Sponsorships

Application Opens: July 30, 2025                                   
Application Deadline: September 3, 2025
Disbursements: Late October 2025

Background

For many organizations, events are essential to raising funds, implementing programs, and building community. The Chicago Community Trust dedicates a portion of its discretionary grantmaking budget to sponsoring programming events. Sponsorship applications for funding from the Trust’s Community Impact Department are reviewed are reviewed twice a year, in alignment with summer and fall event seasons. To be considered for funding, an event must be produced by an eligible organization that is located in the Chicago region. 

Eligible organization types include: 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations, and organizations that have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.  

Need/Opportunity Statement 

Sponsorships are available for programming events, such as meetings, panels, forums, and conferences. We also provide sponsorships for fundraising events, such as galas, walk-a-thons, etc. on a limited basis. 

Grantmaking Criteria 

To be considered for funding, an event must be produced by a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization or organization that has a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. The applying organization must be located in the Chicago region or be producing an event in the Chicago region.  

Sponsorships are limited to one award per organization in any 12-month period. All requests are subject to the availability of resources. Requests up to $10,000 will be considered. The average sponsorship award is $5,000. 

Eligible Applicants 

Preference for sponsorships will be given, but not limited, to:  

• Organizations that achieve some alignment with the Trust’s mission or work. To view our new strategic direction, please visit: https://www.cct.org/about/strategic-plan/. 
• We will prioritize applications from organizations we are not currently funding.  

Ineligible Uses 

Sponsorships are not available for:  

• Sports teams  
• Political campaigns  
• Religious activities  
• Events already sponsored with an existing Trust grant. This includes multi-year grant agreements that are still currently active. 

Submission Deadlines & Key Dates

The next application window will open on July 30, 2025 with a deadline of September 3, 2025.

You may submit a request at any time in this application window. Please submit your request 2-3 months before your event, to be sure that it can realistically be funded if selected. Do not submit your request earlier than 4 months before your event is scheduled to take place.

How to Apply

The Trust awards grants to organizations whose work is consistent with our mission and our current priorities. Learn about the application process and eligibility.

How to Apply

What We Fund

Our grants are not just checks, not just points on a map. Our grants are lifelines, connecting individual donors with people and families striving for a better life.

What We Fund