The Chicago Community Trust has helped thousands of Chicago-area nonprofits to improve the life and vitality of our community. The Trust’s expert staff applies this knowledge to a competitive grant making process that seeks to address a wide variety of community needs.
Competitive Funding Opportunities
In summer 2011, following a strategic planning effort, the Trust will launch a revised set of competitive grant priorities. Details and instructions will be posted to the website in late June, and a series of community meetings will give organizations an opportunity to ask questions about the grant process in person.
Capacity Building Assistance
Management and Organizational Development (MOD) grants assist small- and medium-sized nonprofits in response to specific management and operational needs.
SMART Growth is a four-year grant program building strong management practices to strengthen community-based cultural organizations.
Arts Work Fund is a funder collaborative created to help strengthen the management and operations of small arts organizations in the six-county Chicago metropolitan region.
Special Funding Opportunities
African American Legacy grants provide strategic support for organizations working to strengthen the African American family.
Arts Engagement Exchange provides grants to small cultural organizations that have developed new ideas by participating in its Learning Circles.
Asian Giving Circle supports nonprofit organizations which address the challenges facing the Asian-American community.
Chicago Area Foundation for Legal Services' grant-making addresses problems with the availability and quality of legal services for the poor in metropolitan Chicago.
The Lake County Community Foundation focuses its grants on education, economic development, health, the environment, and the needs of the county’s most vulnerable residents.
Nuestro Futuro’s priorities center on Nuestros Niños, a community partnership to support educational excellence for Latino children.
One Chicago, One Nation supports collaborative, intercultural community improvement through its Community Solution Grants.
Springboard Foundation supports small after-school and supplemental education programs, with a focus on disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The Will County Community Foundation supports the county’s nonprofit organizations to address challenges in education, health care, and human services.
Donor Advised Grants
Individuals, families, and organizations that have donor advised funds at the Trust recommend grants from their funds to organizations of their choice. Donor advised funds are not open to requests for support.
