*The Chicago NOW Education Fund is an independent organization from Chicago NOW and as such it has its own board of directors and by-laws. The CNEF and Chicago NOW are "sister organizations" in that the CNEF considers the priority issues of Chicago NOW when making endorsements and Chicago NOW encourages its members to support the CNEF endorsed candidates, however, for tax-status reasons they are separate organizations.*

The Chicago NOW Education Fund (CNEF) was founded in 1982 as the research and education affiliate of the Chicago Chapter of the National Organization for Women. The mission of CNEF is to increase the awareness and understanding of issues that affect the lives of women and girls. Our educational efforts are designed to reach both the general public and NOW members.

During its 16-year history, the Chicago NOW Education Fund has participated in a wide variety of activities, programs, and research initiatives. One of the most significant of these was our work on the 1984 Illinois Criminal Sexual Assault Act. Today, the CNEF coordinates and participates in five main areas including the Referral Service, educational programs and discussions, the publication of a quarterly newsletter, and coalition building.

The CNEF does not have a paid staff and relies on the work of the board of directors, volunteers and interns to achieve its goals. To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact us.

Funding for CNEF comes mainly from direct fundraising efforts, the Illinois Women's Funding Federation, and individual contributions. If you would like to make a contribution, send your tax-deductible contribution to:

The Chicago NOW Education Fund
30 E. Adams, Suite 401
Chicago, IL 60603