Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2025
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the power of collective giving. Since its founding in 2008 at the height…
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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Financial Health in Cook County: Why it Matters and How Policy Impacts Financial Well-Being
In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust, with support from JPMorganChase, commissioned the Financial Health Network to update the findings of its Financial Health…
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Responding to Chicago’s Urgent Needs in 2025
As the region’s community foundation, The Chicago Community Trust exists to respond to the needs of our region and the people who call…
All Stories
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Paving Different Paths to the Desired Result
In 2013, I was teaching cross multiplication to my Algebra II students when I noticed one child getting frustrated at how I did the work.…
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Affinity Funds: Philanthropy through Shared Identity, Community, and Purpose
The first time I heard of The Chicago Community Trust was in 2015, when the nonprofit I worked for received a grant from the Asian…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast - Episode 10: Creating a Lasting Legacy for the Chicago Region
In this episode of the Trust Talks podcast, we explore how the Trust’s endowment and bequests made decades ago continue to address the most pressing issues…
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Giving Without Recognition: How Anonymous Donors Are Helping the Trust Make an Impact
Individuals and families have turned to The Chicago Community Trust for decades to make their philanthropic dreams a reality. From impact investing to field of…
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The Future of Our City Depends on All of Us, and It Is Time to Redouble Our Efforts
Chicago is a city with limitless potential. We are the center of the nation’s transportation network, headquarters to diverse Fortune 500 companies, and we have…
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LGBTQ Community Fund Grants Support Community Safety and Employment
The LGBTQ Community Fund (the Fund), an affinity Fund of the Trust, unites donors to support Chicago’s LGBTQ community. Since its founding in 2010, the…
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211 Metro Chicago: Improving How We Serve Residents in Need
Navigating the social service system in the Chicago region can be a burdensome process. In times of crisis when demand for these services skyrockets, such…
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Reflecting on Women’s History Month with the Affinity Funds
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate achievements and milestones made by women throughout history. To commemorate the month, we reached out to…
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Black History Month Spotlight: Kim Casey
To celebrate Black History Month, the Trust will be spotlighting Black leaders and Black-serving organizations that have contributed to the betterment of the Chicago region…
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Beyond Individual Choices: Financial Health Requires Systems-Level Solutions
The quality of our lives is tied to the financial health of our household—from our ability to pay bills on time, to afford groceries, or…
