Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2025
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the power of collective giving. Since its founding in 2008 at the height…
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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Financial Health in Cook County: Why it Matters and How Policy Impacts Financial Well-Being
In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust, with support from JPMorganChase, commissioned the Financial Health Network to update the findings of its Financial Health…
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Responding to Chicago’s Urgent Needs in 2025
As the region’s community foundation, The Chicago Community Trust exists to respond to the needs of our region and the people who call…
All Stories
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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…
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Changing Perception, Advancing Workforce Inclusion: Steve Pemberton
“Growing up in foster care, I always wondered: how had I become disconnected from my parents? Why? Who are they?” It wasn’t until he was…
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Pushing Forward
Twenty-five years ago, on July 26, 1990, 2,000 people with disabilities gathered on the South Lawn of the White House for the Americans with Disabilities…
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Life After a Spinal Cord Injury: Thea Flaum Helps Families Find Answers
Sunday, July 26, marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): landmark civil rights legislation that drastically improved the lives of people…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.24.15
The Trust is committed to supporting efforts to build stronger communities throughout the Chicagoland region—as demonstrated by On the Table, our work to convene residents…
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5 Lessons for Closing a Nonprofit the Right Way
The Chicago Community Trust’s SMART Growth initiative was designed to help small arts organizations develop sustainability in the face of economic shifts and organizational transitions.…
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Celebrating Disability Pride with Chicago's Everyday Philanthropists
On Saturday, July 18, hundreds of Chicago-area residents filled the Loop for the 12th annual Disability Pride Parade. Chicago’s Disability Pride Parade is the longest…
