A Collaborative Approach to Impact

The Trust is committed to collecting data and applying what we learn to bring people together, spark innovation, and inform decision-making. We also seek to expand opportunities for our donors to connect directly with nonprofit partners and participate in the learning process.

In 2023, the Trust began inviting donors to participate in community grantmaking by supporting our Income Growth Solutions (IGS) funding program. Recognizing that income growth is about more than just the dollars someone makes through their job, the IGS program supports education, employment and financial health programs that aim to turn income into sustainable wealth for individuals and households. Donors learn alongside the Trust about how these innovative programs are creating pathways to economic mobility.

In this Q&A with Jennifer Axelrod, senior director of learning & impact, and Liza Youngling, data and analytics manager, we discuss why and how the Trust measures the impact of our work, what donors should think about when considering impact, and what we are learning in partnership with our donors and grant recipients.

What is the role of the Learning & Impact team at the Trust?

Jennifer Axelrod: The Learning & Impact team was created a little over five years ago. While the Trust has always done thoughtful grantmaking, we haven’t always had the evidence-gathering processes in place to track progress over time.

The goal of Learning & Impact is twofold. One: to help the Trust reflect on its own internal practices—where we’re going and how we as an organization can best support our partners. And two: to measure how our external grantmaking and changemaking efforts are moving the needle on addressing the most pressing needs and creating a Chicago region where opportunity and prosperity are in reach for everyone.

How does the Trust measure the impact of our work?

JA: At one level, we work with our nonprofit partners to measure the outcomes of the grants we’ve made. Who is being served? What are the results? What is the social and economic impact of our investments in neighborhoods? We layer that data in with the stories our partners are sharing about what’s happening in the communities, where they’re making progress or experiencing challenges, and how we can continue to learn and grow together.

At another level, we are a financial steward of other people’s resources, including gifts to our endowment which support the Trust’s community grantmaking. The Trust team is continuously thinking about how we are living into that and ensuring that we use all our funds in the best possible way to strengthen the region.

How should people think about impact in their own giving and what information should they look for from organizations they support?

JA: First, what is the minimum amount of data needed for them to feel confident about where their dollars are going? Nonprofit organizations are incredibly stretched and while reporting on impact is an important part of their job, we want to make sure that what we’re asking for makes sense to their work and what they’re trying to achieve. When we ask a question that provides an opportunity for both a donor and a nonprofit to learn something, that’s a two-fer.

Additionally, it’s important to think about the timeframe. A lot of issues that our donors invest in and that we invest in as a community foundation aren’t things where you’re going to necessarily see change in six or 12 months. Consider that multi-year grants or grants with a flexible time horizon can really help organizations focus on the long-term outcomes they’re trying to achieve and drive towards meaningful impact.

We recently piloted an opportunity for donors to enhance the Trust’s community grantmaking through our Income Growth Solutions (IGS) program. What have we learned so far?

Liza Youngling: In March we brought grant partners and donors together for a learning session. In addition to the early results on the number of people served; the number of programs & partnerships established; and the number of permanent job placements, the nonprofits were able to share what’s happening day-to-day in their programs. They explained how they are finding innovative ways of supporting people across the life cycle of their programs, and even after participants are in a job or enrolled in post-secondary education. One organization talked about the importance of building connections with program participants and celebrating small wins. These are long-term efforts to move people beyond just having a job or a credential to building careers and economic stability, so celebrating accomplishments along the way is important. I think it was meaningful for donors to hear first-hand what’s really working in the programs.

What are the benefits for donors who choose to support grantmaking programs like IGS?

LY: We’re always on a learning journey at the Trust and we welcome interested donors to come along with us on that journey. In just the first six months of the IGS program we’ve learned that a holistic approach including financial support and continuing engagement with program alumni helps ensure that participants advance into quality jobs. These insights about what’s working are informing how we’re approaching the next funding cycle. From a donor perspective, they’re able to connect with our grant partner organizations to understand what’s happening beyond the numbers and the real effect the program is having on people’s lives. For example, in just the first six months, our grant partners placed 259 people in permanent, quality jobs. I think it’s a powerful opportunity to see change in action.