www.cct.org | Our Region's Community Foundation

The Stories Behind the Grants

Our grants are not just checks, not just points on a map. Our grants are lifelines, connecting individual donors with individual men, women, children, families striving for a better life. These connections stretch across history, so that a visionary donor of yesterday is providing food, shelter or health care for a Chicagoan today. Here are a few of the faces from 95 years of grant making at the Trust.

Rebecca Ford Terry

Rebecca Ford Terry works with the Trust to support the arts and diversity in metropolitan Chicago.

Baird & Warner

This successful real estate firm enlists all its employees in an innovative campaign to give something back.

Warren Lavey and Holly Rosencranz

These passionate professionals use their fund to address challenging social issues in the region.

Jennifer Tani

Asian Giving Circle gives Jennifer Tani the chance to continue advocating for the Asian-American community.

J. Ira and Nicki Harris

The Palm Beach residents maintain strong ties to Chicago through their longtime partnership with the Trust.

John G. Searle

After a prominent career in pharmaceutical science, one generous donor supports innovation in the field for generations to come.

Adela Cepeda

Adela Cepeda remains committed to the Trust after seeing the impact of its strategic grant making.

Forum Fund

Small nonprofits benefit from the Forum Fund's grants and business expertise.

The Pillars Fund

The Pillars Fund strives to promote civic engagement among Muslim Americans.

The Northern Trust Company

A shared belief in exemplary client service nurtures a long partnership between two landmark Chicago institutions.

National Museum of Mexican Art

Mythical creatures open the door to imagination—and a love for painting, reading and critical thinking too.

El Hogar del Nino

A speech and language pathologist helps children find their voice.

St. Columbanus Food Pantry

What can your dollars do? At Feeding Illinois, they're going eight times as far—and helping this pantry keep Park Manor's families on their feet.

Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Medical debt, bankruptcy, foreclosure—legal actions often push struggling families further into poverty. CGLA is knocking down legal barriers, thanks to your donations to the Unity Challenge.

Irving Park Community Food Pantry

As hunger increases, this community pantry and hundreds of others received 2.8 million pounds of food to feed 700,000 people, thanks to your donations to the Unity Challenge.

Weaving Our Story Together

Flip through the years with our online flash cards, capturing 95 years in 95 stories of impact.

Tell us how you've helped the Trust touch our region. Our story is not complete without yours.