Why partner with Kids First Chicago?

For two decades, Kids First Chicago has improved outcomes for Chicago public school students furthest from opportunity. We are committed to ensuring that every Chicago student, no matter their zip code, has access to a high-quality education.

We partner with companies by creating opportunities for employees to learn and serve together. We’ll work directly with your team to shape meaningful, team-building experiences – from interactive workshops, to collaborative pro bono projects, to celebrations of K1C families. [See Ways to Partner]

However your team chooses to show up, you’ll help Chicago families access the information, voice, and power to shape a public school system that works for all students.

Ways to Partner

Lunch & Learn

Host a Lunch & Learn on a topic of your choice. Our team presents at your offices or virtually to bring employees together for 30, 60, or 90 minutes. We tailor the experience to your needs and team culture. Past topics include:

The State of Chicago Public Schools: Explore how Chicago Public Schools students are doing academically and socially-emotionally. We examine key indicators to highlight what’s changed from 2018 to 2025 and what it means for our city.

Chicago & the Nation’s Report Card: Explore what the latest NAEP results tell us about how Chicago Public Schools students are performing over time and how Chicago compares with other large urban school districts.

History of Organizing in Chicago: Discover the rich history of community organizing in the Windy City and how that legacy is carried forward into today.

Chicago Housing & Public Education: Dive deep on the history of housing in Chicago and how segregation still impacts our city and public education system today.

Sponsorship

Partner with K1C to support our programs and events while elevating your company’s visibility.

Match Your Employees’ Impact

By matching eligible employee contributions to Kids First Chicago, you can encourage employee giving and grow your company’s collective impact.

Pro Bono Support

Help K1C staff solve a business problem, from establishing an internal AI-policy to automating Salesforce processes.

Why cause-marketing is important for your brand

Greater Workforce Retention & Innovation

Purpose-driven companies have 40% higher levels of workforce retention and 30% more innovation compared to competitors, according to a 2020 Deloitte study.

Recruiting Top Talent

90% of Gen Z believe that companies must act to help social and environmental issues. 75% of them will do their research to ensure the company is authentically supporting the cause and 83% view a company’s purpose as a core consideration in where to work, according to research by Porter Novelli/Cone.