Stories of Impact 2022: We Rise Together
In the wake of the pandemic and the inequities it exposed, the philanthropic community has the chance to make transformational investments to strengthen…
For the past 100+ years, The Chicago Community Trust has brought donors, nonprofits, caring residents, and business and civic leaders together to address our region’s most pressing needs – from the Great Depression to the Great Recession to the pandemic to now.
The Trust knows the pathway to realizing aspirations can seem daunting. Allowing ourselves to ask “what if” opens our mindset to new ideas and solutions. When we question what is possible, we invite everyone to imagine their role in building a more equitable and prosperous Chicago region.
In our 2022 Annual Report, the Trust honors accomplishments and embraces curiosity as our guide to even greater impact. With each step forward, our vision takes shape. With the right investments, it becomes clear that we are building a stronger future together.
$277M+
Awarded to Nonprofits Serving the Chicago Region
$1.7M
By the Trust’s Affinity Funds
$2.4M
To the Trust’s Unity Fund
52%
In Donor Advised Fund Grantmaking in the Region
30%
In Affinity Fund Grantmaking
90%
In Giving to Unity Fund
2022 Annual Report
In the wake of the pandemic and the inequities it exposed, the philanthropic community has the chance to make transformational investments to strengthen long-disinvested communities and, in turn, the entire Chicago region. We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery is a funder collaborative working in partnership with community members to address the urgent economic needs of Black and Latine communities.
Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash from nonprofits to community members, guaranteed income programs, and even tax credits. We were proud to support key opportunities to lead the nation is providing direct cash assistance to Chicagoans in 2022.
Proximity to reliable transit makes a big difference for the well-being of people and communities—physically, socially, and economically. Good policies and leadership can help us get there. The Trust’s Elevated Chicago Initiative teamed up with over 80 local organizations to support the Connected Communities Ordinance, which will generate 200,000 new jobs in the next decade.
Since COVID-19 and the shift to remote and hybrid learning, computer and internet access have become more essential than ever to getting a post-secondary education. But for many Chicago students, acquiring such tools can pose a financial hurdle. In 2021, City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) launched the Student Tech Equity Fund — a $3 million philanthropic collaboration that is supercharging CCC’s commitment to closing the digital divide.
More than a roof over heads, homeownership is a critical tool for helping families increase their financial security, build wealth, and pass it down to the next generation. In the past two years, the Trust’s homeownership grants have helped over 700 households become homeowners and prevented over 1,300 foreclosures.
Launched in January 2023, 211 Metro Chicago is a free helpline connecting residents of Chicago and suburban Cook County to a wide range of essential services. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, individuals can call, text, or go online to be connected to food pantries, homeless shelters, mental health counseling, rental assistance, and much more.
In the wake of the pandemic and the inequities it exposed, the philanthropic community has the chance to make transformational investments to strengthen…
More than a roof over heads, homeownership is a critical tool for helping families increase their financial security, build wealth, and pass it…
Proximity to reliable transit makes a big difference for the well-being of people and communities — physically, socially, and economically. Good policies and…
Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash…
Chicagoans facing difficult situations now have a dedicated resource to contact for help. Launched in January 2023, 211 Metro Chicago is a free…
Computers and internet access are today’s equivalent of pen and paper. But the digital divide has increased barriers to education, threatening our region’s…
No matter your goals, the Trust can help you translate your charitable vision into an effective giving strategy.
To connect with one of our philanthropic advisors, contact Kristin Carlson Vogen at kvogen@cct.org.
Padma Venkatesan immigrated to the U.S. from India as a child. As her parents worked to build a life in a new country,…
PepsiCo’s history in Chicago goes back nearly 100 years. Today, its operations in the region include Frito-Lay, PepsiCo Beverages North America, Quaker Oats,…
Susan Bart is an estate planning attorney and wealth advisor at ArentFox Schiff. When it comes to her own philanthropy, Bart’s approach is…
Morgan Olenski grew up in a world that’s more connected than ever before. Yet, this young philanthropist is constantly asking herself what she…
At a young age, Mary Richardson-Lowry’s grandmother, a social worker and missionary, taught her that philanthropy can manifest in many ways. From providing…
For more than 100 years, many donors who want their love for Chicago to be reflected in their legacy have chosen to make…
We invite you below to view and download our past annual reports and explore highlights from the Chicago region.
2021 | All of Us. We all have the power to take action that makes our Chicago region better for all. | |
2020 | We Are Greater Than. 2020 was a year like no other—one that tested each of us as individuals, and our region as a whole, in ways many had never imagined before. | |
2019 | Equity. Opportunity. Prosperity. These three words encapsulate perfectly what The Chicago Community Trust stands for. | |
2018 | Change in the Making. At The Chicago Community Trust, contributing to positive change is the reason we exist. | |
2017 | The Power of We. The power to reach. The power to dream. The power to build, uplift, and create. The power to move the immovable, to align our reality to the best of our ideals. |