Feeding Change in Our Region
The Chicago Region Food System Fund is a group of funders and community partners working together to build a more resilient local food…
Stories
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent Stories
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Cultivating a Bright Future in Little Village
Little Village, or La Villita, has a long history of welcoming immigrant communities, starting with the German, Czech and Polish residents who flocked…
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Boosting Impact: The Amplification Fund
The Amplification Fund is an opportunity for donors to participate directly in the Trust’s grantmaking and join a community of philanthropists with similar…
All Stories
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When the Solution Becomes the Problem: The Legacy of the 1919 Race Riots
On July 27th, our city marks 100 years since Eugene Williams, a young Black man, was killed after his raft drifted into an area of…
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Not Your Typical Corporate Sponsorship: Partnering for Disability Inclusion
Paulette Jagers is the head of strategic initiatives and leadership for BMO Financial Group. Paulette is a former board member of the Chicagoland Business Leadership…
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The Charitable Trends We’re Watching in a Complex Giving Climate
The Annual Report on Philanthropy released each June by Giving USA shares data on charitable giving in the U.S. The main takeaway from this year’s…
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A Daughter’s Legacy, A Lasting Impact for Chicago Children
If you are passionate about supporting a particular community or cause, one way you can be confident that your contributions will be used to address…
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Celebrating Ten Years of Teamwork for a More Resilient Chicago
Down a quiet side street at the western edge of Logan Square, a group of Chicago’s passionate philanthropists and dynamic nonprofit leaders gathered inside a…
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Discovering the Leader in Me
Evelyn Keolian is a librarian in the Chicago Public Library’s Assistive Resources Center. She is also the founder and chair of the library’s Diversability Advocacy…
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New Survey Reflects LGBTQ Community’s Needs, Resources and Resilience
“LGBTQ: What’s New?” This question began a fifteen-week quest to document the current needs, challenges and strengths of Chicago’s LGBTQ+ community. The LGBT Community Fund,…
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Ticketing Fine Reform Aims to Stop the Debt Spiral
For some people a parking ticket is an unexpected expense, an annoyance to resolve. But for low-income families struggling to make ends meet, a vehicle…
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Lifting Up Chicago’s LGBTQ+ ‘Advocates on the Ground’
Imagine a broad and diverse community where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals are able to live in peace and harmony. Enjoy the same rights…
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The Lab That's Incubating Entrepreneurship for Chicago Neighborhoods
Chicago’s small business sector provides a supportive environment for growth, with year-over-year increase in nearly all types of financing. But a recent market assessment found significant disparities…
