Careers & Internships
At the Trust, we believe it is our privilege to work on behalf of the Chicago region and the people who call it home. Our guiding light is service to our community, our donors, and our nonprofit partners—and we aim to be better and do better with every step we take.
Career Opportunities
We want you to join us. If you are passionate about our mission, love Chicago as much as we do, and desire to work with subject matter experts who love a good happy hour—We want to hear from you.
Our Culture
Equity is core to who we are, the decisions we make, and the actions we take. We strive every day to foster an environment that ensures the inclusion of diverse perspectives and ideas. As the Chicago region’s community foundation, we believe that it’s important that we reflect and serve the breadth and diversity of our community as we work to achieve our mission of a thriving, equitable, and connected Chicago region.
Working at the Trust
Our Well-Being
Compensation Philosophy: The Chicago Community Trust is committed to providing a fair, consistent, and competitive staff compensation program that will attract, develop, and retain high-performing employees at all levels. The Trust’s program is designed to encourage and reward employees for leveraging their skills, abilities, and performance toward the attainment of individual, team, and organizational goals.
Benefits: The Trust offers a competitive benefits package: including medical, dental, vision, short- and long-term disability, retirement planning, and employer paid Life and AD&D. The Trust also offers sick, vacation, personal days and paid holidays, as well as several types of paid and unpaid leaves (including paid parental leave) for our team members.
Our Investment in Ourselves
Professional Development: Our success is a result of our people. We believe in fostering a culture of continuous learning to help colleagues be successful in their current role and future opportunities.
Wellness Program: We believe in a healthy life/work balance and offer a hybrid work model of 3 days in-office/2 days remote, a fitness center located on our floor, and 24-hour access to employee assistance (EAP) counselors for you and any member of your family.
Our Intern Program
We offer paid 6- and 12-month internships across several departments at the Trust. Our program’s goal is to create a meaningful learning experience for college students from diverse backgrounds and experiences in the hopes of creating lasting personal and professional connections.
Learn more below.
Interning at the Trust
Our Program
We see our interns as more than temporary team members. Our internship program is designed with a dual purpose: (1) to provide college students with hands-on experience in their chosen field, and (2) to foster the growth of future civic leaders who are passionate about making a positive impact.
Our program encourages interns to channel their skills into tangible initiatives. Whether it’s through community engagement projects, sustainable practices, or innovative solutions, we believe in providing a nurturing and educational environment so our interns leave our program not only with enhanced skills but also with a deep sense of responsibility and commitment to the betterment of their community.
Our Recruitment Timeline
Our paid internships are created based on business need and can be offered in any of our departments, including Community Impact, Finance, Learning & Impact, Partnerships & Initiatives, and Strategic Communications.
- Summer Internships at the Trust span from the months of June-August, and we recruit for these positions from April-May.
- Fall Internships at the Trust begin in October and typically last for 6-12 months, and we recruit for these positions from June-August.
Intern Testimonials
“Reflecting on my time with the Trust, I can genuinely say it has been transformative both professionally and personally. The intricate dance between understanding systemic challenges and actively participating in crafting tangible, community-led solutions has deepened my perspective on equity and social justice. Witnessing the Trust’s dynamic approach to tackling deeply rooted issues has instilled in me a profound respect for the power of collaboration, strategic thinking, and adaptability.”
“The Chicago Community Trust is a wonderful place to meet people passionate about social justice and committed to seeing you grow. By joining the Trust, you are joining a family of changemakers who will support your development and influence your mindset. For me, the most fulfilling part of my internship experience was forming relationships with people at the Trust. It is a great feeling to meet people with similar passions and interests.”
“The Trust has impacted my potential career path and has given me a great network of people. I have been able to learn about aspects of nonprofits that I knew very little about and meet people who have been successful in those areas. The people that I have had the opportunity to meet have probably made the biggest impact on me and will continue to do so in the future. I am very grateful for the connections that I have made here.”
Commitment to DEI
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is at the core of who we are, the decisions we make, and the actions we take in our work to strengthen the communities we serve and advance our strategic focus to close the racial and ethnic wealth gap.
Diversity, Equity, InclusionOur Strategic Plan
The Trust brings together generous donors, committed organizations, and caring residents to effect lasting change that makes our region better for all. We’ve made a 10-year commitment to closing Chicago’s racial and ethnic wealth gap.
Our Work