Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

---

Organization Name: Defy Ventures Illinois
Legal Name (if Different): Defy Ventures, Inc.
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 200 S Wacker Dr., Suite 3100
City: Chicago
State: Illinois
Postal Code: 60606
Main Phone: 1-800-680-6343
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.defyventures.org
Employer ID Number: 273611908
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

---

Today’s Date: 2/14/24
Requested Amount: 10000

Project Title: Defy Ventures Illinois
Project Description:

Defy Ventures is a nonprofit organization with a mission to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance through career readiness, personal development, and entrepreneurship training programs offered in prison and in the community. Defy works to intentionally intervene in established systems and ways of being that reinforce systemic racism, oppression, and economic disparity. With a vision to cut recidivism rates in half, Defy uses an "inside-out" model to combat factors contributing to cycles of recidivism and poverty, increasing economic opportunity and strengthening communities.

Defy’s core in-prison program, called CEO of Your New Life (CEO YNL), is a robust 7- to 9-month program focused on reentry preparation, personal development, career readiness, and entrepreneurship. Because Defy rejects dehumanizing language for people who are impacted by the criminal legal system, we refer to program participants as Entrepreneurs in Training, or EITs.

Upon their release from prison, Defy provides CEO YNL program graduates with post-release reentry support including case management, a Chromebook to access vital services, ongoing career readiness training, professional networking workshops, peer support, and mentorship. After Defy EITs attain general stability in reentry, they also have the opportunity to further their entrepreneurial endeavors through Defy’s post-release Entrepreneurship Pathway. The programs within the Entrepreneurship Pathway include additional business coaching, intensive entrepreneurship training curriculum, and business acceleration to support the development and launch of small businesses. Defy also provides access to capital, which is a key barrier for entrepreneurs with a criminal history.

Total Project Budget: 567,677

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Private foundations, individual donors, governmental subcontracts

Project Duration: on-going
Geographical Area Served: Illinois
Age Group To Be Served: 18+

Contact Information

---

Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms
Contact First Name: Melissa
Contact Last Name: O’Dell
Contact Title: Executive Director, Defy Ventures Illinois
Contact Phone: 6313797389
Contact Email: melissa@defyventures.org