The Black United Fund of Illinois (BUFI) is a Chicago-based philanthropic organization for African American nonprofits and businesses. Though its name might indicate that it supports statewide efforts, it is almost entirely focused on aiding Chicago’s South Side, particularly in its South Shore neighborhood.

BUFI is an independent affiliate of the National Black United Fund (NBUF), a Newark, New Jersey-based philanthropic organization for African American communities with 23 affiliates across America. ¹

Founding and History

Black United Fund of Illinois was founded in 1985 by Henry L. English, a prominent African American activist in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood. English, working alongside U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), served at one point as treasurer of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party. ²

Through English’s connections, BUFI was established as a leading grantmaking and philanthropic organization in Chicago’s South Side. Financed primarily by donations and worker payroll taxes, BUFI provides funding and working space for local small businesses and nonprofits. ³  As of 2019, BUFI claims to have assisted over 450 local programs. ⁴

BUFI is also credited with laying the foundation for the Chicago Public Schools’ Safe Passage program, which uses a system of watchmen to ensure that children can get to and from their schools safely. Introduced in 2007 in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, Chicago Public Schools took notice of BUFI’s program and adopted Safe Passage in districts throughout the city. ⁵

English worked as the executive director for BUFI for over three decades, until he was killed in 2016 in a car crash. Three years later, English’s role was filled by Carolyn Day, a BUFI board member. ⁶

Present Activities

Black United Fund of Illinois continues to fund and incubate local businesses in its Entrepreneurial and Business Center, which shares space with the group’s South Side headquarters. ⁷

BUFI also hosts its “Upward Bound” program, which provides mentorship and informative field trips for South Side Chicago youth, with the goal of promoting college readiness. ⁸

Ties to the Democratic Party

Though technically nonpartisan as an organization, Black United Fund of Illinois’ leadership has been outspoken in their support of the Democratic Party. Founder Henry L. English supported get-out-the-vote efforts for 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton; former chairman of the board and founding member Robert T. Starks was an advisor for both Jesse L. Jackson and former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington (D). ⁹

Finances

Black United Fund of Illinois’ most recent publicly available financial filings from 2019 show total revenues of $2,463,304 and total expenses of $2,438,619. According to the organization’s tax return, $2,357,001 in revenue came from government grants. ¹⁰

Leadership

The executive director of the Black United Fund of Illinois is Carolyn Day. Prior to becoming executive director of Black United Fund of Illinois, Day was the former executive director of Literacy Chicago, an educational nonprofit that works to end Chicago adulthood illiteracy. ¹¹

1. “History .” BUFI. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://bufi.org/bufi-history/.
2.  Muhammad, Toure. Celebrating The Life And Legacy Of Henry L. English, March 22, 2016. https://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_102971.shtml.
3. Doster, Adam. “Bringing Mindful Balance to Chicago’s South Side.” Loyola University Chicago – Features. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://www.luc.edu/features/stories/equityandinclusion/lataniafranklin/.
4. “Bufi Reboots with Acting Executive Director.” The Chicago Crusader, January 25, 2019. https://chicagocrusader.com/local-news/bufi-reboots-with-acting-executive-director/.
5. “Safe Passage.” Accessed December 25, 2021. https://bufi.org/safe-passage/.
6. “Bufi Reboots with Acting Executive Director.” The Chicago Crusader, January 25, 2019. https://chicagocrusader.com/local-news/bufi-reboots-with-acting-executive-director/.
7. “Entrepreneurial and Business Center.” BUFI. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://bufi.org/entrepreneurial-and-business-center-ebc/.
8. “Upward Bound.” BUFI. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://bufi.org/bufi-ub-programs-events/.
9.  Muhammad, Toure. Celebrating The Life And Legacy Of Henry L. English, March 22, 2016. https://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/National_News_2/article_102971.shtml. ; “Robert T. Starks’s Biography.” The HistoryMakers, December 15, 2009. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/robert-t-starks-41.
10. “Black United Fund of Illinois Inc.” Black United Fund of Illinois Inc – GuideStar Profile. Accessed December 25, 2021. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/36-3397908.
11. “Bufi Reboots with Acting Executive Director.” The Chicago Crusader, January 25, 2019. https://chicagocrusader.com/local-news/bufi-reboots-with-acting-executive-director/.