The Power of Collective Advocacy & Collaboration
In communities across Illinois, families work hard to build stable lives, but the systems meant to support them often fall short. Whether it’s…
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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We’re Stronger Together
Since joining The Chicago Community Trust three years ago, I’ve been thinking about ways to ensure those most affected by our decisions are…
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Disabilities Fund Awards Over $355,000 in Community-Based Grants
Disabilities Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, recently restructured and piloted their first ever open call Request for Proposals (RFP) grant process.…
“Experts & Opinions” Stories
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Now is the Time: Review the Fine Print of Your Estate Plan
Given recent market and economic volatility, you may be reevaluating your charitable giving approach. While you consider your short-term strategy, this is also the perfect…
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Building Financial Stability for Households and Communities
Efforts to grow household wealth in Black and Latinx communities are vital to the well-being of our region. By increasing incomes, building assets, and reducing…
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Investing in Youth Leadership Development is Essential for Community Safety
Safe spaces allow hope to thrive, visions to be realized, and youth to find their voices. Whether it is young women learning about media literacy…
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Accelerating Meaningful Change in Chicago: How the Trust Hopes to Work with the Johnson Administration
On May 15, Brandon Johnson will be inaugurated as the 57th Mayor of Chicago. As with any mayoral transition, this is an opportunity to press…
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Investing for Impact: How to Maximize, and Measure, the Impact of Your Charitable Dollars
In 2020, the Trust launched our Impact Investing Program to help donors generate greater impact through their donor advised funds (DAFs). Impact investments mobilize capital with…
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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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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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Leveraging Federal Economic Recovery Funds for an Equitable and Inclusive Economic Recovery
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began nearly three years ago, $4.5 trillion in federal funds have been appropriated for virus treatment and prevention, as well as…
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Our Journey to Acknowledge the Ancestral Homeland of Our New Office
As part of our move to our new office at 33 South State Street, The Chicago Community Trust worked with Starla Thompson, an Indigenous scholar,…
