Feeding Change in Our Region
The Chicago Region Food System Fund is a group of funders and community partners working together to build a more resilient local food…
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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Cultivating a Bright Future in Little Village
Little Village, or La Villita, has a long history of welcoming immigrant communities, starting with the German, Czech and Polish residents who flocked…
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Boosting Impact: The Amplification Fund
The Amplification Fund is an opportunity for donors to participate directly in the Trust’s grantmaking and join a community of philanthropists with similar…
All Stories
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The Chicagoans Who Document Public Meetings—and Why They Do It
The original idea for City Bureau’s first-ever “Documenters Summit” started with a simple question: How do we create a space where our 330+ Documenters can…
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Celebrating Chicago's Most Creative, Collaborative Community Development
“For the Trust, it has always been inspiring to see the wonderful things that have come out of the creativity and talents of our region’s…
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Art, Activism & Resistance in 'Our Chicago'
We gonna go in here, y’all! We gonna go in here, y’all! The a capella singing of avery r. young brought the roomful of chattering…
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Moving Conversations to Communities: How to Host an Actionable On the Table
While making connections, talking and listening to our neighbors over a meal is at the heart of On the Table, we know that over the past four…
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Audacious Disruption: Chicago Artists Collaborate on Solutions to Segregation
I was eight months pregnant when I read Metropolitan Planning Council’s The Cost of Segregation report. At the time, I had been reflecting quite a…
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For Private Foundations, Simpler Alternatives & Impact Investing Opportunities
For many individuals and families, the benefits of establishing a private foundation are outweighed by the cost, time and administrative burden that comes with managing…
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The First Six Months: Listening, Learning and Leading
On April 3, Dr. Helene Gayle made her first appearance as the featured guest of the City Club of Chicago. In a lively conversation with…
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Is It Time to Revisit Formula Clause Charitable Gifts?
As professional advisors and their clients continue to digest the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law in late 2017, one unanticipated effect may…
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Oral History: Preserving a More Diverse, Dynamic Legacy
As the second oldest community foundation in America, the Trust is dedicated to documenting its rich history, intertwined with Chicago philanthropy and with the development…
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In Humboldt Park, Healthy Food and Health Care Often Out of Reach
“Inadequate services mean you lose people when they’re finally willing to open up.” The name “Humboldt Park” conjures up one of Chicago’s most beloved outdoor…
