety of post-secondary options.

2. College Access, Completion and Success

Vision: First-generation and low-income students who aspire to pursue a college degree are given the support needed to ensure that they enroll in and graduate from college.

Funding priorities: We support

programs that provide first-generation and low-income students with the supports needed to gain access to college and persist through graduation; and
systemic efforts in the Chicago area to ensure that these students are appropriately supported by institutions of higher education, the State of Illinois, and other relevant systems.

3. Education Innovation

Vision: Public school students benefit from educators who are encouraged to employ evidence-based, innovative approaches in their classrooms, equipped to leverage technology to meet the needs of all their students, and empowered to have a voice in policy decisions that will impact their ability to educate their students.

Funding Priorities: We support

cutting edge programs that leverage technology to improve instruction and student learning;
programs that support teachers and principals to bring innovations to their schools and classrooms; and
efforts to equip teachers to be advocates for policies that will improve instruction and student learning.

4. Student Engagement

Vision: Public school students are consistently present and engaged in school, despite the significant barriers to engagement which are prevalent in urban education systems.

Funding priorities: We support

programs that address the physical and mental health challenges of public school students, alleviating barriers to attendance and engagement;
experiential learning programs that foster the development of social and emotional skills and student agency; and
programs that expose students to a wide array of career paths, motivating students to stay engaged in school.

We seek to catalyze innovative ideas and programs. Accordingly, a portion of our program portfolio supports pilot programs and early stage organizations. We often renew grants for multiple years when programs are demonstrating significant impact. However, our funding is not meant to carry on indefinitely.

The Osa Foundation recognizes the difficulty in taking advantage of opportunities when basic human needs are unmet. Therefore, we typically set aside a small portion of our annual giving budget for food, shelter and emergency medical care.

Our primary geographic focus is Chicago, IL.

Application Process

The Osa Foundation currently accepts grant proposals on an invitation only basis. Through a rigorous assessment process, we identify and select results-oriented organizations whose programs and infrastructure bring innovation, excellence and sustainability to bear in executing their mission. The Osa Foundation makes grant decisions on a rolling basis pursuant to its grantees’ preferred timeframes.

Upon invitation, please submit the following proposal materials electronically to Amy Sauer, Strategic Advisor, The Osa Foundation at amy@theosafoundation.org.

Narrative: (suggested length is 3 pages)

The purpose of your request, including description of the program, population served, and results to date
A specific description of the results that you intend to achieve with this grant and description of measurements or indicators you will use to gauge your impact, including targets. If awarded a grant, you will be asked to report on these results at the end of the grant cycle.
A brief overview of the organization, including
- Organization’s mission, vision, and strategic goals
- Organization’s history of accomplishments, growth, and impact, as well as populations served. For requests for general operating support, this information may be duplicative of the information requested in the first bullet and responses can be integrated into one response.

See Required Attachments here.

To learn more about when you will hear from us regarding your grant request submission, please click here.

Grant Reporting

All grantees are asked to submit a grant report at the end of the grant period. Your grant award letter will indicate the suggested timeframe for submitting your report. The grant report shall include a discussion of your accomplishments for the grant period compared to the stated goals and targets that you previously laid out in your proposal. Please also share lessons learned and an identification of where you fell short of your goals or identified areas for improvement or opportunity. The suggested length is two pages.

Our Current Grantees:

Education to Career:

Accelerate U

Braven

Genesys Works Chicago

i.c. stars Chicago

JobPath

One Million Degrees

Progressive Pathways Fund

Rebuilding Exchange

Youth Job Center

College Access, Completion, and Success:

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless

Chicago Scholars

High Jump

iMentor Chicago

National Louis University

OneGoal Chicago

Partnership for College Completion

Scholarships AZ

Education Innovation:

CommunityShare

Educators 4 Excellence Chicago

Golden Apple Foundation

Intrinsic Schools

LEAP Innovations

Teachers Supporting Teachers

The Chicago Public Education Fund

The Modern Classrooms Project, Chicago

Student Engagement and Mental Health:

Embarc

Higher Ground

Sequoia Springs Trauma Healing Center

University of Arizona School Gardens Workshop

Grantee Blogs

We are honored to highlight blogs written by our grantees. We invite you to read how they are making an impact. We look forward to showcasing recent blogs from other grantees each month.

Featured Blog

Educators For Excellence, Chicago | January 2024

How E4E-Chicago Educators Are Transforming the Elected School Board

Beginning next year, Chicago will undergo a historic transformation, as our school board transitions from a seven-member mayoral-appointed school board to a 21-member elected school board. This year is a critical opportunity to advocate for a school board that’s equitable and has the interests of our students and educators at the forefront.

E4E-Chicago educators have made the most of that opportunity to date. In the fall 2023 Illinois legislative session, E4E-Chicago educators delivered an urgent message to Illinois lawmakers: the city’s newly elected school board should be equitable, mirror the diversity of our students, and include the voices of teachers, parents, and other key stakeholders.

Thanks to the E4E Elected School Board Teacher Action Team’s leadership and member advocacy, State Senators introduced legislation to ensure that CPS teachers can afford to run and serve on the upcoming elected school board by providing board member compensation.

Is College Worth It?

OneGoal has moved past a bachelor-or-bust mentality. Instead, we support students to pursue high-quality postsecondary pathways that are best suited to their personal, academic, and financial needs. For the majority of our students, this still means a two- or four-year college. But for others, this looks like high-quality technical credentials or certifications. That’s what we mean by many paths, one goal. Studies continue to suggest students desire support in which they can receive nonjudgmental advice that encourages multiple paths best suited to their goals. And it’s not just the studies. We see this played out in the lived experiences of the Fellows we serve.

**The Modern Classrooms Project**
**November 2023**

USING AI in the Classroom

Here are key takeaways from this podcast episode:

Customizable AI for Inclusive Learning: Joyce highlights the incredible potential of AI for highly customizable resources tailored to diverse learner needs, from translating content to adapting materials for individual students. As she underscores, AI can be a powerful ally in bridging the gap for marginalized voices.

Transparent Conversations on Bias and Ethical Use: Joyce stresses the importance of acknowledging and confronting algorithmic bias in AI tools, encouraging educators and students to actively verify and refine outputs.

What is the Role of a Mentor?

Characterized by rapid change, increasing specialization, and the intertwined nature of professional networks, the role of a mentor has never been more critical. For young people setting out on their journeys, either in the academic or professional realm or in their personal lives, mentors can be the guiding star, offering insights drawn from lived experiences. They are not just advisors but catalysts that accelerate growth and open doors to new opportunities. I’ve had the privilege to be a mentor over the past two years through iMentor, and it’s an opportunity you should experience, too.

**The Chicago Public Education Fund**
**October 2023**

What Do Illinois Principals Need for Success? New Report Identifies Three Factors

1. Principals Need Adequate Funding

Only 19% of Illinois districts are funded at a level deemed “adequate” according to the state’s definition.

2. Principals Need Predictable Staffing

Though Illinois schools report an 86.3% average teacher retention rate, principals must hire five new teachers each year on average. Notably, new teacher hires are predominantly in high-need areas like English as a second language and special education.

3. Principals Need Relief From Mandates

The Illinois School Code contains over 40 instructional mandates, and more are added almost every time the state legislature convenes. Principals reported spending almost exactly as much time on internal administrative tasks as on teaching-related ones — yet time focused on supporting teachers’ instructional leadership is what makes the biggest impact on students.

**The Partnership for College Completion**
**November 2023**

Keynote Speaker Pascale Charlot Urges Institution Leaders to Prioritize Value to Students at the 2023 ILEA Summit

PCC’s annual Illinois Equity in Attainment (ILEA) Summit is an opportunity for practitioners and leaders from 25 partnered institutions to connect and discuss how to serve students more equitably through a series of presentations and breakout sessions. This year’s event took place at the College of Lake County in Grayslake, III., on Friday, Nov. 3.

Pascale Charlot, the Managing Director of the College Excellence Program at the Aspen Institute, kicked off this year’s summit at College of Lake County with a keynote address that challenged the over 175 attendees to consider the value they are providing students throughout their time on campus and after they earn their degree. “We’re challenging institutions to go deeper with the lens of equity and access…if you start with the end in mind, if we deliver value, it changes everything in every phase of the process,” Charlot said.

**i.c. stars/US Chamber of Commerce**
**November 2023**

Honoring Authenticity: The Key to a Thriving Workforce

In recent years, there has been a prominent shift in the way we think about the workplace. Many jobs have migrated out of offices and into employees’ homes, giving rise to an unprecedented blending of work and life. As the home and office become one, there is greater visibility into the lives of employees, and how they show up to work as their true, authentic selves.

Workers are demanding higher wages, remote or hybrid work, flexible schedules, development opportunities, and overall respect. The key to retaining talent now lies in honoring authenticity and supporting each individual holistically. This opens the door to a diverse, qualified, and often untapped talent pool. Simultaneously, individuals gain access to workplaces that enable them to show up as their whole professional selves, and will stick around long term.

Enter i.c.stars, a non-profit workforce-development organization, that offers a hands-on, immersive program focused on experiential learning for underemployed young adults.

Contact Us:

Please direct all correspondence and communication to:

The Osa Foundation
info@theosafoundation.org

Robin Lavin
President
robin@theosafoundation.org

Amy Sauer
Strategic Advisor
amy@theosafoundation.org