ULRI-ULSE and Northwestern University Announce Recipients of 2026-2027 Sustainable Communities Grants Program

UL Research Institutes, UL Standards & Engagement, and Northwestern’s Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2026-2027 Sustainable Communities Grant Program. Returning for a second year, this collaborative initiative supports community-driven sustainability efforts in Evanston and Skokie, IL.

The two nonprofit organizations selected to receive $5,000 grants were Cradles to Crayons and Evanston Grows. Funding for both organizations will support projects that advance sustainable practices, strengthen community engagement and collaboration in addressing environmental challenges, and support innovative solutions that can be adapted by other communities.

Cradles to Crayons provides children living in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive — at home, at school, and at play. The organization works across Chicagoland to gather unused clothing and other children’s essentials and distribute them to local children experiencing poverty, helping to reallocate our community’s resources to support our most vulnerable neighbors while also diverting usable textiles from the waste stream.

“Funding will allow Cradles to Crayons Chicago to build new and deepen existing relationships in Evanston and Skokie with goals of simultaneously diverting useable clothing and basic needs items from the waste stream and supporting Chicagoland kids experiencing poverty,” said Julia Giordano Jahns, senior manager of development at Cradles to Crayons.  “We aim to make it easy for Evanston and Skokie residents to donate their goods in a way that directly supports and strengthens our local communities, and this grant will help us do just that.”

The organization works with several community partners throughout the Evanston and Skokie area to help distribute clothing and essential items to local children and families. Partners include Childcare Network of Evanston, Humans at Help Foundation, and Access Community Health.

Returning grantee, Evanston Grows, is a collective impact organization dedicated to bringing together resources in the Evanston community to reduce food insecurity through increasing access to locally grown produce and building community connections. Funding will support a series of sustainable gardening workshops that will provide hands-on environmental education and community-based learning opportunities for youth and residents in Evanston.

“The Sustainable Communities Grant program gives Evanston Grows the opportunity to bring talented chefs and skilled workshop presenters into our programs,” said Laurell Simms, executive director, Evanston Grows. “For our small nonprofit team, this provides valuable capacity while ensuring that community members have access to high-quality learning from experienced professionals. Participants at our free farm stands and educational workshops gain practical skills they can take home, share with family and friends, and build upon — creating a ripple effect of knowledge, confidence, and connection. By investing in meaningful learning experiences, this funding helps us empower our community to grow more, cook more, and eat better.”

Both organizations will begin implementing their projects this fall, with anticipated completion by the end of the grant year. ULRI, ULSE, and Northwestern will work closely with the grantees to share progress and impact stories with the broader community.

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