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Since 2013
This is what 100% of profits looks like:
Every dollar raised and every item sold goes right back into strengthening our community.
OUR NON-PROFIT MISSION
North Shore Exchange is a nonprofit organization that primarily supports Chicagoland charities serving individuals and families experiencing poverty through a unique combination of luxury consignment, designer shopping, and volunteerism.
Our vision is to be a major contributor to alleviating the trauma of poverty in Chicagoland with a sustainable community of volunteers, consignors, customers and staff.
Discover how we give backWhat your purchase, consignment, or donation actually does
Resale dollars are easy to talk about in the abstract. Here's what a few real purchases translate to on the ground.
When a luxury handbag sells, grants to housing partners help provide families with a stable place to stay.
Fine jewelry sales fund mental health care for people who might otherwise go without it.
When you shop or sell art with us, the profit goes directly to families in need across Chicagoland.
A single dining room table can fund thousands of dollars' worth of medical care for those in need.
*Impact examples reflect typical purchase values and our nonprofit partners' cost estimates.
Where the money goes
Since 2013, NSE grants have fallen into one of seven categories — the same causes our shoppers, consignors, and donors are funding every day.
- 33% Hunger
- 20% Domestic Violence
- 13% Homelessness
- 12% Social Services
- 11% Healthcare
- 7% Education
- 4% Elderly Care
One hundred percent of our profits support Chicagoland charities providing services for children and families experiencing poverty, as well as our own Family Service of Glencoe. Thanks to our shoppers, consignors and donors, we have given away $6,000,000 in grants, and much more via in-kind giving, to well-deserving charities since we opened in 2013.
North Shore Exchange is proud to grant $750,000 this year to support Chicagoland organizations focused on addressing the critical needs of hunger, homelessness and abuse affecting families, individuals and children in our region living at or below the poverty level.
13 years. One mission. 50+ nonprofits funded.
Since 2013, NSE has granted to nonprofits across Chicagoland fighting poverty, hunger, homelessness, and abuse. Explore who we've funded, year by year.
- Barr-Harris Children's Grief Center
- Between Friends
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
- BUILD
- Cara
- Care for Real
- Casa Central
- CASA Cook County
- CASA Lake County
- Center for Changing Lives
- Chicago Debate Commission
- Chicago Furniture Bank
- Children's Advocacy Center
- Children's Research Triangle
- Connections for Abused Women and their Children
- Connections for the Homeless
- Curt's Café
- EMBARC
- Family Focus
- Family Promise Chicago North Shore
- Family Service of Glencoe
- Fenix Family Health Center
- Fill a Heart 4 Kids
- Greater Chicago Food Depository
- Growing Home
- Highland Park Community Foundation
- HOME
- Howard Area Community Center
- Illinois Fire Safety Alliance
- Infant Welfare Society of Chicago
- Inspiration Corporation
- James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
- JOURNEYS | The Road Home
- La Casa Norte
- Lawrence Hall
- Margaret's Village
- North Pointe Resources
- North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
- Northern Illinois Food Bank
- Northwestern Settlement
- Nourishing Hope, formerly Lakeview Pantry
- Old Irving Park Community Clinic
- RefugeeOne
- Sarah's Circle
- Share Our Spare
- The Chicago Lighthouse
- The Harbour
- The Night Ministry
- Uptown People's Law Center
- WINGS
- YWCA Evanston
- Youth & Opportunity United
SEE WHERE YOUR 2026 IMPACT GOES
GRANTS & PARTNERSHIPS
HOW YOU CAN HELP
In 2012, Lois Scheyer approached her good friend Wendy Serrino with four words: “I have an idea!”
Her vision: transform the Glencoe Thrift Shop into a luxury consignment shop that would give all its profits to charity. Wendy loved the idea—a new way to raise money for nonprofits through the sale of beautiful things.
Together, they brought the idea to life. North Shore Exchange opened in 2013, uniting luxury resale, volunteer service, and charitable giving to support Chicagoland neighbors facing poverty.
Our philanthropy board
NSE's Philanthropy Board guides how and where our grant dollars are awarded each year, ensuring every gift reaches the Chicagoland families and nonprofits who need it most.
- Stephanie Barry
- Ginny Burnstine
- Elaine Duckler
- Janet Eden
- Eileen Fahey
- Franni Freeman
- Pkaye Hanifee
- Emily Hilger
- Sheila Moller
North Shore Exchange is an independent, volunteer-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. When you shop, consign, or donate with us, you're making a difference in the lives of Chicagoland children and families in need.
Join us! Share your time and talents, meet new people, and feel great giving back to our neighbors in need. We can't wait to have you as a part of our team.
What we stand for
Clear criteria for the nonprofits we support — and the ones outside our scope.
We fund
- ＋Organizations that provide essential services to individuals and families experiencing poverty
- ＋Organizations with 501(c)(3) status
- ＋Organizations primarily serving the Chicagoland area
- ＋Organizations reporting between $600,000 to $15 million in total revenue, except food banks
- ＋Organizations operating for at least 3 years
We do not fund
- –Faith-based organizations
- –Charter schools
- –Political advocacy
- –Multi-state organizations that do not primarily serve Chicagoland
