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The Chicago Community Trust

@thechicagocommunitytrust

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A community foundation uniting donors, nonprofits and residents to support people, organizations and partnerships that strengthen the Chicago region.

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@xchange_chicago is creating pathways to economic mobility by connecting residents from historically underinvested Chicago communities to careers in the growing technology sector. Through employer-informed training, paid apprenticeships, career coaching, and wraparound supports, Xchange helps adults gain the skills and experience needed to access family-sustaining jobs in fields such as information technology, cybersecurity, and software development. The organization works closely with employers, training providers, and community partners to build a stronger and more inclusive workforce while expanding opportunity on Chicago’s South Side.

Established in Greater Grand Crossing and shaped by decades of community engagement, Xchange is a collaborative effort between @garycomeryouthcenter, @sdipresence, and @p33chicago to strengthen neighborhoods through economic investment and workforce development. To date, the organization has trained more than 200 participants, with many advancing into paid apprenticeships and full-time technology careers.

In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust awarded a grant to support Xchange’s Tech Initiative, which expands tech apprenticeships, wraparound career supports, and workforce opportunities for South Side residents.

See this change in the making: 🔗 Link in bio. by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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4 days ago

RFP OPEN: For late-stage capital projects. By supporting developments shaped by community priorities and participation, the Neighborhood Capital Fund at The Chicago Community Trust seeks to catalyze clustered investment, generate jobs, expand local services and amenities, and improve overall quality of life.

🔗 Link in bio to learn more and apply. by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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8 days ago

Every day, people choose to share what they have to lift up others and create meaningful change in communities. Philanthropy isn’t about the size of the gift; it’s about a commitment to making a difference.

Today is DAF Giving Day, a national day focused on unlocking the giving power of donor advised fund (DAFs). DAFs can be a powerful charitable tool for making a difference here in Chicago and beyond. In 2025, our donors at The Chicago Community Trust recommended $2 billion in grants to nearly 9,000 nonprofits.

DAFs have become popular because they offer tax advantages and make giving simple and streamlined—functioning like a checking account for charitable giving. And because we're a community foundation, fees from our donor advised funds also help support the Trust's investments and grantmaking across Chicago. You can give anywhere and strengthen Chicago everywhere you give.

If you have a DAF, consider making a gift today to an organization that you care about. If you’re interested in learning more about whether a DAF is right for you, connect with us at the Trust.

donorservices@cct.org
www.cct.org/philanthropy
🔗 Link in bio.
#DAFDay by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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9 days ago

"A good job can change a life, but lasting economic mobility requires more than a paycheck."

That's the lesson Sara Wasserteil, our Senior Director of Income & Assets, has carried through years of helping Chicagoans find stable work and through her own family's story of financial hardship.

Read her reflection on what it really takes to build lasting financial stability, and where the Trust's Income & Assets strategy is headed next: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/stories by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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11 days ago

Chicago’s small businesses are stronger when entrepreneurs can access the right capital, services and networks. Since 2019, the Fund for Equitable Business Growth has helped nearly 6,000 small businesses access coaching and training and connected entrepreneurs to more than $22 million in grants and loans.

The latest episode of Trust Talks brings together leaders across the field to discuss what’s working, where gaps remain, and how philanthropy can help strengthen Chicago’s small business ecosystem.

Tune in: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/trusttalks by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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12 days ago

Chicago is home to 687,000 small businesses, which support more than 1 million jobs across the region. They create jobs, strengthen commercial corridors and provide goods, services and gathering spaces that help communities thrive.

This week, The Chicago Community Trust and the Fund for Equitable Business Growth (FEBG) brought together entrepreneurs, funders, nonprofit partners and civic leaders for State of the Block, an event that marked the public launch of new research from Next Street examining what has changed across the Chicago region’s small business ecosystem since 2018 and where opportunities remain to help more businesses grow.

The research points to a central challenge: The Chicago region has strong entrepreneurial activity, but too few businesses are scaling. While the region has seen an increase in entrepreneurial activity, much of that growth has come from businesses without paid employees, and employer business growth has remained nearly flat. The report also finds that barriers to capital, networks, customers and business support continue to shape which businesses are able to grow, hire and build wealth.

Sara Dinges of Next Street walked attendees through the findings before Nathan Stevens of The Coleman Foundation moderated a conversation with Earl Grandberry of The Chicago Community Trust and FEBG, and small business owners Ari Krzyzek of @chykalophia, Elias Majid of @eliteabar, and Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks of @ashuntasheriffbeauty.

Together, they brought the research to life and explored what entrepreneurs need to sustain their businesses, reach their next stage of growth and continue contributing to their communities.

At the Trust, we believe strong and sustainable neighborhood-based small businesses are essential to creating economically resilient communities. By supporting entrepreneurs with access to capital, technical assistance, education and stronger connections, we can help businesses grow as neighborhood assets and employers, strengthen commercial corridors and expand opportunities for local economic participation.

The research is a starting point. What comes next depends on what we do with it.

Read the report: 🔗 Link in bio by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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15 days ago

Over 50 of The Chicago Community Trust’s dedicated volunteer affinity fund leaders came together for a day of shared learning and community building at our 3rd Annual Affinity Funds Summit in September.

Participants engaged in conversations on collective giving, trust-based philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, equitable grantmaking, fundraising, and strengthening connections between donors and communities. A special highlight this year was a keynote by Tyeshia Wilson of @philanthropytogether, which drew on real stories and groundbreaking field data to invite affinity fund leaders to reimagine the collective power they are building.

The Summit showcased the collective wisdom, lived experience, and leadership of our affinity fund members, and their shared commitment to a more equitable and thriving Chicago. We are grateful to everyone who joined us, shared their expertise, and helped make this year's gathering such a success.

Learn more: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/affinityfunds by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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16 days ago

"When you build beautiful spaces, you encourage people to do beautiful things." That's how the Trust's Caleb Herod describes what's happening across Chicago right now. The Chicago Community Trust believes our communities should have the investment, businesses, housing, and infrastructure that allow people and places to flourish.

We support community organizations that are literally opening doors to help residents build skills and secure futures—including @revolutionworkshop, @jarctraining, @the_crcl, @loyolachicago, @bpncchicago, and @liftcommunities.

A building is more than four walls. When it's designed around the people who use it, it becomes a neighborhood anchor and a place where skills are built, relationships form, and futures take shape.

Learn more: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/stories by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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17 days ago

Last week, our Strategic Communications and Learning & Impact teams at The Chicago Community Trust spent the day volunteering with New Moms—helping create clean, welcoming spaces for young moms and their children.

There, we deep cleaned and sanitized the organization’s Bright Spaces, including shared rooms that serve as playrooms for children, laundry spaces for moms, and childcare areas for group and therapy sessions. We also had the opportunity to tour one of New Moms’ housing units and learn more about the programs supporting young moms and their families.

Thank you to the New Moms team for welcoming us and giving us the opportunity to support the spaces where families learn, grow and build community!

Volunteer: @newmomschicago by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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19 days ago

"What does it take to unlock real economic mobility—and why does it start with housing?” That was the topic of yesterday morning’s Elevate series by @crainschicago. The Chicago Community Trust was proud to support this breakfast conversation opened by Trust President & CEO Andrea Sáenz.

Two-thirds of Chicago renters want to own a home. Yet according to research from @finhealthnetwork, fewer than 1 in 7 credit-ready renters can afford one priced above $200,000.

That gap is the challenge, and it's also the opportunity.

Part of the answer is already built into Chicago's history. In a Crain’s op-ed this spring, the Trust’s Marisa Novara and Christen Wiggins noted the ways in which two-flats and three-flats once gave residents across income levels a path to build wealth—renting out a second unit to help cover the mortgage, housing extended family, drawing enough density to support the corner store and the bank branch down the block. They still make up about a quarter of our housing stock.

Homeownership builds family wealth, but its impact doesn't stop there. More homeowners means safer, more vibrant blocks. Safer, more vibrant blocks mean a stronger city. But Chicago needs more affordable housing to give our neighbors a real chance at staying and building a future here where they can raise a family and buy a home.

It's time to build more of them. For example, Chicago's Missing Middle Housing Initiative is a step toward encouraging this kind of development, but current zoning still limits how far it can go. Paired with development on vacant land and new construction such as modular homes, this "missing middle" housing could revive underinvested blocks and open up amenity-rich neighborhoods to more families at lower price points than single-family homes allow.

The question isn't whether the opportunity exists. It's whether we build the conditions and policy for our neighbors to plant roots here, to raise a family, to buy a home, and stay.

Learn more: 🔗 Link in bio.

[Photo Credit: @jam.tik] by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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23 days ago

JUST DROPPED: The latest episode of our Trust Talks podcast is here. Earl Grandberry of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth hosts a conversation with Sara Dinges (Next Street), Niharika Hanglem (The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation), and Linda McGill Boasmond (Cedar Concepts Corporation).

Together, they discuss what the latest research reveals about Chicago’s small business ecosystem, philanthropy’s role in strengthening that ecosystem, and why investing in trusted business support organizations is essential to helping entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and more resilient neighborhood.

Tune in: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/trusttalks by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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25 days ago

For Samuel Muñeton Jr., his philanthropy has come full circle. In his youth, Sam benefited directly from mentors and others in his community who encouraged and supported him as he grew up. Many of these initiatives were supported by philanthropic endeavors.

He now channels that same spirit of investment and opportunity through his involvement with Chicago Latines in Philanthropy (@juntosclip), his philanthropic venture @sovereign_good, and his service on the steering committee of Nuestro Futuro (NF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust. As the nation’s largest affinity fund dedicated to Latine philanthropy, Nuestro Futuro has awarded more than $5 million in grants to over 100 nonprofits throughout the Chicago region since 2003.

In recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Trust's Carrie Goodale sat down with Sam to learn more about his journey in philanthropy and the experiences that continue to guide his work.

Learn more: 🔗 Link in bio or www.cct.org/stories by @thechicagocommunitytrust

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a month ago