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.…
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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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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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 22: Reimagining Development Through Shared Ownership
As Chicago neighborhoods continue to expand with newly built businesses and homes, new opportunities emerge for residents to shape their communities. Yet, traditional…
All Stories
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Think Good, It's Friday! 9.4.2015
Yesterday, the Trust hosted a screening of the movie Rosenwald at the Museum of Science and Industry. The film tells the story of philanthropist and…
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"Small Keys Unlock Big Doors" for Rags-to-Riches Railroad Magnate
A self-made man born to Irish immigrants in New York, Charles H. Markham left school at 14. After a series of odd jobs, he started…
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Saving Man’s Best Friend, ‘One Tail at a Time’
Dogs are loyal, loving companions, but some live at risk in shelters. In fact, nearly 6,000 dogs were euthanized in the city of Chicago in…
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Renewing the Commitment: An ADA Compliance Guide for Nonprofits
2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA embodies—and makes enforceable—this nation’s promise of full access to nonprofit organizations, businesses…
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5,000 Schools for Black Students Rise Across the South in ‘Rosenwald’
Chicagoans have good reason to recognize the name Julius Rosenwald. As president of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Rosenwald grew the company to become among the…
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A Mom Stands Up to Violence - Through an App Contest
Want to feel safe again in your community? There’s an app for that. [pullquote]To combat neighborhood violence, Washington Park mom learns to build an app.…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 8.28.15
We often talk about the positive impact of doing good. This article in the Chicago Tribune talks about how being generous has another benefit: improving…
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Chicagoans Value the Arts - But Which Neighborhoods Get Access?
All across Chicago, residents value and appreciate the arts. But getting access to them is another story—one that all depends on where you live. A public…
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“The Personality Conversion”: A Financial Advisor’s Insight into the Power of Generosity
The benefits of philanthropy extend beyond tax deductions and other financial gains. As a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, Denny Cummings has seen how charitable…
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The Ultimate Escape Artist: Transforming Lives Through Tattoos
Many people have marks on their bodies that remind them of something they’ve struggled to escape and want to leave behind. Eric Dean Spruth, MA,…
