The Chicago Community Trust
The Chicago Community Trust is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois, with a focus on supporting initiatives in adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes. Since its inception, the Trust has awarded $5.95 billion across 21,394 grants, with the most recent grants recorded in 2024.
Funding Priorities
The Trust's giving supports a range of focus areas, including:
- Adult Education
- Arts & Culture
- Arts Education
- Civil Rights & Social Justice
- Community Improvement
- Criminal Justice
- Disability Services
- Domestic Violence
- Early Childhood Education
- Economic Development
Populations supported by the Trust include:
- Black communities
- Children
- Disabled individuals
- Families
- Foster youth
- Hispanic communities
- Homeless populations
- Immigrants & refugees
Grant History
The Trust's largest grants on record include:
- Save the Children Federation Inc (Fairfield, CT) - $50.8M (2024) for general support
- Capital Impact Partners (Arlington, VA) - $45.0M (2024) for general support
- National Philanthropic Trust (Jenkintown, PA) - $30.8M (2023) for support of various funds
- Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation (Seattle, WA) - $30.0M (2022, 2023, 2024) for clean energy initiatives
- Hampton University (Hampton, VA) - $30.0M (2020) for general operating support
- Hope Enterprise Corporation (Jackson, MS) - $28.0M (2024) for general support
- Tides Foundation (San Francisco, CA) - $26.1M (2024) for general support
- Habitat for Humanity International (Americus, GA) - $25.0M (2022) for general operating support in New Mexico
- Chicago Public Schools (Chicago, IL) - $25.0M (2023) for general operating support
Annual Giving
Grant totals by year:
- 2017: $293.0M
- 2018: $353.2M
- 2019: $335.8M
- 2020: $573.7M
- 2022: $1.42B
- 2023: $1.56B
- 2024: $1.42B
How to Apply
The Chicago Community Trust does not specify a formal application process in its public IRS filings. Foundations of this size typically prioritize organizations they already know. A concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is often the best first step. For more information, visit cct.org.