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…
All Stories
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10 Years of the LGBTQ Community Fund
2020 marked the 10th anniversary of the LGBTQ Community Fund (the Fund) at The Chicago Community Trust, and 2021 marked the beginning of the Fund’s…
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Supporting Laws that Help Black and Latinx Families Keep Their Wealth
From redlining to predatory lending, laws and policies have played an instrumental role in preventing generations of Black and Latinx families from building as much…
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Brewing Catalytic Growth in a Far South Side Community
When it comes to helping individuals, families, and communities build wealth, neighborhood investment is a force multiplier. Neighborhood development projects create businesses and jobs, bring…
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Supporting Community-Led Strategies for Vaccine Outreach
Addressing our communities’ most immediate needs has always been—and always will be—foundational to the Trust’s work. In 2021, one of our most urgent priorities was…
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A Roof over Our Neighbor's Heads and a Foundation for Their Future
When it comes to helping Black and Latinx families grow their household wealth, homeownership is a tool that matters. Experts estimate that if Black and…
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Elevating Diverse Media Voices to Strengthen Communities
Community media groups are vital to the people and places they serve. Whether it’s a treasured legacy newspaper or a weekly podcast, such outlets use…
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Searle Funds: A Conversation with Peggy Davis and Angel Gibson
To administer the Searle Collaborative Funds, the Trust works closely with Kinship Foundation—a private operating foundation that advances the institutional philanthropy of the Searle family.…
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Our Partners in Change: Anne Ladky & Karen Fishman
Anne Ladky and Karen Fishman’s philanthropy is primarily driven by one theme: systemic change for a more equitable society. Both women dedicated their careers to…
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Our Partners in Change: Marty Castro
For Marty Castro, philanthropy is a kind of family business. “For at least a couple of generations before me, we Castros have been very involved…
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Our Partners in Change: Teresa Prim & G. Sequane Lawrence
Teresa Prim and G. Sequane Lawrence have spent their personal and professional lives serving their community and supporting youth and economic development in the Chicago…
