Asian Giving Circle Awards $100,000 in its 2025 Grantmaking Cycle
Asian Giving Circle, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is a grassroots philanthropic initiative uniting donor to make a greater collective impact…
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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African American Legacy Awards $615,000 in its 2025 Grantmaking Cycle
African American Legacy (AAL), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, unites donors committed to supporting the Black community in the Chicago region.…
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Strengthening Chicago’s Shared Ownership Ecosystem
For generations, Chicago’s neighborhoods have been shaped by the people who call them home. Historically, many communities like Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Little Village,…
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Collective Giving in Chicago: Six Identity Funds that Amplify Impact
From giving circles to identity-focused funds, collective giving is on the rise. Collective giving is a philanthropic model in which donors pool resources, then decide…
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Why Endowment Funds Should Be Part of Your Charitable Conversations
When you think about the charitable planning tools available for philanthropic clients, donor advised funds, private foundations and split-interest trusts may be the first that…
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When the Solution Becomes the Problem: The Legacy of the 1919 Race Riots
On July 27th, our city marks 100 years since Eugene Williams, a young Black man, was killed after his raft drifted into an area of…
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Not Your Typical Corporate Sponsorship: Partnering for Disability Inclusion
Paulette Jagers is the head of strategic initiatives and leadership for BMO Financial Group. Paulette is a former board member of the Chicagoland Business Leadership…
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The Charitable Trends We’re Watching in a Complex Giving Climate
The Annual Report on Philanthropy released each June by Giving USA shares data on charitable giving in the U.S. The main takeaway from this year’s…
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A Daughter’s Legacy, A Lasting Impact for Chicago Children
If you are passionate about supporting a particular community or cause, one way you can be confident that your contributions will be used to address…
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Celebrating Ten Years of Teamwork for a More Resilient Chicago
Down a quiet side street at the western edge of Logan Square, a group of Chicago’s passionate philanthropists and dynamic nonprofit leaders gathered inside a…
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Discovering the Leader in Me
Evelyn Keolian is a librarian in the Chicago Public Library’s Assistive Resources Center. She is also the founder and chair of the library’s Diversability Advocacy…
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New Survey Reflects LGBTQ Community’s Needs, Resources and Resilience
“LGBTQ: What’s New?” This question began a fifteen-week quest to document the current needs, challenges and strengths of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. The LGBT Community Fund,…
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Ticketing Fine Reform Aims to Stop the Debt Spiral
For some people a parking ticket is an unexpected expense, an annoyance to resolve. But for low-income families struggling to make ends meet, a vehicle…
