Feeding Change in Our Region
The Chicago Region Food System Fund is a group of funders and community partners working together to build a more resilient local food…
Stories
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent Stories
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Cultivating a Bright Future in Little Village
Little Village, or La Villita, has a long history of welcoming immigrant communities, starting with the German, Czech and Polish residents who flocked…
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Boosting Impact: The Amplification Fund
The Amplification Fund is an opportunity for donors to participate directly in the Trust’s grantmaking and join a community of philanthropists with similar…
“Experts & Opinions” Stories
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Chicago is Primed for Creative and Targeted Home Lending Solutions
The beauty of Chicago is that every person, every place, and every home has a story. And while my personal story didn’t begin here, it…
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Listening, Learning and Leaning In
Trust’s refined strategic priorities reflect what we’ve learned and heard from our partners I came to the Trust a little over a year ago with…
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People, Power and Policy: Building the Foundation of Our Work
When The Chicago Community Trust set its North Star goal to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap as the best way to strengthen the…
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Making Great Things Happen by Connecting People to Purpose
Over my three decades in philanthropy, I have learned so much from donors and nonprofit leaders about generosity and commitment. A theme that continues to…
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It’s Systemic Barriers, Not Individual Choices, that Prevent Black and Latine Households from Building Wealth
When the Trust committed to working to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap for Chicagoans, we knew we would need robust data to better…
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From Latinx to Latine: How We Are Evolving Alongside Our Community
As a community foundation, listening and learning from our partners is critical to our work. This type of organizational reflection enables us to improve how we…
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How The Chicago Community Trust is Using Data to Drive Change
Businesses routinely use data analysis to make investment decisions and measure the results. More and more, philanthropic organizations are using the same data to help…
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Engaging Grassroots Organizations Are Essential for Large-Scale Impact
Have you ever encountered a situation that filled you with triumph, grace, and determination, or experienced someone’s passion in a way that reignited your own?…
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Property Tax Sales Reform: What it Means & What’s Next
Public Act 103-0555, which reforms the Illinois Property Tax Sale system by closing loopholes that prevent blighted properties from redevelopment and allowing local governments to…
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On Community Impact: A Q&A with Marisa Novara
Community Foundation Week (November 12-18) is an annual, national campaign celebrating the role local philanthropy plays in empowering positive social and economic community change. In this Q&A,…
