Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2025
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the power of collective giving. Since its founding in 2008 at the height…
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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Financial Health in Cook County: Why it Matters and How Policy Impacts Financial Well-Being
In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust, with support from JPMorganChase, commissioned the Financial Health Network to update the findings of its Financial Health…
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Responding to Chicago’s Urgent Needs in 2025
As the region’s community foundation, The Chicago Community Trust exists to respond to the needs of our region and the people who call…
All Stories
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Civic and Cultural Vitality Grants - February 2019
At its February 2019 meeting, the Trust’s Executive Committee approved 12 competitive grants to local nonprofit organizations for projects in civic and cultural vitality, totaling…
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Health, Housing and Human Services Grants - February 2019
At its February 2019 meeting, the Trust’s Executive Committee approved 13 competitive grants to local nonprofit organizations for projects in health, housing and human services,…
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Sustainable Development Grants - February 2019
At its February 2019 meeting, the Trust’s Executive Committee approved 18 competitive grants to local nonprofit organizations for projects in sustainable development, totaling $2,037,000. …
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GO Grants - February 2019
At its February 2019 meeting, the Trust’s Executive Committee approved grants totaling $6,675,000 to 200 key nonprofit partners providing services essential to thriving communities. These…
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Together We Are Stronger: Chicago’s Legacy of Black Philanthropy
Since 1926, February has been designated as the week—and later in 1976, as the month—to honor legendary African Americans that have inscribed their mark in…
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The Nonprofit Marketing Manifesto
Marketing is vital for any organization to build support for its mission, enabling it to excel. That’s obvious to some of us—but you would be…
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What’s Your New Year’s Giving Resolution for 2019?
2019 is off and running. If you made any New Year’s resolutions, maybe you’re keeping up with them in hopes of transforming how you eat,…
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Government Shutdown Ends, But Hunger Among Federal Workers Remains
Legislation passed on Friday, January 25 has temporarily ended the longest federal government shutdown in history. But its cost is estimated to top $6 billion—including…
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Making Justice Chicago’s New Normal
I was born the year Dr. King became a national figure, leading the bus boycott in Montgomery. I was 13 years old when he was…
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Assessing Chicago's Small Business Ecosystem
Chicago is a city founded on commerce, industry and ingenuity—from its roots as a transportation and agriculture hub, to its current landscape of high-tech, service,…
