Disabilities Fund Awards Over $355,000 in Community-Based Grants
Disabilities Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, recently restructured and piloted their first ever open call Request for Proposals (RFP) grant process.…
Disabilities Fund
Promoting the development of programs, policy, and public action that expands the empowerment, equal opportunity, inclusion, and participation of diverse persons with disabilities in the Chicago region.
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$1.34 Million
Dollars Raised
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$689,000+
Dollars Granted
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17
Active Donors
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55+
Organizations Impacted
Photo: Members of the Disabilities Fund, 2025.
Current Advisory Board Members
Adam Ballard
(Interim Co-Chair)
| Sadaf Ajani | Jae Jin Pak |
| Bri Beck | Rafael “Tizoc” Rico |
| Gizelle Clemens | Elon Sloan |
| Joyce Ozeh | Katherine Vakil |
About the Fund
The Disabilities Fund partners with and advises The Chicago Community Trust about disability inclusion and priorities for data-driven actionable solutions in the areas of employment, education, community inclusion and technology.
The Fund was established thanks to the generosity of Shawn Donnelley and the Naomi Williams Donnelley Fund.
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Announcing the New Advisory Board of the Disabilities Fund
The Disabilities Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is proud to announce its new cohort of advisory board members. The following…
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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…
Did You Know?
There are over 800,000 people with disabilities in the Chicago region. 41,000 are young people. Explore the intersection of youth and disability, and get inspired to take action.
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The Trust is a community foundation that is dedicated to ensuring opportunity and prosperity are within reach for everyone in our region. As a charitable community, we know that many of our communities have been historically under-resourced, including by philanthropy. The Disabilities Fund is a group of donors who seek opportunities to address those historic gaps, which will help strengthen the entire Chicago region. When our neighbors do better, we all do better.
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Give to Disabilities Fund
Promote the development of programs, policy, and public action that expands the empowerment, equal opportunity, inclusion, and participation of diverse persons with disabilities in the Chicago region.
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Affinity funds are groups of donors united by a shared heritage, identity, or common interest. They offer an efficient way to support a specific group of people and the nonprofits that aid them by leveraging contributions through collective giving.
