The Junior League of Evanston-North Shore is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

In our 100+ year history, JLE-NS has contributed over $3.2 million to the community through projects and programs. Over the years, net proceeds from our fundraisers have supported our League’s focus of supporting women, children, and families. Our goal is to improve local issues that impact Chicago’s Northern Suburbs and beyond.

Our Slogan: Developing Women to Do a World of Good

Our Mission:  The Junior League of Evanston-North Shore is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.

Our Vision:  To train our members to support local needs in the community.

Our Values: To welcome all women regardless of age, race, religion, ethnic or national origin who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism.

Our Impact Statement: The Junior League of Evanston-North Shore is a volunteer nonprofit that develops women leaders to strengthen our community.

Our Focus:  Women, children & families

Our Impact Areas: Food Security, Advancing Education, and Economic Stability

Throughout the years, we have supported the following areas:

Domestic violence

The JLE-NS helped to establish Mary Lou’s Place, a domestic violence shelter in Evanston that serves over 550 women and children annually. We also renovated the first floor of the shelter in more recent years. We are also proud to partner with WINGS to provide housing, integrated services, education, and advocacy to help end domestic violence. In addition, JLE-NS has supported other North Shore area shelters with monetary grants.

Secondary education

The rising cost of secondary education makes it difficult, if not impossible, for some families to afford college. The JLE-NS eases this burden by providing Scholarships to deserving attendees of area schools who are in need of financial assistance. Past recipients have included students at Evanston Township High School, New Trier Township High School, Oakton Community College, National Louis University, and more.

Healthy, Happy Families

Parenthood is stressful enough, but low-income women and families face additional challenges. Without access to key resources, information, and supplies, these families and their children are often at risk. Over the years, JLE-NS has supported these families through programs such as our Baby Steps Baby Shower and Diaper Drive. These initiatives are geared to provide needed tools and materials to help low-income parents raise happy and healthy children. This, in turn, results in less stress on the families, a stronger bond between parents and children, and also positively affects child development.

Economic Self-Sufficiency

It can be difficult for low-income women to enter the workforce without key resources – specifically interview and work-appropriate clothing for themselves and diapers for their children. Our Fitting Futures program and Diaper Drive have helped to fill these gaps so that women in need can find a job, maintain employment, and provide for themselves and their families.

Additional causes

There are hundreds of nonprofit organizations that are dependent upon donations to provide necessary services to our community. JLE-NS helps support these causes through our Community Grants program by awarding local nonprofit organizations with monetary grants each year.