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 Philanthropy Can’t Replace Government in Helping Illinois Thrive
The demand for human services is greater today than ever. At the same time, ongoing funding cuts at the state and federal level continue to…
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The Youth Soccer Program Building Health, Teamwork—and Neighborhood Trust
The soccer field at Cornell Square Park is filled with parents. Little kids trail paleta vendors and peer over tables loaded with pizza and cupcakes.…
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The Most Welcoming City: Reflecting on One Year in Chicago
This week I mark my first anniversary with The Chicago Community Trust. It is hard to believe a year has gone by! As I reflect…
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Chicago’s Cultural Spaces Talk Access and Inclusion
ADA 25 Advancing Leadership and the Disabilities Fund participated in On the Table to initiate dialogue about tackling our region’s greatest challenges, inclusive of the…
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The New Generation of Philanthropists Investing in Chicago’s Rising Stars
This summer, young philanthropists from across the Chicago region gathered at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Tower to celebrate 11 nonprofits working on the front…
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Unlocking the Potential of Chicago’s River System
This week, the Executive Committee of The Chicago Community Trust approved $810,000 for neighborhood-based projects helping to unlock the potential of Chicago’s river system, transforming…
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Nurturing Creativity, Building Accessibility: Meet Chicago Theater’s Biggest Fans
Michael and Mona Heath prefer to sit in the front row. “We like our theater really up close and personal,” says Michael. “Our best theater…
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Hurricane Florence: 10 Community Foundation Relief Funds You Can Support
Days after Hurricane Florence reached land, its effects are continuing across the southeastern United States. Record rainfalls have reached 36 inches in some areas; with…
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The Disability Conversation in Every Conversation
The Disabilities Fund created the Inform and Act factsheet series to initiate dialogue about tackling our region’s greatest challenges. To be successful, the disability community…
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We Can Tell Who’s at Risk of Youth Violence. Can We Reach Them?
Stopping the youth violence that plagues some of our communities can seem like an insurmountable challenge. However, research shows that the number of young people…
