African American Legacy

Advancing philanthropy and empowerment in the African American community since 2003.

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  • $4.5+ Million

    Dollars Granted

  • 250

    Grant Recipients

  • 600+

    Active Donors

  • 500+

    Organizations Impacted

AAL’s 20th Anniversary:
Reaching Back, Giving Forward

African American Legacy, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, recently celebrated its 20th anniversary honoring the vision and legacy of AAL’s founding members and supporters, two decades of impact, and hope for AAL’s future. Learn more.

Grantmaking in Chicago

Since its founding in 2003 as an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, African American Legacy (AAL) has granted nearly $4 million to numerous nonprofit organizations with innovative ideas for impact. AAL provides support to nonprofit organizations that work at the grassroots level to educate and engage communities, and to provide neighborhood-based services and solutions addressing community problems.

A speaker holding a microphone stands in the middle of a seated crowd in a lecture|A man stands at a podium

2024 Grant Recipients

Advisory Board Members

Kimberly A. Casey, ChairJawanza Malone
Natashia Holmes, Vice ChairKafi Moragne-Patterson
Inger Burnett-ZieglerClaude Robinson
Elisa DavisNicole Robinson
Janice EvansMironda Ross
Glenn EdenSteven Shaw
Dennis LacewellShawn Smith-Robinson
Sequane LawrenceSarah Ware
Keith Lewis
Professionals with a wide range of experience across numerous industries comprise the Advisory Board. Board members actively participate in community engagement, donor cultivation, and grant making activities.

Life Directors

Brenda AsareGraham Grady
Daniel AshMarguerite Griffin
Claudette BakerSuzanne Griffith
Troy Boyd, Jr.Deborah Harrington
Andreason BrownLoann Honesty King
Julian ColemanDiane Latiker
Carol CrenshawRobert McGhee
Amina DickersonMary Patillo
Rebecca Ford-TerryShawnelle Richie 
Denise GardnerBaronica Roberson
Corliss GarnerMelody Spann-Cooper
Life Directors are individuals who have rendered exemplary service in advancing the goals of African American Legacy, with special consideration given to former Advisory Board members.

Learn More

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 African American Legacy 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. 

  • Give to AAL

    African American Legacy activates an engaged network of community leaders who share the common goal of improving the quality of life of African Americans in Chicago through the power of collective giving, community engagement, and grant making.

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    To stay up-to-date with the work of African American Legacy, please complete an interest form to receive future communications from Affinity Funds.

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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.