Who we are
The Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund was started in 2020 in response to the disproportionate effects of Covid, the racial uprisings, and decades of underinvestment in Black communities.
Members of the Neighborhood Organizing Funders Group took action to create the Pooled Fund after hearing from researchers, organizers, and community activists.
The founders, all staff at local foundations, became a Steering Committee that created a streamlined grantmaking process and fundraised.
The Crossroads Fund is our fiscal agent. In addition to providing the online application platform, Crossroads distributes grant money to organizations and manages the funds coming in from contributing foundations.
In March 2026, Katelyn Johnson became CRJPF’s inaugural Executive Director.
Katelyn Johnson, Executive Director
Katelyn Johnson brings more than 20 years of experience in social justice leadership, community organizing, nonprofit management, and movement building across Chicago.
Katelyn most recently served as Executive Director of the BlackRoots Alliance, a Chicago-based network supporting organizations dedicated to Black liberation through leadership development, policy advocacy, communications, and community-centered strategies. Under her leadership, BlackRoots Alliance deepened its citywide impact, including projects like Reinvest 2 Repair, a participatory research and community engagement initiative examining reparations and community-led visions for repair.
As Executive Director, Katelyn will guide CRJPF through its next phase of strategic growth, resource mobilization, and community partnership.
Her responsibilities include strengthening grantmaking strategy, expanding fundraising capacity, supporting community-based organizations, and deepening funder education to shift philanthropic practices.
Steering Committee Members, March 2025 (left to right):
Channing Lenert, Polk Bros. Foundation; Keenya Lambert, Chicago Foundation for Women; Michelle Morales, Woods Fund of Chicago; Cindy Camacho, JPMorgan Chase; Jawanza Malone, Wieboldt Foundation; Jane Kimondo, Crossroads Fund; Heather Parish, Albert Pick Jr. Fund; Mary Pounder, Comer Family Foundation; Iona Calhoun-Battiste, Chicago Community Trust; Whitney Wade, Chicago Foundation for Women; Amanda Hwu, Illinois Community Power Fund; Leslie Ramyk, Conant Family Foundation; Kamila Muhammad, Alphawood Foundation. Not pictured: Ryan Priester, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Lisa Marie Pickens, photographer
