Our History

For more than 100 years, the Trust has united generous donors, committed nonprofits, and caring residents to effect lasting change.

Bronzeville. Photo Credit: Clayton Hauck

Overview

As one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations, The Chicago Community Trust has a long, rich history of cultivating philanthropic support to address our region’s most pressing needs. Explore our beginnings, and learn how we’ve stayed true to our roots while evolving to meet today’s needs in pursuit of a brighter future for all.

1915

1916

1920

1932

1941

1961

1964

1976

1978

1983

1984

1988

1990

1990

2008

2014

2015

2019

2020

2021

Where We Are Now

In 2019, we launched a ten-year strategic plan focused on addressing the region’s racial and ethnic wealth gap. The three-part strategy to close this gap centers around growing household wealth, catalyzing neighborhood investment and building collective power. In addition to this work, the Trust will continue to address the critical needs of the region and maximize the impact of philanthropic giving.

From the Archives: 1976 — George E. Johnson, Sr.

“From the Archives” explores highlights from The Chicago Community Trust’s archives showcasing unique moments and milestones from its 100+ year history in the Chicago region. Stay tuned throughout the year for more stories.

Through the Years:
Our Presidents & CEOs

  • Albert Harris

    Founder, 1915

  • Reverend Arthur J. Francis

    1916-1917

  • Frank Loomis

    1920-1949

  • James Brown IV

    1949-1973

  • Bruce Newman

    1973-1999

  • Donald M. Stewart

    2000-2004

  • Terry Mazany

    2004-2017

  • Helene Gayle

    2017-2022

  • Andrea Sáenz

    2022-Present

Current Executive Committee Members

  • James Reynolds, Jr.

    2016-Present

  • Luis P. Nieto, Jr.

    2016-Present

  • Martin Cabrera, Jr.

    2017-Present

  • Renetta E. McCann

    2019-Present

  • Steven Koch

    2019-Present

  • Bryan Traubert

    2019-Present

  • Anne Ladky

    2019-Present

  • Ethan Meers

    2019-Present

  • Omar Duque

    2020-Present

  • Margie Stineman

    2020-Present

  • Sandra Cordova Micek

    2022-Present

  • Terry Peterson

    2021-Present

  • Heather A. Steans

    2021-Present

  • Connie L. Lindsey

    2022-Present

  • Brett Hart

    2023-Present

  • Jesse Ruiz

    2009-2016, 2023-Present

  • Gretchen Crosby Sims

    2023-Present

Past Executive Committee Members

  • Charles Henry Markham

    1916-1919

  • Clifford W. Barnes

    1916-1944

  • Bernard A. Eckhart

    1916-1930

  • Charles S. Cutting

    1916-1936

  • Abel Davis

    1916-1936

  • Eugene J. Buffington

    1919-1937

  • Edward L. Ryerson, Jr.

    1931-1958

  • Robert Douglas Stuart

    1936-1950

  • Harold Higgins Swift

    1936-1955

  • Merle J. Trees

    1938-1953

  • George Baldwin McKibbin

    1939-1941

  • Hermon Dunlap Smith

    1939-1972

  • Edward K. Welles

    1941-1970

  • Frank L. Sulzberger

    1944-1953

  • James H. Douglas, Jr.

    1950-1953

  • Henry Favill Tenney

    1953-1962

  • William R. Odell

    1953-1969

  • Mortimer B. Harris

    1953-1971

  • Edward D. McDougal, Jr.

    1955-1968

  • Florence Lowden Miller

    1959-1970

  • Philip D. Block, Jr.

    1962-1978

  • Gaylord Donnelley

    1968-1979

  • Robert W. Reneker

    1969-1981

  • Donald S. Perkins

    1970-1977

  • Barbara Austin Foote

    1970-1985

  • Emory Williams, Sr.

    1971-1983

  • Thomas G. Ayers

    1973-1983

  • J. Ira Harris

    1975-1990

  • George E. Johnson, Sr.

    1976-1979

  • Nora Ryerson Ranney

    1978-1983

  • Brooks McCormick

    1978-1988

  • Charles E. Lomax

    1979-1986

  • James Beré

    1979-1992

  • Blaine Yarrington

    1981-1989

  • Reverend Kenneth B. Smith

    1983-1997

  • Franklin Cole

    1983-1993

  • Eunice Hale Smith

    1983-1994

  • Margaret MacKimm

    1985-1995

  • Arthur R. Velasquez, Jr.

    1986-1990

  • James J. Brice

    1988-1993

  • Edgar Jannotta

    1988-1995

  • Judith Stofer Block

    1988-1998

  • Shirley Welsh Ryan

    1988-1998

  • Margaret Dunne Hartigan

    1989-1999

  • Cordell Reed

    1989-1999

  • William M. Daley

    1990-1995

  • Richard Morrow

    1991-1996

  • Eugene Tracy

    1992-1997

  • Ormand Wade

    1993-1998

  • Virginia F. Ojeda

    1993-2002

  • Milton Davis

    1994-2001

  • Lewis Manilow

    1995-2000

  • Homer Livingston, Jr.

    1996-2003

  • Sue Gin

    1996-2006

  • James J. Glasser

    1996-2007

  • Mercedes Laing

    1997-2007

  • John Nichols

    1997-2004

  • Prudence Beidler

    1998-2008

  • Martin Koldyke

    1998-2005

  • Heather Morgan Bilandic Black

    1998-2008

  • Marshall Field V

    1999-2009

  • Martin Castro

    1999-2001, 2011-2016

  • Cynthia Mitchell

    2000-2002

  • Quintin E. Primo III

    2001-2011

  • Adela Cepeda

    2001-2011

  • John Canning, Jr.

    2003-2013

  • Jack Greenberg

    2003-2013

  • Judy Erwin

    2003-2013

  • Maria Bechily

    2004-2014

  • King Harris

    2005-2015

  • Frank Clark

    2006-2016

  • Paula Hannaway Crown

    2006-2011

  • John Catlin

    2007-2017

  • Audrey Peeples

    2007-2017

  • Michael Ferro, Jr.

    2008-2018

  • Denise Gardner

    2008-2018

  • Michael Tang

    2009-2017

  • Christopher Kennedy

    2010-2015

  • Shawn Donnelley

    2011-2020

  • David Herro

    2011-2012

  • Carole Brown

    2013-2016

  • John Rowe

    2014-2017

  • Michael Reinsdorf

    2015-2017

  • Robert Mariano

    2016-2017

  • William Strong

    2017-2018

  • James O’Connor

    2017-2019

  • Carol Lavin Bernick

    2017-2020

  • Cari Sacks

    2018-2019

  • Gloria Castillo

    2019-2020

  • Leslie Bluhm

    2013-2023

  • Mary B. Richardson-Lowry

    2013-2023

  • Linda S. Wolf

    2013-2023

The Wealth Gap

The work to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap will not happen overnight, but in partnership with donors, nonprofits, community members, business leaders, and local government, it can be done. We hope you will join us on this journey.

Learn More

Our Strategic Plan

The Trust brings together generous donors, committed organizations, and caring residents to effect lasting change that makes our region better for all. We’ve made a 10-year commitment to closing Chicago’s racial and ethnic wealth gap.

Our Work