The Chicago Community Trust

10/19/2026

Dion Dawson, founder of Dion's Chicago Dream, has been named a CNN Hero. His nonprofit employs dozens of community members who deliver more than 80,000 pounds of free, fresh produce to thousands of households on the South Side. Dion's Chicago Dream is a Trust grant recipient.

Learn more:

On Chicago’s South Side, CNN Hero Dion Dawson is fighting food insecurity in his hometown by feeding people in a healthy, dignified way. His nonprofit, Dion’s Chicago Dream, employs dozens of community members who deliver more than 80,000 pounds of free, fresh produce every week to thousands of ...

10/14/2026

Did we see you at ? In partnership with SOCAP - Social Capital Markets this week, The Chicago Community Trust was excited to bring forth a panel moderated by Susan Hammel of Cogent Consulting PBC featuring the Trust's President & CEO Andrea Sáenz, Vice President of Investments Laura Kernaghan, and Vice President of Community Impact Marisa Novara.

Together, we explored how multiple forms of capital can be leveraged to help communities thrive through place-based and impact investing. We shared lessons from Chicago on topics such as grantmaking, neighborhood revitalization, and economic mobility—including what’s worked, what’s been hard, what can be done differently, and how collaboration with community partners is essential in this work.

As Andrea noted, "At the Trust, we take seriously our ability to bring people together. How do we make sure we are having the greatest impact we can have with our influence, resources and capital?"

Thank you to our partners at SOCAP and everyone who joined the conversation.

10/13/2026

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 Gary Comer Youth Center, SDI Presence, and P33 Chicago 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: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuYLufF7lMk&t=6s

10/12/2026

The Field Foundation is proud to support the 2026 Chicago Media Career Fair, bringing journalism job seekers together with hiring news outlets, while offering career guidance and practical support!

Whether you’re looking for your next newsroom role, considering a career pivot or simply want to strengthen how you present your experience, the fair is designed for media professionals at every stage of their journey.

📅 FRIDAY, OCT. 9 | 10AM–3PM
📍 My Impact House, 200 W. Madison St., Chicago

Attendees can:
• Connect with Chicago media organizations and fellow professionals
• Receive a new professional headshot
• Get one-on-one resume feedback or participate in a mock interview
• Strengthen their resume, LinkedIn profile and professional bio
• Explore career opportunities inside and beyond the newsroom

Sessions include “Sharpening Your Professional Story,” a hands-on workshop examining how your resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile work together — and how to decide what to improve first; and “Where Can Journalism Take You Next,” covering career decisions, transferable skills and the many ways journalists can build careers inside and outside traditional newsrooms.

Presented by Chicago Headline Club, the Chicago Media Career Fair is co-sponsored by the Field Foundation and Press Forward Chicago at The Chicago Community Trust. Registration is now closed. We hope to see you Friday.



Image description:
Graphic for the Chicago Media Career Fair, hosted by the Chicago Headline Club on Friday, October 9, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Impact House, 200 W. Madison St. Sponsored by Press Forward Chicago and Field Foundation.

10/09/2026

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.

Learn more and apply at the link: https://www.cct.org/grants/opportunities/rfp-neighborhood-capital-fund/

10/08/2026

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 at [email protected] or www.cct.org/philanthropy.

10/06/2026

"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: https://www.cct.org/stories/more-than-a-paycheck-what-it-takes-to-get-ahead/

10/05/2026

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: https://www.cct.org/stories/trust-talks-the-podcast-episode-27-fueling-small-business-growth-in-chicago/

10/02/2026

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 Eli Tea Bar, and Ashunta Sheriff-Kendricks of Ashunta Sheriff Beauty.

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: https://bit.ly/4hYNoHu

10/01/2026

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 Philanthropy Together, 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: https://www.cct.org/affinity-funds/