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…
All Stories
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Why Community Media Matters
Just about 18 years ago, I received a call from Torey Malatia, a man many consider to be a true visionary of public radio. Malatia…
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This Moment in Time
A week ago, a family began mourning George Floyd. Described by friends and family as a “gentle giant,” he was killed in broad daylight by…
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Uniting Funders to Help Businesses of Color Grow and Thrive
When it comes to closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap, small businesses can be a force multiplier, helping people build wealth, creating jobs and…
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Creating a Sustainable Grain Hub
Illinois is known as a major producer of corn and soybeans for the world market. But if more grains like barley, wheat and oats were…
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Kim Kamin Creates Value in Connections
Born and raised in Chicago, Kim Kamin grew up seeing and hearing the Trust’s name all over the city in connection to the programs it…
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Joe Pedott Pays it Forward
Joe Pedott knows firsthand the life-changing difference philanthropy can make in a person’s trajectory. When Pedott found himself living on his own as a teenager,…
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Fighting the Cause and Effect of Hunger
How does an organization feed more than 800,000 people each year and tackle the root causes of hunger? Since 1979, the Greater Chicago Food Depository—a…
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Amplifying Voices to Stop the Spiral of Debt
For Chicagoans with low incomes, a parking ticket can be so much more than an annoyance. It can be a penalty that forces gut wrenching…
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Fueling Economic Growth in the South Suburbs
It takes a lot to revitalize a community. Beyond ambitious development plans and the right lenders and agencies, it requires a central player—the glue binding…
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Giving Tuesday Now: Coming Together to Keep Our Nonprofits Alive
Across the region, nonprofit organizations are on the frontlines in this COVID-19 crisis, providing essential support to communities and families most hard hit by the health…
