Women’s Self-Sufficiency

As one of the only Fortune 500 companies named after a woman, and as an employer with more than 50,000 employees worldwide, Sara Lee Corporation understands how employment changes lives by bringing self-sufficiency to individuals and their families, and helps strengthen communities by reducing unemployment. Recognizing the need for programs that help women prepare for and gain employment, the Sara Lee Foundation makes grants to nonprofit organizations that provide exemplary programs that assist women to earn a living wage.

Funding priority is given to collaborative and innovative initiatives focused on women in diverse, low-income communities that result in living wages. These would be programs that provide job training for women, not just basic job training; rather job training programs that provide women with hard skills so that they may get jobs that earn a living wage. The programs must document clear results which prove self-sufficiency is achieved, so that the program participants can keep a roof over their head, food on the table, and not have to live in an unsafe environment. We seek to support programs that help women reach their full potential.

To be considered for support, a prospective applicant must first submit an Online Letter of Intent. For instructions on how to apply, please follow the link to our Giving Guidelines. To read about some of the groups and projects we have funded recently, follow the links below:

Chicago House and Social Service Agency
Chicago Women In Trades
Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights
Jobs For Youth Chicago
Polish American Association
Spanish Coalition for Jobs
Women's Business Development Center
YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago