Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors
The Chicago region has a long and valued tradition of community organizations working alongside government to deliver essential services and enhance residents’ lives.…
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
The Chicago region has a long and valued tradition of community organizations working alongside government to deliver essential services and enhance residents’ lives.…
Individual giving remains the driving force behind philanthropy in the United States. Even amid market uncertainty, giving increased by 3.3 percent in 2024…
Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, provides young professionals with an innovative way to make a difference in Chicago…
As Chicago neighborhoods continue to evolve, long-time residents face challenges to remain in communities they’ve helped shape. Research has shown that for many South and…
In Chicago, one in five households currently experiences food insecurity, a challenge that is even more prominent in underinvested South and West Side communities, many…
The Amplification Fund is an opportunity for donors to participate directly in the Trust’s grantmaking and join a community of philanthropists with similar goals. Donors…
Because we believe our region can’t truly thrive until all communities are free from violence, the Trust is proud to support SC2 (Scaling Community Violence Intervention…
While homelessness in the U.S. increased by 18.1% in 2024, Chicago’s numbers more than tripled. This staggering increase stems from many factors, including a lack of…
As the federal government cuts funding and programs that support essential services, such as closing the Chicago-based Midwest regional office of the Department of Health…
Since 2021, more than 150 guaranteed income pilots have launched across 35 states across the U.S., aiding upwards of 55,000 people. Between 2022 and 2024*,…
A Q&A with Edwin Tobar and Mariah Van Ermen The Trust established the Flexible Funding program in 2020 to fund key community development organizations whose…
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…
The Chicago region’s household wealth gap is stark, stifling the entire region’s economic potential. According to the Color of Wealth in Chicago, the median net…