2025 Illinois General Assembly Recap
I came to The Chicago Community Trust in March after spending years as chief of staff to Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. I…
Connecting Philanthropy to Impact
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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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 19: Confronting Homeownership Barriers
While homeownership is often viewed as a pathway to building wealth, a range of challenges can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for specific groups.…
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Transforming the College Transfer Experience
In the Spring of 2006, my mother and I walked into a meeting with a public state university admissions counselor to discuss my…
“Experts & Opinions” Connecting Philanthropy to Impact
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Chicago is Primed for Creative and Targeted Home Lending Solutions
The beauty of Chicago is that every person, every place, and every home has a story. And while my personal story didn’t begin here, it…
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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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Making Great Things Happen by Connecting People to Purpose
Over my three decades in philanthropy, I have learned so much from donors and nonprofit leaders about generosity and commitment. A theme that continues to…
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How The Chicago Community Trust is Using Data to Drive Change
Businesses routinely use data analysis to make investment decisions and measure the results. More and more, philanthropic organizations are using the same data to help…
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On Community Impact: A Q&A with Marisa Novara
Community Foundation Week (November 12-18) is an annual, national campaign celebrating the role local philanthropy plays in empowering positive social and economic community change. In this Q&A,…
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National Philanthropy Day: A Q&A with Sheila Cawley
Chief Philanthropy Officer Sheila Cawley joined the Trust in August with more than 30 years of experience in philanthropy and previous leadership roles at Chicago…
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The Chicago Community Trust: Providing Help During Uncertain Times
Charitable giving in America was down last year, but do the numbers tell the whole story? And how can donors respond to the changing charitable…
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Now is the Time: Review the Fine Print of Your Estate Plan
Given recent market and economic volatility, you may be reevaluating your charitable giving approach. While you consider your short-term strategy, this is also the perfect…
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Building Financial Stability for Households and Communities
Efforts to grow household wealth in Black and Latinx communities are vital to the well-being of our region. By increasing incomes, building assets, and reducing…
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Investing for Impact: How to Maximize, and Measure, the Impact of Your Charitable Dollars
In 2020, the Trust launched our Impact Investing Program to help donors generate greater impact through their donor advised funds (DAFs). Impact investments mobilize capital with…
