The Amplification Fund: Engaging and Immersing Donors in Trust Grantmaking

Last summer, Program Manager Caleb Herod and former Senior Director of Gift Planning Tim Bresnahan met over a cup of coffee to brainstorm new opportunities to collaborate. During their conversation, they sketched out an idea to connect donors to the Trust’s strategic priorities. This led to the creation of the Amplification Fund.  

The premise behind the fund is simple: donors are invited to give directly to one of the Trust’s open Request for Proposals (RFPs). This additional philanthropic support allows Community Impact staff to bolster the amount of funding grant partners could receive or even increase the funding stream to include additional organizations. But Herod and Bresnahan’s vision was about more than just giving money. According to Herod, “We wanted to create meaningful experiences for our donors and our grant recipients.”  

Drawing on the Trust’s expertise as a convener, the Community Impact and Philanthropic Services teams worked together to create a year-long experience for donors who gave to the Amplification Fund, specifically for a cohort of donors who supported the launch of the Income Growth Solutions (IGS) funding program in 2023. The cohort was first invited to meet Herod to learn about the grant process and how the IGS grant program advanced the Trust’s strategic priorities.  

Throughout the process, donors were provided periodic updates on how their support was helping organizations execute their work and create greater impact. For example, Revolution Workshop, which focuses on workforce development in the construction trades, was part of the inaugural grant cohort. The organization said the funding not only bolstered its training programs but also gave them additional funding flexibility to support alumni through a new pilot initiative, RWheels. The pilot connects participants to an affordable auto loan so that they can reliably travel to and from worksites. “This program will allow community members across Chicago to access affordable transportation in a way that has not been done – and will ensure our alumni continue to receive support after they graduate from one of our programs,” the organization reported. 

Six months after grants were dispersed, donors were invited to a virtual “Day of Learning,” where they heard from grant recipients midway through the year-long grant program. Finally, as a cap to the year, donors were invited to two site visits in May 2024 to see these programs in action.  

“What’s great about this fund is that it’s an immersive experience for donors because they are not only giving their money, but they are a part of the journey too,” said Adele Nandan, director of donor engagement. 

Trust donor Maria Green became interested in supporting the Amplification Fund because she saw it as an opportunity to use her philanthropy to address complex challenges like poverty and lack of economic mobility for families and individuals. She says helping people access education, resources, housing, and quality jobs simultaneously is key to improving their outcomes.  

“As these programs grow and develop, I am hoping to see these metrics bear out. I am confident that they will,” said Green. 

This summer, the Trust has opened more opportunities for donors to participate in the Amplification Fund. In addition to a second round of IGS grantmaking, donors can support the Sustainable Solutions for Housing Development funding program to support homeless services. 

According to Herod, the Trust receives many great proposals every RFP cycle that are not funded. However, he believes the Amplification Fund presents an opportunity to “leave fewer of those on the table” by getting donors involved in the process and providing them with a greater understanding of the Trust’s work.   

“I see it as a win-win for everyone involved. My hope is to expand this program and make those connections last into the future,” he said.