OVERVIEW: The Chicago Community Trust funds a broad range of initiatives, programs and collaboratives. It supports nonprofits in its giving areas through capacity building, networking, loans, and promoting collaboration, as well as providing general operating support and project specific grants in the areas of housing, basic needs, human services, home ownership, entrepreneurship, community development, racial equity, advocacy, activism, and policy reform, among others.
IP TAKE: With assets exceeding $4 billion, the Chicago Community Trust (CCT) is not only one of the largest community foundations in the U.S., but one of the oldest. Beginning in 2019, CCT launched a 10-year plan that centers closing Chicago’s racial and ethnic wealth gap while “remaining steadfast in the core areas of work that are foundational to who we are.” Past reporting at Inside Philanthropy has highlighted CCT’s innovative and collaborative approach to philanthropy, including as an early adopter of impact investing and loans, prioritizing racial equity, and opening community dialogues.
CCT’s website highlights that its work goes far beyond grantmaking, with a focus on developing programs and collaboratives with community partners, donor engagement, and policy advocacy. At any given time, open grant application opportunities are limited, but clearly delineated on CCT’s “Current Funding Opportunities” webpage. Grantseekers should check back often for updates. CCT is a transparent funder with a long-standing presence and broad influence in Chicago’s philanthropic community. CCT is also an accessible funder. While it conducts much of its grantmaking by invitation only, CCT invites grantseekers to reach out to its program managers to discuss your organization’s work and inquire about potential opportunities. Previous grantseekers have reported that developing a strong relationship with CCT can lead to many opportunities down the line.
PROFILE: Founded in 1915, Chicago Community Trust was one of the first community foundations in the country. Based off the philanthropic model of the Cleveland Foundation, the trust was established by banker Albert Harris at the behest of his father Norman Harris, founder of N.W. Harris Bank. Initially founded with a $600,000 endowment from the Harris family, the trust now boasts over $4 billion in assets.
The Chicago Community Trust aims to “lead and inspire philanthropic efforts that measurably improve the quality of life and the prosperity of our region.” Its strategic plan involves “inspiring philanthropy, engaging residents and leading change on the biggest issues facing our region.” Its current Core Areas of giving are Growing Household Wealth, Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment, Building Collective Power, Addressing Critical Needs, Connecting Philanthropy to Impact, and Advocating for Policy Change.
CCT offers several types of funding for grantseekers, including:
The Flexible Funding Program provides one-year grants of up to $100,000 for operating support, capacity building, collaborative projects, and third-party vendors providing business services for nonprofits. Eligible organizations must be majority Black- or Latino-led.
The Pre-Development Fund provides project-specific funding of up to $100,000 for “commercial real estate development projects, businesses with brick-and-mortar needs, and neighborhood scale land use projects.” It is intended to support projects through the pre-development stage and does not generally provide funding for projects still in the planning stage or already in the construction stage. The trust reviews Project Scope submissions three times a year.
Sponsorships support programming and fundraising events such as conferences, conventions, meetings, panels, forums, and sometimes galas. These sponsorships are available to nonprofits working in CCT’s issue areas and giving region. Requests are reviewed every two months.
Grants for Community Development and Racial Justice
The Chicago Community Trust’s grantmaking centers around Closing the Racial and Ethnic Wealth Gap in the Chicago area by pursuing broad objectives in order to respond to its communities’ changing local needs. In the past, CCT has provided funding for education, workforce, economic development, housing, hunger, poverty, health, arts and culture, strengthening the non-profit sector and sustainable development. It has also regularly considered proposals from public safety and justice organizations and human relations resources. CCT provides general operating support and responsive grants, with RFPs shared on its website as they are made available.
CCT currently conducts grantmaking through six main focus areas:
Growing Household Wealth grants are aimed at “addressing the wealth gap at the household level by increasing incomes, building assets, and reducing debt.” They support efforts to increase homeownership, entrepreneurship, and post-secondary education for Black and Latino families, as well as promoting policy changes that reduce barriers to growing wealth. Grantees include the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance, and Housing Action Illinois.
Catalyzing Neighborhood Investment grants address “the wealth gap at the neighborhood level through more investment in community-led revitalization.” They support efforts to reduce barriers to community investment in order to increase the presence of businesses, jobs, and services in low-income neighborhoods. It primarily promotes “baseline activities for revitalization, including various flexible funding opportunities.” Previous grantees include 1022 Food Hub, Urban Equities, and Far South CDC.
Building Collective Power grants aim to address “the wealth gap at the community level by connecting people, amplifying resident voice, and sparking action.” The trust takes a “change-from-within” approach by supporting “community organizing, networks, and coalitions leading grassroots change in their neighborhoods.” Previous grantees include Changemakers Network, Media Makers Network, and Latino Policy Forum.
Addressing Critical Needs grants support “essential service organizations that are addressing the most urgent and immediate needs of individuals and families across our region.” It provides general operating support and project funding to organizations providing human services and basic needs to address issues such as homelessness, hunger, violence, disability, and health care access. Previous grantees include Unity Fund, Chicagoland Vaccine Partnership, and Chicago Funders to End Homelessness.
Connecting Philanthropy to Impact grants support other funders and the philanthropic community by “catalyzing the generosity of our partners to advance equity, opportunity, and prosperity for all.” The We Rise Together Initiative serves as “a platform for change” that works with “individuals, families, businesses, and fellow funders” to help transform “philanthropic goals and passions into impactful strategies.” Past partners include North Austin Center and PODER Headquarters.
Advocating for Policy Change grants promote “policy and advocacy efforts to effect systemic change.” It supports groups advocating for reform in policies surrounding issues such as predatory lending, public transportation, housing, and health care. The trust’s three-pronged approach to policy involves building awareness and public knowledge about pressing issues, improving the “public policy landscape” through leadership support, and directly lobbying for policy and systems change.
Important Grant Details:
Chicago Community Trust grants generally range from $5,000 to $150,000. A list of recent grants can be found on CCT’s Grant Overview page.
Funding is generally limited to Chicago, Cook County, and the five adjacent counties of northeastern Illinois.
Current funding opportunities are available on the trust’s grant overview page. The application process may be completed entirely online.
The Flexible Funding Program’s General Operating Support grants are by invitation only, while its Collaboration grants are open to applicants on a rolling basis.
The Pre-Development Program accepts Project Scope submissions at any time and reviews them three times a year. Select projects will be invited to submit a full application.
Event sponsorship requests are accepted and reviewed on a bimonthly basis. Grantseekers are advised to submit their request between 30 and 60 days prior to the event in question.
CCT does not generally provide funding for scholarships, individuals, religious purposes, disease research, events, or debt reduction.
Grantseekers may can contact the grants office with application questions at grants@cct.org or 312-616-8000.
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