As 2025 Winds Down...
A Note from Our CEO As 2025 winds down and we gather for holiday celebrations, I’ve been reflecting with friends and colleagues on…
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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Turning Houses into Homes: The Impact of 3C’s First Three Years
Launched in April of 2022 as a three-year program, Connecting Capital and Community (3C) Chicago is a collaborative effort between lenders, developers, and…
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Trusted Voices: Addressing Hunger in Chicago
Families throughout Chicago are struggling to put food on their tables. Rising grocery and housing costs continue to strain household budgets, and pending…
All Stories
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Think Good, It's Friday! 8.7.15
What does it mean to be a citizen? I enjoyed reading this article in the Atlantic about Harvard’s Project Zero program, which is exploring how…
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Sights & Sounds of Philanthropy: Summer in Chicago Edition
There’s no denying it. Nothing beats summertime in Chicago. Locals and tourists alike love being outside and exploring the city during the warm-weather months. We…
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How Much Indirect Cost? Empower Nonprofits: Let Them Decide
For decades foundations (and government) have worried over how much indirect cost to allow their nonprofit grant recipients to charge on grants. Five percent? Ten…
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A Startup Entrepreneur and Literacy Champion, on Her 'Path Back to Generosity’
At the age of 35, recipient of The Chicago Community Trust Fellowship and serial entrepreneur Stacy Ratner was a veteran of four venture-backed startup companies…
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The Compassionate Exterminator: Controlling Bedbugs for Neighbors in Need
Hard-working Martinez Williams knows how to make a quick buck. His entrepreneurial streak started in his teens. First, he was a hair model for Soft…
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The First Great Donor: James A. Patten
In 1924 James A. Patten gave assets to the Trust that survive to this day. Known as the “Wheat King,” Patten amassed a fortune on the commodities…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.31.15
This past Sunday, July 26, people across the country celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Here in Chicago, the Trust…
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A Hip-Hop Artist and a Nurse, Both Inspiring a New Generation
Sometimes philanthropy is the simple act of listening or the telling of a story to celebrate someone’s life. This week’s stories from the Vocalo Storytellers…
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Addressing the Stigma of Invisible Disabilities: Mark Ishaug
According to the World Health Organization, mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders are the leading cause of disability worldwide. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)…
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Greater Together with Technology
I was a teenager in the 1980’s and remember disability activists taking over bus routes and rolling in front of buses in acts of civil…
