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…
“Connecting Philanthropy to Impact” Connecting Philanthropy to Impact
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 18: Supporting Our Immigrant Communities
The truth about immigration in the United States is that unless you are Native American, we all came from somewhere else. Yet, in 2025, the…
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Summer Marsh
Summer Marsh is an executive assistant for the Philanthropic Services department at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, Summer provides administrative services to the…
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Giving Insights: Supporting the Next Generation of Philanthropists
For many people, their first ideas about service and what it means to give back start at the kitchen table. “So much of what we…
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Trusted Voices: Giving to Meet the Moment
Together, we can do more to support the organizations providing essential services to our neighbors. At the Trust, we are mobilizing responsive grants to organizations that…
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Creating a More Inclusive Future: A Q&A with Adam Ballard
The Disabilities Fund at The Chicago Community Trust is an affinity fund that supports organizations advancing disability inclusion, rights and justice. Recently, the Fund underwent…
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Jillian McNett
Jillian McNett is a philanthropic services coordinator at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, Jillian ensures that all necessary information is captured for the…
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From the Archives: 2015 – Chicago Women in Philanthropy
March is a month dedicated to celebrating the drive and accomplishments of women. For three Trust staff members, one organization stands out by offering empowering…
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Amplifying Black Voices in the Arts
Organizations like D-Composed and ILA Creative Studio are redefining representation in their respective spaces. Through educational programming, community events, and resources, these organizations are working…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 17: Leveraging the Power of Data
The Chicago Community Trust’s strategic focus on addressing the racial and ethnic wealth gap was informed by data on the stark differences in health, education…
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Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2024
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the community spirit of the Chicago region and the power of collective giving. Since its…
