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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5 Lessons for Keeping Your Nonprofit Open – From Organizations That Closed
A troubled economic climate means that nonprofit organizations face a decrease in contributions—at the same time that their customers rely on nonprofit services more than…
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Teaching Financial ABCs to LGBTQ Youth
Volunteers like Stacy Snyder know that when it comes to showing your inner philanthropist, simply signing a check is not enough. “When I moved back…
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"Plant Trees You'll Never Enjoy the Shade Of": Rogelio Lechuga
Today, thousands of volunteers will gather in every corner of Chicago and roll up their sleeves in an effort to transform the city. Chicago Cares’ 22nd…
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Think Good, It’s Friday! 6.26.15
This week, the fifth annual MCON conference produced by the Millennial Impact Project convened participants from across the country here in Chicago and online to discover how…
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From Our Archives: 10 Images that Capture Chicago's Arts Scene
Take a quick stroll through Chicago to discover a colorful past of vibrant artistic and cultural heritage. This list of ten outstanding cultural achievements uncovers…
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Mentor Kelly Fair Encourages Girls to 'S.H.I.N.E.'
Kelly Fair is the dynamic founder of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, a Chicago-based organization that helps young girls develop effective communication skills. Her journey to…
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Five Years On, Small Arts Nonprofits Are Sustaining Their “SMART Growth”
In 2005, The Chicago Community Trust debuted a new approach to funding small arts and culture organizations. What these groups needed most, research showed, was…
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What Does Volunteering Mean? CHIRP Radio Asks Around
It has been said that those who can, do, but those who can do more, volunteer. That act of doing more, making more good in…
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How One College Student Has Brought Joy to 40,000 Sick Children
Lonely, forgotten, sad and isolated. These four words only begin to describe how kids can feel when they are hospitalized. Jen Rubino of Park Ridge…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 6.19.15
This week, Giving USA released their 2015 philanthropy study. It cited $358.38 billion in charitable contributions in 2014, rising by 7.1 percent in current dollars…
