3C Community Profile: Humboldt Park
Take a stroll down the Paseo Boricua corridor on Division Street and it’s easy to see why Humboldt Park is one of Chicago’s most vibrant…
Grants
Featured
Our Grantmaking Strategy
For more than 100 years, The Chicago Community Trust has convened, supported, funded, and accelerated the work of community members and changemakers committed to strengthening the Chicago region. From building up our civic infrastructure to spearheading our response to the Great Recession, the Trust has brought our community together to face pressing challenges and seize our greatest opportunities. Today, that means confronting the racial and ethnic wealth gap.
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Grant Recipient
Economic Security Project Inc.
The Economic Security Project (ESP) advocates for ideas that build economic power for all Americans. Our playbook – which we call ideas advocacy – is designed to take transformative ideas that are on the margins and bring them into the mainstream of the public debate and into the lives of people. We provoke the existing conventional wisdom to shift what’s considered possible, legitimize the ideas by supporting cutting-edge research and elevating champions, and win concrete policy victories for the communities. We create the environment for these ideas to take root by changing narratives, organizing to win, and passing public policies to guarantee economic stability. We are poised to be at the forefront of the fight to build an economy that delivers for people. In just seven years, ESP’s team of academics, organizers, practitioners and culture makers has had monumental success in moving transformative policy ideas from the margins into the mainstream. As a national organization with affiliates in California (ESCA) and Illinois (ESIL), states we see as vanguards of bold economic advancement, we’ve built networks of thousands of policymakers and advocates, led agenda-setting events convening top thought leaders, policymakers, and media influencers to lift up progress across the country; and generated coverage of our work in The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, and hundreds of other news outlets and local publications. As a result, we’ve put trillions of dollars into the pockets of hard-working Americans and shifted policies across dozens of states and in the halls of Congress. In Illinois, ESIL has continued to champion bold economic policies and programs (and build the coalitions needed to support them) in Chicago, Cook County, and statewide. Specifically, our efforts have focused on putting more cash in people’s pockets through guaranteed income pilots (GI), as well as shaping markets to deliver the basic goods and services that communities need to thrive; in Illinois, that includes our work to support the governor’s public grocery store pilot. In the year ahead and with the support of the Chicago Community Trust and other funders, ESP is seeking to expand and build on our past success in Illinois by focusing on the following: (1) DRIVING GUARANTEED INCOME EFFORTS IN CHICAGO, COOK COUNTY, AND ACROSS ILLINOIS When the pandemic relief efforts unleashed the power of cash, ESIL was a leader to the coalition that both fought back against the anti-GI legislation and pushed for the positive ones. We invested in narrative change and communications strategies to move GI work in IL forward. To date, ESIL expanded efforts to support the growing GI movement by providing critical support through coalition building, coordinating a media cohort of participants equipped to authentically share their experiences, and technical assistance that connected experts to policymakers for the guaranteed income pilots in Evanston, Cook County, and the city of Chicago. Now that these pilots have ended, we are shifting our focus to cultivate the growth of the Illinois Guaranteed Income Community of Practice (GICP) and support efforts to win a guaranteed income in Chicago, Cook County, and statewide. Just this past year, through our C4 sister organization Economic Security Project Action (ESP/A), we held the State of Illinois’ first Guaranteed Income Hearing in the Senate and opened the door to legislative debates about how Illinois can operationalize GI statewide. Our coalition on cash led by ESIL has developed critical voices and leaders, our research has identified persuadable populations, and now we stand equipped with effective messaging to begin bringing GI forward as a primary policy consideration for Illinois. In 2024-2025, we seek to support the transition of pilots into policy by uplifting participants’ stories, organizing letters to the editors of local newspapers like the Chicago Tribune, engaging community organizers through town halls and education initiatives, and connecting these stories to local partners around Illinois to drive guaranteed income as a statewide policy. This narrative campaign is built around the GI messaging research recently released by ESP that shows there is a large, persuadable audience we can educate about GI. Support from the Trust would supercharge these efforts by allowing up to make investments in a broader range of audiences such as communities of color. Moreover, support would allow us to expand our coalition to include more organizations working downstate that can connect us to new audiences such as students in Carbondale and parents in Metro East. By building a simple and effective statewide GI narrative campaign that’s reinforced locally, we believe we can capture those unexposed to GI around the state as policy formulation takes place over the summer and fall of 2024. (2) INCREASING UPTAKE FOR THE STATE’S TAX CREDITS THROUGH DIRECT FILE AND BUILDING ON RECENT WINS Tax credits are central to ESP’s mission to fight to build an economy that delivers for people. In Illinois, we started our efforts when ESIL was first launched by creating the IL Cost-of-Living Refund, which focused on expanding the state’s Earned Income Credit (EIC) to cover more Illinoisans. Our efforts have already notched important wins for Illinoisans, including expanding the EIC to cover all childless workers and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) filers and creating the first-ever Illinois CTC covering children 12 and under. Together, hundreds of millions of new dollars are flowing to parents across Illinois. Specifically, in 2024-2025 we’re focused on increasing the uptake to increase the overall impact these wins will have. To do this, we will deploy the IL Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition, which now boasts 54 members, to ensure the state is equipped with easier, more financially accessible administrative tools like the IRS Direct File program. Not only will this move save taxpayers money, but it will also increase the overall number of people receiving the state tax credits by removing a major cost barrier. This builds on our efforts from the past year working with the Department of Revenue and the Governor’s office to prepare for the second round of the IRS Direct File tool’s launch. By connecting executive leaders in Illinois to states who already accomplished integration with the Direct File tool, we can coordinate the transmission of information and expertise to ensure Illinois can quickly and efficiently deliver on this public option as the state Child Tax Credit begins distribution. Between new incentives to file taxes through the CTC and a free, clear path to apply for these credits, we seek to increase the number of eligible families in Illinois claiming this critical assistance, reversing a decade of slow loss that’s now seen just three in four eligible families claiming the federal EITC. As we coordinate efforts to inform, encourage, and enable Illinois’ executive leadership to commit to the IRS Direct File tool, a simultaneous action must be taken to connect coalition partners to IRS Direct File experts to ensure appropriate educational material is primed and the pilot of the tool launches with exceptional exposure through ads, media moments, and organizing before the 2025 tax season. (3) SUPPORTING THE EMERGING EFFORTS AROUND PUBLIC GROCERY STORES AND AN RX KIDS PROGRAM IN ILLINOIS In tandem with our efforts to advance policies that put cash in the pockets of Illinoisians, ESP is heavily invested in advancing public options policies in Illinois: government-provided goods and services designed to provide the essentials for everyday families. In the year ahead, we will be building on initial efforts in Illinois committed to exploring these policies. Specifically, the Illinois Grocery Initiative seeks to provide grants to local governments to aid in the creation of grocery stores in food deserts. Through its localized expertise in ESIL, ESP provided technical assistance to the cities of Chicago and Venice as they applied for grants via this new state program and led the feasibility studies. As we look ahead to 2024-2025, we will continue supporting these two cities and the governor’s office to site identification through coalition partners’ engagement, building a narrative campaign through op-eds, and training media leaders to ensure this new endeavor is well positioned to amplify the power of government in shaping markets nationwide. Additionally, we presently are leading in educating and informing state leadership about what an Rx Kids program in Illinois could look like. Rx Kids is a groundbreaking guaranteed income pilot that supports pregnant people in the city of Flint, Michigan with $1,500 during pregnancy and $500/month throughout the baby’s first year. ESP is extremely proud to co-chair the advisory board of Rx Kids and is excited to share its impact with a wider audience. In Illinois, ESP is focused on working to inform policymakers on the impact such a publicly funded Rx Kids program can have for children and families. ESP will advance a bold, shared North Star vision for how the state could use public funds, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other underutilized existing programs, to establish an Rx Kids program in Illinois. Key to this effort will be informing and engaging the Illinois GICP members and potential philanthropic partners to build support for such a program. What we believe is that Rx Kids offers an opportunity to directly invest in the health of new moms and ensure a solid foundation to stand upon as they identify and connect to these resources in the most critical moments of a child’s life. We see these emerging pilots as important interventions that will require additional, long-term investments to be successful.
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Grant Recipient
NORTH SIDE HOUSING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
A $125,000 grant would immensely help us pay the operating costs of our new 70-bed, best-in-class shelter that we expect to open this November, before winter weather hits Chicago. Construction started in April. As first-time owners of a building, we know operating a large shelter will cost significantly more than operating shelters as tenants in open-floor plan church basements. Our primary funder, The Chicago Dept. of Family and Support Services (DFSS), has said they would consider an increase in their funding for the new shelter, but would not commit to an increase. For calendar 2023, DFSS funded $480,000 in shelter operating costs. We will ask that DFSS consider starting budget discussions for the new shelter later in July.
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Grant Recipient
CHICAGO COMMUNITY LOAN FUND
Chicago Community Loan Fund (CCLF) is seeking 1.5 years of funding for up to $150,000 to support hiring a Portfolio Analyst which will be a new position that will help get more capital in neighborhoods that need it most by working with current borrowers that have strong probability to become repeat borrowers.
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Grant Recipient
Change Illinois
We aim to continue work to ensure the successful implementation of the ban on prison gerrymandering to take effect in 2025 statewide for the 2030 census. We aim to build off of our Chicago redistricting work and a redistricting survey we sponsored to build support for people and community-powered, transparent ward redistricting. We seek to grow our community organizing efforts, especially in the city's South and West sides, and statewide to grow civic power and engagement in democracy reforms like equitable redistricting, ending prison gerrymandering, ranked choice voting, improved ballot access and transparent budgeting and governing.
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Grant Recipient
Foundation of Little Village
The Foundation of Little Village requests $149,500 for the Xquina Business Ecosystem, formerly the Xquina Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, to increase access (and/or readiness) to capital opportunities and improve overall business financial health in Little Village. We will accomplish this through place-based and culturally relevant wraparound support via our collaborative partners – Foundation of Little Village, Food Hero, and Little Village Chamber of Commerce.
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Grant Recipient
INNER VOICE INCORPORATED
Inner Voice/IV was founded in 1984 by the late Reverend Robert Johnson, who opened a soup kitchen on the west side of Chicago to tend to the physical needs of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty. He quickly realized that while food was essential to survival, a broader array of services was necessary to help people break the cycle of poverty and homelessness and find pathways to independence and self-sufficiency. Over the last four decades since its founding, Inner Voice has worked diligently to build a continuum of care that reflects Rev. Johnson’s vision of compassion and accountability. Throughout its history, Inner Voice has administered interim/emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, permanent housing, rapid rehousing, workforce development, case management, representative payee, and emergency assistance programs for single men and women and families throughout Chicago with three programs specifically serving Veterans. Today, Inner Voice operates 18 programs with two proposals pending (Citi Bank – daytime drop-in center, Boeing – workforce/financial stability) and one not funded due to numerous responses/lack of sufficient funds (Red Rover – to become the first pet friendly shelter in IL). As the agency evolved, a great deal of attention was paid to ensuring that it kept pace with changes in the industry to improve service delivery. Utilizing evidence based best practices in its programs became the standard, and adoption of new concepts such as housing first, low-demand, low-barrier, client centered, culturally sensitive, and trauma informed care, among others, became an integral part of service delivery and program structure. Inner Voice has invested heavily in staff development and training to give case managers, case aides, directors, and other staff the tools needed to bring these concepts into evidence in everyday practice. People experiencing homelessness and other marginalized populations are often at the intersection of multiple systems, including health, housing, and justice. Care coordination across these systems is critical to successfully serving the needs of this vulnerable population. Regardless of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, use of personal pronouns, disability, religion, or veteran status, IV consistently focuses its efforts on linking marginalized individuals and families with safe housing, wraparound support services, and employment preparation and placement options to ensure long-term economic independence providing them with opportunities to reach their full potential and enjoy an improved quality of life. Having long served justice involved individuals in many programs, including employment preparation and placement, Inner Voice is an agency of second chances with a history of employing returning citizens. As the newly arrived migrant population works its way through the emergency housing system, Inner Voice welcomes them into its programs. Currently, IV employs three bilingual staff and has a hiring preference for candidates who speak multiple languages. A core component of Inner Voice's philosophy is the practice of interagency collaboration in the pursuit of ending homelessness. Inner Voice partners with a myriad of agencies that support the overall goal of improving the lives of those experiencing homelessness through stable housing and improved mental and physical health. To safeguard housing stability, staff attend training webinars on the legal aspects of eviction and tenants’ rights and have access to emergency funds, when available, as well as through government entities, to pay for outstanding rent and utility arreage to avoid eviction. Additionally, Inner Voice works with advocacy groups and legal organizations regarding evictions and housing discrimination such as the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Cabrini Green Legal Aid, among others, and is a member of the Supportive Housing Providers Association and Housing Action Illinois that provide services related to housing issues. Inner Voice has been a member in good standing of Chicago’s Continuum of Care since its inception. Inner Voice’s CEO previously served as the Vice Chair and Chair of the CoC board, and its CPO is currently an Alternate on the board, representing the Service Providers Commission. Staff also serve on various committees and workgroups. Inner Voice is also a member of the Illinois Shelter Alliance and Illinois Partners for Human Services to advocate for increased funding for housing and supports services as well as cost of living adjustments for human service workers who are the human infrastructure of nonprofits. After forty years of caring on purpose, the staff of Inner Voice are still motivated and eager to work with those whose shoes many have walked in. Over 50% of our staff have lived experience of homelessness and justice-involved backgrounds with many enjoying decades in recovery. Participants do not have to look far to realize that personal recovery is possible, and life can get better. As the CEO often says, Inner Voice is like the Hotel California, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave. Former staff and participants keep returning either to work or to give back; it’s that kind of place.
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Grant Recipient
LIFT
LIFT-Chicago's mission is to break the cycle of poverty by investing in parents. We do this by partnering with parents to achieve economic stability and mobility through our holistic, two-generation coaching model with wraparound support, including financial capabilities workshops and quarterly cash infusions. Through 1:1 financial coaching and group workshops, LIFT-Chicago members work with coaches to identify goals and develop individualized action plans to achieve them, including obtaining higher education, securing family-sustaining employment, and developing critical financial capabilities that promote long-term economic security. LIFT-Chicago recognizes that our members’ persistence toward economic mobility, including their self-identified education and employment goals, is rooted in their resilience. As we move forward in our direct service work, we are investing more deeply in trauma-informed, healing-centered, and racial equity-driven coaching, with staff training and updated coaching protocols. For example, we are introducing solution-focused therapy techniques into our coaching program for members who need more support but do not have access to immediate mental health care. Second, as we learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuing to offer virtual programming and adopting a hybrid coaching model to be more adaptive to the needs of our parents. Third, we are experimenting with group coaching, which offers opportunities to scale coaching to more families while capitalizing on the bridged and bonded social capital that can be developed in a group setting. Group workshops provide space outside of coaching to connect with peers and focus on holistic goals like positive parenting and well-being. LIFT-Chicago recognizes the importance of enlisting coaches from diverse and low-income backgrounds with matched lived experience to our members. LIFT-Chicago's coaches, who are Master of Social Work interns, undertake specialized training to implement LIFT’s model and gain experience providing culturally sensitive, strengths-based support. As such, LIFT-Chicago supports the career pathways of both its coaches and its members – furthering their educational and career aspirations, informing the next generation of human service delivery with holistic approaches to disrupting intergenerational poverty, and advancing equity by filling a gap in the human service workforce with highly trained BIPOC clinicians.
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Grant Recipient
The Chicago Community Trust/Office of Equity and Racial Justice
Chicago, as a sanctuary city, is facing unprecedented challenges due to the recent influx of migrants following the lifting of Title 42. With over 29,301 New Arrivals, primarily from Venezuela, having arrived in Chicago as of December 29th, 2023, the city is grappling with the logistical and humanitarian aspects of accommodating and supporting these individuals. The sudden and continuous arrival of migrants, often without advance notice, has overwhelmed city officials, forcing the opening of 27 shelters with more in the pipeline. This influx, coupled with the lack of federal and limited state funding, has strained city resources, leading to tension among residents, particularly in historically underfunded low-income Black and brown communities. The City remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting New Arrivals and facilitating their permanent resettlement in Chicago. However, the media landscape, dominated by local and national outlets, contributes to a challenging environment. The portrayal of New Arrivals in the media is often reactionary and echoes xenophobic sentiments, influencing public opinion negatively. To counter this, the city administration and community leaders recognize the need for a dedicated communications help to implement a rapid response strategy, shifting the narrative and discourse around New Arrivals and immigration. This represents a crucial opportunity for Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, to lead in immigration reform, resettlement, and exemplify the essence of being a Sanctuary City. The city administration and key stakeholders, urgently require a coordinated multi-media communications plan. This plan would involve developing and supporting the implementation of a strategic communications strategy for the city's efforts to welcome New Arrivals. Additionally, it would include analyzing and interpreting public opinion, attitudes, and potential issues that might impact the city's response. Collaboration between the city administration and diverse coalition partners is crucial for ensuring better coordinated responses, maintaining message discipline, and engaging in research-informed communication. The plan should also encompass supporting all aspects of rapid response efforts, such as crafting talking points, press releases, and social media content to shape a more positive narrative around the challenges faced by Chicago as a result of the influx of migrants. The CCT will will initiate a sub-granting process to support the city administration's communications' plan on new arrivals. CCT will partner with the Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights, responsible for this communications' initiative, that will include identifying and contracting suitable firms to address the public affairs strategy understaffing related to asylum seekers. Building on their successful collaboration during the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, where CCT identified and supported community-based organizations and individuals impacted by the pandemic, the trust will once again leverage its expertise to ensure that the communications strategy aligns with the values of multiculturalism and peacekeeping. CCT's role in monitoring the process will uphold public trust, ensuring transparency, and contributing to the effective implementation of the strategy to address the needs of the city and its New Arrivals. This partnership demonstrates the shared commitment of the City administration and CCT to address pressing issues and effect lasting positive change for all Chicagoans. Over the years, the City of Chicago and The Chicago Community Trust (CCT) have built impactful partnerships, seen in initiatives like Elevated Works. This program, under Elevated Chicago, disperses $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to 60 Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) sites. CCT plays a crucial role by matching these federal dollars with an additional $1 million or more in flexible funding, ensuring prompt capital and a comprehensive range of services for the City's ETOD grantees, maximizing the impact of recovery funds on community development. Furthermore, the joint efforts of CCT and the City to combat community violence are evident through their involvement in the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC). This coalition, consisting of over 50 foundations and private funders, actively supports effective solutions against community violence. In 2023, the city administration, CCT, and PSPC collaborated to amplify the impact of the Chicago Fund, resulting in an increased investment of over $2.5 million in grants distributed among 253 grassroots organizations. This collective initiative now aims to extend its reach by engaging more young people in activities throughout the year, going beyond the traditional gap period between the end of the school year and the beginning of Chicago Park District programming. The clear synergy between CCT and the City of Chicago demonstrates our shared commitment to addressing urgent and longstanding social issues.