The Chicago Community Trust

ICYMI: A new report by @chicago and @elevated_chi examines the city’s progress advancing equitable transit-oriented development over the past five years — and the work still ahead. View the full report: elevatedchicago.org/the-state-of-e…

.@ChiTrust's African American Legacy has awarded this year's Donald Stewart Fellowship to Richard Wallace, founder and director of Equity And Transformation (EAT). Richard sat down with the Trust to reflect on his journey and what this means. Learn more: cct.org/stories/sevent…

Five years after the City of Chicago approved a policy plan for Equitable Transit Oriented Development, the “State of ETOD in Chicago” report notes progress in creating transit-friendly affordable housing. chi.streetsblog.org/2026/05/19/fiv…

Press Forward Chicago, a funder collaborative dedicated to strengthening and sustaining local news, has announced it is awarding more than $660,000 in education journalism grants to 15 local news organizations. Read all about it: cct.org/press-releases…

In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, @ChiTrust is proud to honor Juju Lien, a visionary leader whose lifelong commitment to service and community power has shaped Chicago’s Asian American communities. Learn more: cct.org/stories/honori…

Founded on May 12, 1915, @ChiTrust is a community foundation that has been here for all Chicagoans for over 111 years. We unite donors, nonprofits and residents to support people, organizations and partnerships that strengthen the Chicago region. cct.org

"Two-flats and three-flats have benefited Chicago in the past... Today, re-embracing that model of housing may offer part of the solution for many Chicago families struggling to build a good life and a brighter future." cct.org/stories/chicag…

Mike Abrahamson, PCC Director of Policy and Research, was featured on @ChiTrust's podcast, "Trust Talks," for the episode, "Transforming College Transfer Pathways in Illinois." For Mike's insight on the IL transfer experience, listen here: buff.ly/oINANbp #highered

ICYMI: Congrats to our @ChiTrust President & CEO Andrea Sáenz on receiving the Making a Difference Award from Chicago Women in Philanthropy (CWIP) — an honor that recognizes a woman whose leadership has made a powerful and lasting contribution to the philanthropic community.

In 2025, @ChiTrust launched the Neighborhood Development Champions (NDC) to ensure community voices are the starting point for development in neighborhoods often overlooked by market-rate investment. Learn more: cct.org/stories/south-…

"That’s what strong pathways should do. They should expand options, not limit them. As we build systems for education and work, the question isn’t just what the data says, it’s whether people are better off because we showed up." cct.org/stories/what-i…

In February 2026, the Neighborhood Capital Fund (NCF) at @ChiTrust made $7.86 million in grants for nine projects that will expand essential amenities, services, and economic opportunities in these communities, benefiting the broader region. Learn more: cct.org/stories/neighb…

"With so much uncertainty and funding shifts for nonprofit homelessness service providers, the flexibility and consistency of multi-year, general operating support like Sustainable Solutions for Housing Stability is needed now more than ever." cct.org/stories/buildi…

Donors support the arts in many ways. Some make direct gifts to nonprofit organizations. Others partner with @ChiTrust. Learn more about how restricted funds can support Chicago's creative community: cct.org/stories/how-re…

In the 25th episode of Trust Talks, host Sonianne Lozada sits down with Juan Salgado, Mike Abrahamson, and Meg Bates to examine why improving the community college-to-four-year transfer process is a critical but often overlooked issue. Tune in: cct.org/stories/trust-…

SOCAP is coming to Chicago. From October 12–14, #SOCAP26 will convene investors, entrepreneurs, philanthropies, and institutions committed to advancing real systems change. @ChiTrust is proud to be a sponsor. Learn more and join us in Chicago: bit.ly/41Rn0GP

Vote for #SOCAP26! Take a moment to vote for @ChiTrust's Jennifer Axelrod's proposed @SOCAPmarkets panel discussion on "Measuring What Matters: From Fragmented Data Collection to Collective Evidence." Voting ends April 26: socapglobal.com/session-idea/m…

Yesterday, @ChiTrustt's Income & Assets team hosted their income grant recipients for a half-day of learning and sharing. Thank you to our speakers and grant partners for their thoughtful engagement—we look forward to continuing this work together.

This National Volunteer Week, @ChiTrust is grateful to @LIFTCommunities for welcoming us into their space to discuss the impact they have, assist in curating Mother's Day care packages for families they work with, as well as craft tissue paper flowers. whywelift.org/chicago/

Over the Rainbow Association, a @ChiTrust grant recipient, focuses on building accessible and independent housing for people with disabilities. It currently has 14 buildings across northern Illinois, including a new building in Lakeview. Learn more: bit.ly/48fintT