Opportunities
All open grant opportunities through The Chicago Community Trust will be developed in the months ahead and shared here.
Current Funding Opportunities
| Building Pathways to Stability: Essential Services – Addressing Critical Needs | The Trust supports essential service organizations that address the critical needs of individuals and families. |
| Inclusive Business Practices – Fund for Equitable Business Growth | The Fund for Equitable Business Growth invests in a coordinated network of business service organizations (BSOs) advancing proven and promising strategies that support entrepreneurs of color to accomplish this work. |
| Open Call for Ideas – Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment | Calling all innovators: Share your ideas for bringing more financial capital to disinvested communities. |
| Flexible Funding Program – Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment | Flexible grants to help community-based groups grow their ability to attract neighborhood investment capital. |
| Pre-Development Fund – Catalyzing Neighborhood Development | For real estate developers working in Black and Latinx neighborhoods at a crucial project stage: pre-development. |
| Our Great Rivers – Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment | The Trust established the Our Great Rivers Fund to promote and advance Great Rivers Chicago and, more specifically, to inspire and engage donors and stakeholders in this work. |
| The Supporting Exemplary Leaders & Freedom Fighters (SELFF) Care Sabbatical – Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation | The SELFF Care Sabbatical provides Black and Latinx women with an essential, much-needed break for rest and renewal. |
| Sponsorships | Sponsorships are available for programming events, such as meetings, panels, forums and conferences. We also consider fundraising events, such as galas and walk-a-thons, on a limited basis. |
Partnerships & Initiatives
In addition to our own discretionary grants, the Trust has also created many special initiatives and partnerships that retain their unique identity through independent grant making.
Click here to learn more about our Partnerships & Initiatives.
Eligibility
The Trust funds nonprofit agencies with evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code that are not classified as private foundations. We also accept applications from agencies that have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.
Each grant opportunity will have its own additional criteria for funding.
As a community foundation, the Trust’s grants are awarded to organizations that benefit residents of the Chicago region. There may on occasion be a specific initiative that awards a grant to a project that extends beyond our region, but these are rare and strategic exceptions.
The Trust does not provide discretionary funding to projects or organizations outside of the United States.
How to Apply
The Trust offers funding to support our strategic priorities. Explore our grant application process.
How to ApplyOur Strategic Plan
We’ve made a 10-year commitment to closing Chicago’s racial and ethnic wealth gap.
Our Work