Planting Seeds of Change
The front door creaks open as the late afternoon sun spills into a small apartment on Chicago’s West Side. Backpacks hit the floor.…
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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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.…
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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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The U.S. Vice President with a Nobel Prize—and a #1 Hit Single
Charles Gates Dawes was a Chicago banker and politician who rose to the highest levels of society. General Dawes, as he was commonly known, had served…
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How a Chicago Student’s Commitment Got Magic on His Team
Justin Carmickle’s mother thinks he should write a book about the amazing journey service has taken him on—but he says, “It’s not the end of…
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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…
