Paving the Path to Homeownership for Housing Choice Voucher Holders
Since the mid-20th century, homeownership has been one of the most important vehicles for building wealth in the United States. According to research from the…
Grants
Featured
Our Grantmaking Strategy
For more than 100 years, The Chicago Community Trust has convened, supported, funded, and accelerated the work of community members and changemakers committed to strengthening the Chicago region. From building up our civic infrastructure to spearheading our response to the Great Recession, the Trust has brought our community together to face pressing challenges and seize our greatest opportunities.
Explore Our Discretionary Grants
Showing 5851–5858 of 4706 results
-
Grant Recipient
NeighborSpace
NeighborSpace seeks a three-year grant of $100,000 per year to support hiring an Urban Agriculture Coordinator: $75,000 will cover salary and fringe benefits for the position; $25,000 will support a portion of salaries for the Executive Director and Assistant Director, who will oversee and collaborate with the position. The Urban Agriculture Coordinator will serve a rapidly growing network of new and existing urban agriculture sites, supporting high-yield community gardens and neighborhood farms at all stages of land acquisition and remediation, design/build activities and business development, and ongoing stewardship.
-
Grant Recipient
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago provides comprehensive early child care and education services and programs designed to strengthen the sector and create a thriving ecosystem. Our work is delivered across Cook County, DuPage County, Lake County, Kane County, and parts of Kendall and Grundy counties.
-
Grant Recipient
Ageoptions Inc
AgeOptions is grateful for the opportunity to request $40,000 in general operating support to sustain and strengthen our mission of advocating for and supporting diverse communities of older adults and caregivers. Amid increasing political and legislative challenges—including proposed funding cuts to the Older Americans Act and efforts to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—this support is critical to advancing our work. The requested funds will be strategically invested across three core initiatives that reflect our unwavering commitment to equity, advocacy, and inclusion: 1. Advocacy and Policy Engagement – $20,000: We will dedicate $20,000 to strengthening our advocacy efforts by equipping older adults and community members with the knowledge and tools to speak out against proposed budget cuts that could eliminate vital services funded by the Older Americans Act. Over the next year, we’ll hold a series of educational presentations in partnership with local organizations to reach more than 500 older adults and caregivers. These sessions will break down complex policy issues and show how they directly impact daily life—meals, information and benefits, services for informal caregivers, health promotion and disease prevention, falls prevention, transportation, and Elder Rights services. To turn knowledge into action, we aim to mobilize our community to send at least 3,000 advocacy emails to local, state, and federal lawmakers. Using our tracking platform, Soft Edge, we’ll ensure every voice is counted and that decision-makers hear directly from the people most affected. 2. Caring Together Living Better (CTLB) – $10,000: We will invest $10,000 in our Caring Together Living Better (CTLB) program, a grassroots effort that connects and uplifts low-income Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx caregivers and older adults in the western suburbs. As national efforts to dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives continue to grow, programs like CTLB are more important than ever. Rooted in community leadership and cultural connection, CTLB provides critical support, advocacy, and resources to those often left out of traditional aging services. With this funding, we aim to deepen our reach by engaging at least 150 additional Black and Latinx caregivers—building power from the ground up and ensuring those most impacted are seen, heard, and supported. 3. Thrive with Pride – $10,000: We will allocate $10,000 to support Thrive with Pride, our community-driven initiative focused on empowering LGBT+ older adults and caregivers. At a time when anti-LGBTQ+ policies are gaining momentum and threatening access to inclusive care, Thrive with Pride creates safe, affirming spaces where older adults can connect, learn, and advocate for their rights. The program also builds bridges between the LGBT+ community and aging service providers through culturally competent training. With this funding, we aim to train at least 200 professionals to better understand and serve LGBT+ older adults—helping ensure that equity, dignity, and respect are at the center of every interaction. This work strengthens a growing coalition of allies and advocates who are committed to inclusive aging for all. Together, these three initiatives—advocacy and education, Caring Together Living Better, and Thrive with Pride—reflect AgeOptions’ deep commitment to equity, grassroots empowerment, and inclusive aging. Each program amplifies the voices of communities that are too often overlooked in policy decisions and aging services. With this $40,000 in general operating support, we will not only sustain critical programming in the face of mounting political and legislative threats but also expand our reach, deepen community engagement, and ensure that older adults and caregivers—regardless of race, income, identity, or background—have the tools, support, and power they need to thrive. This investment will help protect essential services and strengthen a movement built by and for the people most impacted.
-
Grant Recipient
Illinois Collaboration On Youth
The Illinois Collaboration on Youth champions the safety, wellbeing, and success of all Illinois' children, youth, and families by connecting and strengthening the community organizations that serve them and by being a collective voice for policy and practice. Over the next 12 months, we will work to respond to the rapidly changing Federal funding and regulatory environment while remaining true to our mission, values, and guiding principles. We will also work to address the liability insurance crisis that is affecting community-based services to children and youth, and continue our support community organizations to identify and respond to racial disparities in their own work.
-
Grant Recipient
Chicago Latines in Philanthropy
Chicago Latines in Philanthropy (CLIP) is dedicated to enhancing the effectiveness of local philanthropy today and for future generations by investing in Latine talent, facilitating philanthropic partnerships, and fostering fellowship among its members. CLIP seeks funding to deepen our impact in building collective power within Chicago's Latine communities, aligning with the Chicago Community Trust’s focus on addressing inequities and fostering equity and connectivity.
-
Grant Recipient
Heart Women & Girls Project
HEART is requesting $28,000 of general operating funds to support its reproductive justice and gender-based violence prevention programming.
-
Grant Recipient
Equity And Transformation
Equity and Transformation (EAT) requests funding to support our 2025 Public Education Campaign and grassroots organizing work. This initiative targets high-risk communities through a series of 6 teach-ins across Illinois to increase awareness of current employment protections, highlight the outcomes of our Chicago Future Fund (CFF) guaranteed income pilot, and disseminate findings from our Breaking the Chains report. The goal is to reach over 100,000 Illinois residents in Illinois, educate formerly incarcerated individuals (FIP) about their rights under the Illinois Human Rights Act, the possibilities of a permanent guaranteed income fund in the state, and to activate and empower them to take action.
-
Grant Recipient
Family Focus, Inc.
Family Focus serves the needs of children and the adults in their lives, aiming to improve the long-term outcomes for the entire family by supporting them together. Through a holistic approach, the goals of our programs are to ensure children from underserved, under-resourced communities are life-long learners and their parents have the skills, resources and support they need to build social capital and achieve upward economic mobility. For 175 years, across multiple programs, Family Focus affirms the cultural, racial and linguistic identities of each family we serve; mobilizes formal and informal resources to support family development; and creates pathways for each family member to enhance their capacities and long-term well-being.