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.…
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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Bob Crawford’s Journey from Business Leader to Philanthropic Changemaker
Individual giving remains the driving force behind philanthropy in the United States. Even amid market uncertainty, giving increased by 3.3 percent in 2024…
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Young Leaders Fund Awards $100,000 in Community-Based Grants
Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, provides young professionals with an innovative way to make a difference in Chicago…
“Grantmaking” Stories
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Sustainable Solutions for Housing Stability: Fulfilling Underserved Housing Needs
Amid an affordable housing shortage, skyrocketing rent, and COVID-era protections disappearing, rising homelessness has become one of the most prominent issues this decade. According to…
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A Collaborative Approach to Impact
The Trust is committed to collecting data and applying what we learn to bring people together, spark innovation, and inform decision-making. We also seek to…
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Committed to Solving Homelessness
Responding to Chicagoans’ urgent needs has always been a vital part of the Trust’s mission — and right now, one of the most pressing needs…
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Community Voices + Policy Change Are Powering Neighborhood Investment
For over 20 years, Florence Spann and her husband have spent their time and resources maintaining not just their own property (a two-story corner home…
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The Changemakers Network: Four Years of Coalition and Trust-Building
In 2020, The Chicago Community Trust launched the Changemakers Network to bolster grassroots organizations and groups organizing around issues that mattered most in their communities.…
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Building a Network of Diverse Developers
City environments are made up of buildings, transit stations, streets, parks, and other man-made structures. Also called the “built environment,” these systems shape our lives…
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Advancing Equitable Wealth Policy: Building on Three Years of Coalition Work and Policy Wins
Recognizing the important role systems and policy change play in closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap, The Chicago Community Trust launched the Coalitions for…
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Leveraging Education, Quality Work Opportunities, and Financial Health to Increase Income for Workers of Color
Higher education is often viewed as a stepping stone for economic mobility and building long-term wealth. However, research shows that the high costs of student…
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Creating Systems-Level Change to Improve How People Receive Social Services
Since our inception, The Chicago Community Trust has supported the health and human services sector. From our very first grant to United Charities of Chicago…
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Stories of Impact 2022: Direct Cash Assistance
Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash from nonprofits…
