Sponsorships

Application Opens: August 26, 2026
Application Deadline: September 21, 2026
Disbursements: November 2026

Background

Across Chicago, deep disparities in financial health and access to opportunity make it difficult for financially vulnerable neighbors to thrive. Persistent gaps in income, education, access to capital, housing, and neighborhood conditions continue to limit economic mobility and community well-being.

The Chicago Community Trust works to expand economic opportunity and strengthen communities across the Chicago region by addressing barriers that limit financial stability, housing access, and neighborhood investment.

This work serves the public interest by reducing economic hardship, strengthening neighborhoods, and promoting the well-being of individuals, families and communities. 

Need/Opportunity Statement 

For many nonprofit organizations, public events are essential to raising funds, implementing programs, and building communities.

The Chicago Community Trust dedicates a portion of its discretionary grantmaking budget to sponsor events for organizations or programs that strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address critical needs of the most vulnerable in Chicago. To be considered for funding, an event must be produced by an eligible organization that is located in or primarily serving Cook County.

This opportunity will support events taking place in November and December 2026, and January 2027.

Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how their event aligns with the Trust commitment to convene people, partners and organizations, address the needs of our community, and support initiatives for long-term change. Organizations should showcase how the event uplifts community-driven solutions, amplifies resident voices, supports inclusive development, creates spaces for collaboration, or promotes innovative approaches to homeownership or income growth for vulnerable residents and underinvested communities.

Grantmaking Criteria 

Priority will be given to organizations and events located in Chicago or Cook County that most clearly align with and advance the goals mentioned above. We further prioritize organizations with annual budgets under $1M and those that do not currently have a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.

Goals & Outcomes

Sponsorship grants are intended to support events that advance The Chicago Community Trust’s commitment to strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address the critical needs of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents. Through this funding opportunity, the Trust seeks to achieve the following goals and outcomes:

1. Advance Economic Mobility and Opportunity: Promote events that highlight innovative solutions, partnerships and strategies related to income growth, workforce development, entrepreneurship, homeownership, and financial well-being.
2. Strengthen Community Voice and Leadership: Support events that elevate resident perspectives, particularly from underinvested communities, and create meaningful opportunities for engagement and dialogue.
3. Foster Cross-Sector Collaboration: Encourage convenings that bring together nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, business, and community leaders to share knowledge, align strategies, and build partnerships for long-term impact.
4. Address Critical and Emerging Community Needs: Support programming that increases awareness, mobilizes resources, and catalyzes action around pressing challenges affecting vulnerable residents in Chicago and Cook County.

Eligible Applicants 

To be eligible for a grant award, an applicant must be: 

• A nonprofit organization with evidence that it: (a) has been recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as an organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Code; (b) is fiscally sponsored by a Section 501(c)(3) organization; or, (c) is a governmental unit within the meaning of Section 170(c)(1) of the Code.
• Located within or primarily serving residents of Chicago or Cook County. 
• Applicants without 501(c)(3) status must identify a fiscal sponsor before applying and ask that sponsor to complete and certify an organization profile in The Chicago Community Trust’s grants management system, GrantCentral, linked here.

Ineligible Uses 

Sponsorships are not available for:  

• Electioneering, lobbying, or political activities
• Contributions to any candidate for public office or political committee
• Campaigning on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office
• Grants to individuals
• Sports teams
• Religious activities
• Events already sponsored with an existing Trust grant. This includes multi-year grant agreements that are still currently active.
• Programs or activities that violate any applicable federal, state, or local laws, including, but not limited to any programs or activities that violate antidiscrimination laws
• Promoting or supporting terrorist activities or to promote terrorism
• Any purpose that is not consistent with the charitable purposes of The Chicago Community Trust/Foundation