Flexible Funding Program: Strengthening Communities and People
When I was a kid, my parents made it a priority to expose my brother and me to as much of our cultural…
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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Nuestro Futuro Awards $360,000 to 25 Organizations in Chicago Region Focused on Immigration and Early Childhood Initiatives
Nuestro Futuro (“Our Future”), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is the largest affinity fund in the nation dedicated to Latinx philanthropy.…
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Leveraging Community-Based Media to Promote Equitable Homeownership
A Q&A with Lynnette McRae and Lauren Woods Black and Latinx Chicagoans face a myriad of challenges in accessing homeownership. These include a…
“Grant Making” Stories
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2021 Q1 Grants Support Resilience, Equity, Recovery
In year two of its 10-year strategy to close metropolitan Chicago’s racial and ethnic wealth gap, the Trust is starting to see the fruits of…
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Strengthening Banks’ Impact on Closing the Wealth Gap
A “profound” federal rule enacted more than 40 years ago to ensure financial institutions invest in and build wealth in the communities they serve is being rethought—and we…
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14 Grant Recipient Partnerships Expected to Reach over 1,000 Entrepreneurs in the Chicagoland Region
The Fund for Equitable Business Growth is a multi-funder collaborative designed to support partnerships between Business Support Organizations (BSOs) in the region that provide coordinated, accessible,…
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Beyond Food, Trust-Funded Organizations Working to End Hunger in Our Region
During the holiday season, many people think about those who are going hungry and deliver food to pantries and soup kitchens in their communities. This…
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2020 Grant Making: The Chicago Community Trust
In Fiscal Year 2020, The Chicago Community Trust made 293 discretionary grants totaling $20,477,287. Following are some highlights of how this year’s grant making embraced…
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Pre-Development Grants Available to Community-Based Developers
When people gather for the ribbon cutting at the neighborhood’s new grocery store, community center, or manufacturing facility, their excitement is justified. For the community…
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The New Flexible Funding Program Supports and Accelerates Community-Driven Investment
The Chicago Community Trust granted $1.2 million to community-driven investment-focused organizations to move forward on neighborhood opportunities that attract capital and leverage resources. We are…
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United in Closing the Wealth Gap
From payday loans that charge up to 400 percent interest rates to steep fines and fees on missed utility bill payments, many hurdles exist for…
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Trust Grants $2 Million to Address Critical Needs
Building Pathway to Stability Program Funds 40 Nonprofits Across the Region The Chicago Community Trust recently announced $2 million in general operating grants to 40…
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2020: Protecting & Advancing Equitable Homeownership
Homeownership has long symbolized the “American Dream.” There is a widely held belief that once you achieve the status of homeowner, you have accomplished the…
