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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Partnering for Shared Prosperity in an Equitable, Vibrant Chicago
This fall, The Chicago Community Trust publicly released its new strategic plan focused on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region.…
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Providing Chicago’s Kids with Clothes, Toys—and Something to Be Proud Of
Bright blue and yellow bins stretch in every direction across the floor of a warehouse on Chicago’s Northwest side. “Boys long pants”; “Girls dresses and…
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IRA Distributions & the Charitable Rollover: A Simple Solution for Impact
As more and more Americans reach the age where they’re required to take distributions from their IRAs, some are seizing the opportunity to support philanthropic…
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Philanthropy, Mobilized: Behind the Scenes of Grants Management
What does it take to mobilize charitable dollars across the Chicago region? We sat down with the Trust’s grants management team—director of grants management Katie…
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2019 End-of-Year Charitable Giving: Important Dates and Deadlines
We at The Chicago Community Trust are committed to making your year-end giving easy and meaningful. Please review these important deadlines to ensure that all…
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Why We Serve: Reflecting on 104 Years of Commitment to the Region
In the early 1900s, the Chicago region was undergoing a great transformation. The expansion of the railroad system and a boom in manufacturing made the…
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National Philanthropy Day: Celebrating Private Action for the Public Good
Philanthropy has been defined as goodwill to members of the human race. I like that classic definition, but one of my favorites is from a…
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Closing the Wealth Gap: Chicago’s Moonshot
Dear friends, Today the Chicago Community Trust is embarking on a transformational journey that is as formidable—and challenging—as the drive to achieve space travel. Just…
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Collaborating on Community-Driven Investment
A native of Waukegan, I was born into a community grappling with deindustrialization. Just 21 miles north of the border of the country’s second largest…
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Love With Impact: Philanthropy and the Act of Community Caretaking
Helping people have a positive impact in the world has been my life’s passion—although not through an obvious path. In my college yearbook I mused…
