From the Archives: 1973 – James Brown IV & the Community Service Award
April marks National Volunteer Month, celebrating those who dedicate their time and resources to community service. Few in the Trust’s history embody volunteerism…
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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Nuestro Futuro Awards $250,000 in 2025 End-of-Year Rapid Response Grantmaking
Nuestro Futuro, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, elevates Latine philanthropy to support Chicago-area organizations and programs aimed at improving the quality…
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Lisandra Lao, and How She’s Inspiring the Next Generation of Young Philanthropists
For 30 years, The Chicago Community Trust’s Young Leaders Fund (YLF) has empowered young adults to actively participate in philanthropy by interacting with…
“Grantmaking” Connecting Philanthropy to Impact
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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 it home.…
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TRP’s Forgivable Loan Supports Longtime Homeowners on Chicago’s West Side
Homeownership has been a cornerstone of financial security and wealth for many families, but aging housing stock, costly repairs, and market pressures threaten that stability.…
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The Power of Collective Advocacy & Collaboration
In communities across Illinois, families work hard to build stable lives, but the systems meant to support them often fall short. Whether it’s the rising…
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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. A child’s…
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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 goals. Donors…
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Uniting to Address Violence
Because we believe our region can’t truly thrive until all communities are free from violence, the Trust is proud to support SC2 (Scaling Community Violence Intervention…
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Amidst Uncertainties, Trust is Helping Nonprofits Continue to Meet Community Needs
As the federal government cuts funding and programs that support essential services, such as closing the Chicago-based Midwest regional office of the Department of Health…
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A Collaborative Approach to Impact
The Trust is committed to collecting data and applying what we learn to bring people together, spark innovation, and inform decision-making. We also seek to…
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Committed to Solving Homelessness
Responding to Chicagoans’ urgent needs has always been a vital part of the Trust’s mission — and right now, one of the most pressing needs…
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Community Voices + Policy Change Are Powering Neighborhood Investment
For over 20 years, Florence Spann and her husband have spent their time and resources maintaining not just their own property (a two-story corner home…
