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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Nonprofits, Clean Up Your Facebook
For nonprofit organizations today, Facebook is a vital marketing and community engagement vehicle. The platform’s Pages and Groups are tools that help build awareness and…
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Around Chicago's Transit Stations, Equitable Communities Take Root
What if we could transform our city’s public transit stations into hubs of opportunity and equity? That’s the commitment of Elevated Chicago, a partnership to…
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Housing Solutions to Education, Health and Criminal Justice Challenges
As we know, housing is a basic human need. Healthy, accessible and affordable housing is an essential element of supporting individuals and families. However, the…
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Chicagoans with Disabilities Fight for a Voice in Police Reform
In January 2017, following a yearlong investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a comprehensive report detailing excessive use of force by the Chicago Police…
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Investing in Chicago’s Rivers, One Neighborhood at a Time
Last month, the Executive Committee of The Chicago Community Trust approved $800,000 for locally driven projects that seek to revitalize communities along Chicago’s vast river…
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Disaster Relief for Mexico & Puerto Rico: Chicago Unites to Respond
September has been marked by devastating natural disasters that, for many in Chicago, hit close to home. Hurricane Maria destroyed much of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure,…
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Stand Out from the Year-End Giving Crowd with #ILGive
End-of-year appeals are a fundraising standby—and recently, Giving Tuesday has emerged as the unofficial kickoff of everyone’s giving season. This means many nonprofits competing for…
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Swap Circle Helps Teachers Stock Up for the School Year
More than one-third of Chicago teachers report spending over $1,000 of their own money on classroom supplies during the school year. On Tuesday, May 16,…
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$40M Neighborhood Investment Aims to Close Chicago's Wealth Gap
Last Thursday, I was pleased to join JPMorgan Chase as it announced its $40 million commitment to economic opportunity on Chicago’s South and West sides.…
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GO Grants Turn One: A Year of Funding, Listening and Learning
Embracing a focus on leading change, inspiring philanthropy and engaging residents has changed how the Trust does business. In order to better serve our nonprofit…
