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…
Community Wealth
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent
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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…
“Community Wealth” Community Wealth
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Neighborhood Development Champions: Bolstering the Capacity of Community Development Organizations
A Q&A with Edwin Tobar and Mariah Van Ermen The Trust established the Flexible Funding program in 2020 to fund key community development organizations whose…
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South Side Sanctuary: A Place for Outdoor Recreation, Exploring Creativity, and Improving Wellbeing
Our environment has a huge impact on our well-being. Research has shown that access to outdoor amenities can reduce stress and improve physical and mental…
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2024 Holiday Shopping Guide
The Chicago Community Trust is committed to the vitality and well-being of the Chicago region and all who call it home. A key component of…
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Listening, Learning and Leaning In
Trust’s refined strategic priorities reflect what we’ve learned and heard from our partners I came to the Trust a little over a year ago with…
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Mariah Van Ermen
Mariah Van Ermen is a program manager for the Community Wealth strategy at The Chicago Community Trust. Her professional experience has focused on systems change…
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Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell is an impact coordinator for the Community Wealth team at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, she supports Community Wealth’s internal team…
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Back of the Yards Is A Community of People Who Are Creating Their Own Destiny
The story of Back of the Yards is about so much more than the Union Stockyards. The meatpacking industry in this Southwest Side neighborhood, which…
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North Lawndale Is A Resilient Community Forging Its Own Future
Located on the city’s West Side, North Lawndale is where Dr. King campaigned to end slum housing in 1966. The housing was substandard in part…
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Building a Network of Diverse Developers
City environments are made up of buildings, transit stations, streets, parks, and other man-made structures. Also called the “built environment,” these systems shape our lives…
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Property Tax Sales Reform: What it Means & What’s Next
Public Act 103-0555, which reforms the Illinois Property Tax Sale system by closing loopholes that prevent blighted properties from redevelopment and allowing local governments to…
