Policy Change

Chicago thrives when public policies and systems expand opportunity and support the well-being of every community. Lasting progress depends on effective, equitable solutions shaped by evidence, resident experience, and the expertise of organizations working closest to the issues.

The Chicago Community Trust works to make it easier for people across the Chicago region to access economic opportunity, take part in civic life, and benefit from more effective public systems. We do this through research, advocacy, partnerships, community engagement, leadership development and public education — helping residents and institutions work together to solve challenges that affect their communities.

Our Vision

We envision a Chicago region where residents, community organizations, public institutions, and cross-sector partners work together to advance policies and practices that increase economic security, expand household and community wealth, and improve well-being — particularly for communities historically excluded from opportunity.

Achieving this vision requires sustained advocacy, strong partnerships, and learning alongside communities. The Trust draws on research, grantmaking, policy expertise, and the experiences of residents and nonprofit partners to refine its priorities and respond to changes at the local, state and federal levels.

Policy Change: State of the Space

Many barriers to financial stability and economic mobility are rooted in public policies, institutional practices, and systems that have historically limited access to opportunity. These barriers can shape whether families retain home equity, access public benefits, obtain fair financial services, or benefit from public and philanthropic investments.

Policy-driven inequities require policy-driven solutions. Effective reforms are grounded in evidence, resident experience, and the expertise of community-based organizations. They also require sustained advocacy, implementation, and public accountability so that policy changes translate into meaningful improvements in people’s lives.

Where We Focus

Our Policy Change strategy prioritizes reforms that advance the Trust’s goals of increasing household wealth, building community wealth, and addressing critical needs. The Trust also monitors the changing federal landscape and works with partners to understand and respond to its implications for Chicago-area residents and nonprofit organizations.

Our 2026 Policy Agenda focuses on four key priorities: 

  1. Protecting Homeowner Equity: Ensure that property in the tax sale system preserves owners’ earned equity, provides meaningful opportunities to prevent foreclosure, and returns vacant or abandoned property to productive community use.
  2. Improving Government Grantmaking and Procurement: Streamline state processes so public funds reach nonprofit organizations more efficiently, with clearer payment timelines, greater access to advance funding, and stronger transparency and accountability.
  3. Strengthening Public Benefits and Tax Credits: Ensure eligible individuals and families can access the benefits and tax credits needed to meet basic needs and achieve greater economic stability.
  4. Protecting the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector: Safeguard the capacity, independence and resources of nonprofit organizations so they can continue serving communities and advancing the public good.

The Trust supports resident leaders, nonprofit policy organizations, and advocacy coalitions working to identify and remove systemic barriers to opportunity. The Trust also builds public and political will, champions administrative reforms, supports policy implementation, and — when appropriate — engages in lobbying to advance legislation that increases economic security and household and community wealth.

Policy Change Funding

The Trust supports charitable activities that inform public decision-making, strengthen policy and advocacy networks, and improve the capacity of residents and institutions to develop and implement effective solutions:

  • Policy Coalitions: Support nonprofit policy advocates, resident leaders, and community organizers working together on shared priorities that remove barriers to economic opportunity and wealth building.

  • Policy Research and Evaluation: Examine how policies and systems affect residents and communities, evaluate implementation, and develop evidence-informed ideas for reform.

  • Civic and Government Sector Leadership: Develop leaders with the knowledge, relationships and skills to design, advance and implement systems-level solutions that improve community well-being.

In addition to supporting nonprofit advocates, the Trust adds its voice to specific administrative and legislative reforms. Its policy work includes coalition advocacy, lobbying, policy implementation, public education, and accountability efforts that help turn adopted reforms into meaningful benefits for communities.

Previous policy victories the Trust has contributed to: 

  • 2026 Property Tax Sale Reform: Illinois enacted reforms that establish judicial auctions to determine fair market value, return surplus equity to property owners after debts are paid, and extend redemption timelines to help prevent foreclosure. The changes are an important step toward ensuring homeowners are treated more equitably and do not lose wealth beyond what they owe.
  • FRESH and the Illinois Child Tax Credit: The FY27 state budget provides $70 million for Families Receiving Emergency Support for Hunger, which made one-time payments to households losing SNAP benefits because of new work requirements. The budget also maintains $100 million for the Illinois Child Tax Credit, preserving expanded support for eligible families.
  • Government Grantmaking and Procurement Reform: After sustained advocacy, Illinois approved reforms establishing clearer payment timelines, expanding access to advance funding, and increasing transparency and accountability in state partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
  • Legacy Impact through Fair Transfers (LIFT): Illinois passed legislation designed to reduce delays in distributing charitable gifts and strengthen accountability within financial institutions, improving the reliability and efficiency of funding flows to nonprofit organizations.
  • Newborn Equity Support Transfer (NEST): Illinois authorized the Department of Human Services to pilot guaranteed-income programs such as NEST, which is designed to support mothers and newborn children. Dedicated funding remains an important next step for implementation.
  • State Child Tax Credit: More than 800,000 low and middle-income families in Illinois are now eligible for a Child Tax Credit of up to $300. This additional aid reduces financial burdens on families, allowing them to meet their and their children’s basic needs. When the federal government temporarily expanded the child tax credit, child poverty in the United States was cut nearly in half.    
  • Property Tax Sale Reform: Public Act 103-0555, which went into effect on January 1, 2024, closed loopholes in the Illinois Property Tax Sale system that prevent blighted properties from redevelopment and allows local governments to intervene to save abandoned properties.
  • The Illinois Community Reinvestment Act: 205 ILCS 735 strengthens equitable access to banking services and lending, particularly in underinvested communities. 

Collaboration is Needed

Policy change requires collective action. The Trust works alongside residents, nonprofit advocates, researchers, philanthropy, businesses, public officials, and civic leaders to develop, advance, implement, and evaluate reforms that expand opportunity and improve community well-being.

Opportunities to Engage

Partners can engage by supporting policy and advocacy organizations, learning from residents and communities most affected by policy decisions, sharing relevant expertise and data, and participating in coalitions that advance effective and equitable solutions.

Here are opportunities to engage:

  • Advancing Equitable Wealth Policy: A funding initiative that supports organizations that strengthen Chicago’s policy and advocacy network. The Trust funds groups that lead or co-lead coalitions, organize communities, address social safety net issues, or represent those most affected by these challenges. You can advance our grant partners advocacy efforts by learning more about their campaigns and supporting their work.

Our Policy Change Team