Planting Seeds of Change
The front door creaks open as the late afternoon sun spills into a small apartment on Chicago’s West Side. Backpacks hit the floor.…
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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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.…
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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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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 18: Supporting Our Immigrant Communities
The truth about immigration in the United States is that unless you are Native American, we all came from somewhere else. Yet, in 2025, the…
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Fund for Equitable Business Growth: A Unique Approach to Building a Successful Small Business Support Network
The Fund for Equitable Business Growth (FEBG) was founded on the principle that small business owners in underrepresented communities would be better served – and…
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Giving Insights: Supporting the Next Generation of Philanthropists
For many people, their first ideas about service and what it means to give back start at the kitchen table. “So much of what we…
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Trusted Voices: Giving to Meet the Moment
Together, we can do more to support the organizations providing essential services to our neighbors. At the Trust, we are mobilizing responsive grants to organizations that…
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Data Backs the Benefits of Guaranteed Income
Since 2021, more than 150 guaranteed income pilots have launched across 35 states across the U.S., aiding upwards of 55,000 people. Between 2022 and 2024*,…
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Creating a More Inclusive Future: A Q&A with Adam Ballard
The Disabilities Fund at The Chicago Community Trust is an affinity fund that supports organizations advancing disability inclusion, rights and justice. Recently, the Fund underwent…
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From the Archives: 2015 – Chicago Women in Philanthropy
March is a month dedicated to celebrating the drive and accomplishments of women. For three Trust staff members, one organization stands out by offering empowering…
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Illinois Immigration Funder Collaborative (IFC)
The Illinois Immigration Funder Collaborative (IFC) is a grantmaking collaborative that awards grants to nonprofit organizations working with immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. IFC funding…
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Amplifying Black Voices in the Arts
Organizations like D-Composed and ILA Creative Studio are redefining representation in their respective spaces. Through educational programming, community events, and resources, these organizations are working…
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The Transformative Power of Art: Building a More United Chicago
On January 21, community activists, leaders and residents from across the city braved one of the coldest nights of the year to gather in the…
