Marisa Novara Tapped to Lead Community Impact at The Chicago Community Trust

CHICAGO (July 31, 2023) – The Chicago Community Trust today announced that Marisa Novara will serve as vice president of community impact, leading the team that develops and implements strategic initiatives and grant making to reduce the racial and ethnic wealth gap and address critical needs in the Chicago region.

Novara brings over 25 years of experience engaging with communities to develop innovative programs that respond to their needs and drive policy change. With experience in the nonprofit and government sectors, she has worked to understand and address barriers to economic opportunity facing Chicago communities and build partnerships across sectors in pursuit of lasting change.

Novara recently served as Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Housing. She led the passage of nine bills in three years, including efforts to increase opportunities for developers and contractors of color to participate in and build wealth by creating affordable housing.

“Marisa’s leadership in developing and advocating for solutions that improve economic opportunity in Chicago positions her to build on the work of our passionate and dedicated community impact team,” said Andrea Sáenz, president & CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. “She understands the issues and has built relationships with and among communities, nonprofits, government, and business to advance effective reforms.”

Before joining the city, Novara was Vice President of the Metropolitan Planning Council, where she spearheaded the groundbreaking Cost of Segregation Project. The 2017 study calculates how racial and economic segregation costs the Chicago region an estimated $4.4 billion in additional income each year. Following the report, she led a cross-sector coalition of Chicago-area leaders to develop a comprehensive set of recommendations to advance a more racially equitable future.

“I have spent most of my career working to make Chicago’s communities thriving, livable and affordable, especially for those most in need,” Marisa Novara said. “Joining the Trust is an opportunity to continue that work with a dynamic team, keep advancing policy change, and make a meaningful difference in our region. The Trust’s understanding of the importance of reducing the racial and ethnic wealth gap and commitment to addressing wealth inequity is crucial for our region’s future. I’m ready for the challenge.”

About The Chicago Community Trust
The Chicago Community Trust is a community foundation dedicated to building a Chicago region where equity is central—and opportunity and prosperity are within reach for all. For over 100 years, the Trust has brought donors, nonprofits, residents, and business and civic leaders together to respond to our region’s most pressing needs. From the Great Depression to the Great Recession to our current efforts to reduce the racial and ethnic wealth gap, we are committed to effecting lasting change that moves our entire region forward while remaining steadfast in addressing critical needs and connecting philanthropy to impact. Thanks to our generous donors, in the fiscal year 2022, more than 7,000 organizations received more than $1.5 billion in funding from the Trust and affiliated donor advised funds. To learn more, visit www.cct.org.