The Chicago Defender is calling on non-profit organizations across Chicago and the Chicagoland area to take part in an extraordinary opportunity to showcase their work in Applause!, the special commemorative publication honoring the 2025 Standout Non-Profit Leaders. Scheduled for release on September 30, 2025, this inaugural edition will celebrate 25 remarkable leaders and their organizations—nominated by the community—for their tireless efforts to strengthen and uplift our city.
Non-profits now have the chance to align their own missions with this prestigious recognition by becoming a sponsor or purchasing an ad in the publication.
The Lead Sponsorship package offers unmatched visibility and influence, including:
Other sponsorship levels offer a valuable mix of advertising, social visibility, and digital promotion, allowing organizations of all sizes to participate meaningfully. For those looking for a straightforward option, full-page and half-page ads are also available—an excellent way to congratulate the honorees while showcasing your organization’s own work to a wide audience.
“This is a moment that no non-profit should miss,” said Dyanna Knight Lewis, Publisher of the Chicago Defender. “Applause! is about recognizing the heroes who serve our city every day, but it’s also about creating a platform where other organizations can stand beside them, share their missions, and amplify the good they do for Chicago and the Chicagoland area. Your presence in this publication says to the community: we are committed to service, to impact, and to change.”
For more information about sponsorships and ads, visit www.chicagodefender.com/applause2025 or contact Dyanna Knight Lewis, Publisher of the Chicago Defender, directly.
Don’t miss the chance to showcase your non-profit, strengthen your brand, and join in applauding the leaders who make Chicago stronger every day.
