Funding search · EIN 362167000 · Chicago, IL

The Chicago Community Trust

A grantmaking public charity (files IRS Form 990, Schedule I). Charities like this often run real grant programs with application cycles.

14,939
grants reported
$5.82B
total given
2021–2023
filing years
$25,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 20212023. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

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Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is builtReport an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

  • CDFI and community lending capital nationwide
  • Federally qualified community health centers, rural and urban
  • Chicago-area human services, violence reduction, housing stability
  • Affordable housing, homelessness and community action agencies
  • Civil legal aid and democracy/civic participation groups
  • Climate and clean energy intermediaries

Typical grant

The median grant is $25,000 and half of all grants fall between $10,000 and $100,000, which is the donor-advised and discretionary layer of a community foundation. A separate tier of very large checks, $4 million to $50 million, went almost entirely to national intermediaries, CDFIs, and health center networks in 2023, and those are pass-through or partnership deployments rather than responses to unsolicited requests. Chicago nonprofits appear repeatedly across years, so repeat funding at the five- and six-figure level is normal.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

  • General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
  • general support
  • operations
  • charitable purposes

Positioning adjacent work

  • Anchor to a named Chicago-area grantee's theme: violence reduction, housing stability, immigrant legal services, family services.
  • Ask in the $25,000 to $100,000 band for a first request; six figures needs an existing relationship.
  • Frame the request as general operating support, not a restricted research project, matching their own wording.
  • If work is national, connect it to CDFI capital access or community health center capacity, their two biggest large-check lanes.

Worth knowing: Illinois recipients outnumber the next state four to one, so a Cook County footprint matters far more than subject fit. The giant 2023 grants to Save the Children, Capital Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and dozens of health centers reflect large donor-advised or intermediary flows, and treating them as evidence of an open national program would be a mistake.

33 grants matching “intended · $15.5M

  • $9.9M

    The Nature Conservancy · Arlington, VA · 2022

    General Operating Support, support for conservation of Michigan's natural resources and wildlife, Utah Chapter's urgent issues, including Canyonlands Research Center salaries, contracts, scientific research, and purchas read all
  • $639,068

    Youth Services of Glenview-Northbrook · Glenview, IL · 2022

    support for the Act Now Campaign - first of three intended contributions, support for the Act Now Campaign - second of three intended contributions, support for The ACT Now Campaign, support for ACT now capital campaign read all
  • $530,000

    Brookings Institution · Washington, DC · 2022

    support for USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy - Final Contribution, General Operating Support, support of the Alice M. Rivlin Chair in Economic Policy for the Vice President / 4th of 6 intended contri read all
  • $426,000

    Holy Family Preservation Society · Chicago, IL · 2022

    support for the historical preservation, restoration, and installation of chandeliers and architectural lighting in the Nave of and over the Pews of Church of the Holy Family, including: evaluation of existing fixtures read all
  • $287,750

    Chicago Human Rhythm Project · Chicago, IL · 2022

    support for: 2023 Millennium Park Residency2023 Rhythm World #33Stomping Grounds: July 16 - November 12, 2023, General Operating Support for the Mayfair Arts Center, support for one half of the salary and benefits for D read all
  • $285,900

    Northern Illinois Food Bank · Geneva, IL · 2022

    General Operating Support, support for Build Healthy Communities Program operations and Screen and Intervene initiative, matching the contribution of Robert Hansel, PGL retiree, $1,000: support for Cup of Hope$1,500: su read all
  • $151,000

    Cleveland Clinic Foundation · Cleveland, OH · 2022

    support for Cleveland Clinic Martin Health: Lung Cancer Center of Excellence - first of 2 intended contributions, support for VeloSano - per the fundraising efforts of Rider John Saada, support for VeloSano - per the fu read all
  • $80,250

    High Speed Rail Alliance · Chicago, IL · 2022

    General Operating Support, salary support for the Deputy Director position - third of three intended annual contributions, salary support for the Deputy Director position - second of three intended annual contributions

  • $75,000

    Showing Up for Racial Justice Education Fund · Buffalo, NY · 2022

    General Operating Support (1st of 2 intended contributions)

  • $50,000

    Cofan Survival Fund · Oak Park, IL · 2022

    3rd of 4 years of intended contributions to support the Cofan Higher Education Project

  • $43,830

    Wilshire Boulevard Temple · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    General Operating Support, Audrey Irmas Pavilion paver - 2nd and 3rd of 5 intended annual contributions, support for Brawerman Elementary endowment

  • $10,000

    Help Pregnancy Aid · Grand Rapids, MI · 2022

    support for Expansion - part of intended $25,000 total contribution

  • $10,000

    Ymca Camp Tecumseh · Brookston, IN · 2022

    Capital Campaign support (first of three intended contributions)

  • $951,224

    University of Arizona Foundation · Tucson, AZ · 2021

    $15,000 support for Annual Fund. $10,000 support for College of Architecture, Cooper Center Capital Fund. General operating support. Contribution to Stamps Scholars. Support for College of Social and Behavioral Science, read all
  • $951,224

    University of Arizona Foundation · Tucson, AZ · 2021

    $15,000 support for Annual Fund. $10,000 support for College of Architecture, Cooper Center Capital Fund. General operating support. Contribution to Stamps Scholars. Support for College of Social and Behavioral Science, read all
  • $290,000

    The Everglades Foundation · Palmetto Bay, FL · 2021

    Annual Board Support, final contribution on 5 years/$500,000 support for The Field Family Fund, first contribution to support The Field Family Fund (5 years of intended support).

  • $290,000

    The Everglades Foundation · Palmetto Bay, FL · 2021

    Annual Board Support, final contribution on 5 years/$500,000 support for The Field Family Fund, first contribution to support The Field Family Fund (5 years of intended support).

  • $100,000

    Brookings Institution · Washington, DC · 2021

    Support of the Alice M. Rivlin Chair in Economic Policy for the Vice President / third of five intended contributions.

  • $100,000

    Brookings Institution · Washington, DC · 2021

    Support of the Alice M. Rivlin Chair in Economic Policy for the Vice President / third of five intended contributions.

  • $50,000

    Cofan Survival Fund · Oak Park, IL · 2021

    $25,000 support for the 5th and final year of the Cofan Basic Education Project and $25,000 for the 1st contribution of the 2nd of 4 years of intended contributions to support the Cofan Higher Education Project

  • $50,000

    Cofan Survival Fund · Oak Park, IL · 2021

    $25,000 support for the 5th and final year of the Cofan Basic Education Project and $25,000 for the 1st contribution of the 2nd of 4 years of intended contributions to support the Cofan Higher Education Project

  • $40,000

    United States Wrestling Foundation · Short Hills, NJ · 2021

    Contribution to the 2022 USWF Board. Support of the #LetsWrestle program, half of intended amount.

  • $40,000

    United States Wrestling Foundation · Short Hills, NJ · 2021

    Contribution to the 2022 USWF Board. Support of the #LetsWrestle program, half of intended amount.

  • $30,000

    Open Books Ltd · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, $20,000 contribution to North Lawndale Reads (with an additional intended $20,000 contribution next year) $10,000 contribution to the Dolly Parton Initiative - as discussed with Eric Johnson

  • $30,000

    Open Books Ltd · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, $20,000 contribution to North Lawndale Reads (with an additional intended $20,000 contribution next year) $10,000 contribution to the Dolly Parton Initiative - as discussed with Eric Johnson

  • $25,000

    Ymca Camp Tecumseh · Brookston, IN · 2021

    Capital Campaign Support (second of three intended contributions). Support of mental health consulting and training under the direction of Amanda Case, Ph.D. of Purdue University for Camp Tecumseh counselors and staff f read all
  • $25,000

    Providence Health & Services Foundation · Burbank, CA · 2021

    Annual Trustee Contribution 2021, Mezuzah Fund - third of five intended contributions

  • $25,000

    Providence Health & Services Foundation · Burbank, CA · 2021

    Annual Trustee Contribution 2021, Mezuzah Fund - third of five intended contributions

  • $25,000

    Ymca Camp Tecumseh · Brookston, IN · 2021

    Capital Campaign Support (second of three intended contributions). Support of mental health consulting and training under the direction of Amanda Case, Ph.D. of Purdue University for Camp Tecumseh counselors and staff f read all
  • $12,000

    Help Pregnancy Aid · Grand Rapids, MI · 2021

    Support of Expansion, payment toward intended $25,000 contribution.

  • $12,000

    Help Pregnancy Aid · Grand Rapids, MI · 2021

    Support of Expansion, payment toward intended $25,000 contribution.

  • $10,000

    Stephen M Hoenig Memorial Actors Fund · Chicago, IL · 2021

    Support of the organization's mission to provide financial assistance to talented young actors and actresses. This contribution (which is the second of three intended contributions) will enable the organization to incre read all
  • $10,000

    Stephen M Hoenig Memorial Actors Fund · Chicago, IL · 2021

    Support of the organization's mission to provide financial assistance to talented young actors and actresses. This contribution (which is the second of three intended contributions) will enable the organization to incre read all

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

  • Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation4 grants · $120.0M
  • Climate Imperative Foundation4 grants · $80.0M
  • Save the Children Federation4 grants · $53.5M
  • Habitat for Humanity International4 grants · $50.0M
  • National Council of Ymcas of the USA3 grants · $50.0M
  • Youth Guidance4 grants · $45.6M
  • Capital Impact Partners1 grant · $45.0M
  • National Philanthropic Trust2 grants · $42.0M
  • Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services Access3 grants · $40.0M
  • Communities in Schools2 grants · $40.0M

Giving over time

$2.84B
2021
$1.56B
2022
$1.42B
2023

Grant history

The 100 largest of 14,939 grants.

  • $50.8M

    Save the Children Federation · Fairfield, CT · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $45.0M

    Capital Impact Partners · Arlington, VA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $30.8M

    National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2022

    Goldstein Family Fund, support for Charles A Micale Foundation, "Our Own Thing" Fund, illiquid shares to be transferred to FP: Goldstein Family Fund, Ruhl Donor Advised Fund

  • $30.0M

    Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation · Seattle, WA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $30.0M

    Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation · Seattle, WA · 2022

    support to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies

  • $30.0M

    Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation · Seattle, WA · 2021

    To support Breakthrough Energy Catalyst's effort to accelerate deployment of clean technologies in order to achieve net zero by 2050

  • $30.0M

    Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation · Seattle, WA · 2021

    To support Breakthrough Energy Catalyst's effort to accelerate deployment of clean technologies in order to achieve net zero by 2050

  • $28.0M

    Hope Enterprise Corporation · Jackson, MS · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $26.1M

    Tides Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $25.0M

    Habitat for Humanity International · Americus, GA · 2021

    General operating support, 2022 contribution, 2021 contribution, general operating support - for use in the State of New Mexico

  • $25.0M

    Habitat for Humanity International · Americus, GA · 2021

    General operating support, 2022 contribution, 2021 contribution, general operating support - for use in the State of New Mexico

  • $25.0M

    Chicago Public Schools · Chicago, IL · 2022

    General operating support

  • $23.0M

    Accion Opportunity Fund Community Development · San Jose, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $22.6M

    Youth Guidance · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, contribution to the JPMC The Fellowship Initiative, matching contribution made by Polly Eldringhoff, PGL employee. General operating support, matching the contribution of torrence Hinton, PGL read all
  • $22.6M

    Youth Guidance · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, contribution to the JPMC The Fellowship Initiative, matching contribution made by Polly Eldringhoff, PGL employee. General operating support, matching the contribution of torrence Hinton, PGL read all
  • $20.1M

    The Center for Popular Democracy · Brooklyn, NY · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $20.1M

    Eisenhower Medical Center · Rancho Mirage, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $20.0M

    Communities in Schools · Arlington, VA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Communities in Schools · Arlington, VA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Boys & Girls Clubs of America · Atlanta, GA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $20.0M

    Climate Imperative Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $20.0M

    National Council of Ymcas of the USA · Chicago, IL · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $20.0M

    Champlain Housing Trust · Burlington, VT · 2022

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Climate Imperative Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    to support Climate Imperative's work to cut emissions at speed and scale

  • $20.0M

    Jobs for the Future · Boston, MA · 2022

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Per Scholas · Bronx, NY · 2022

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    San Francisco Community Land Trust · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services Access · Dearborn, MI · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Arab Community Center for Economic & Social Services Access · Dearborn, MI · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Climate Imperative Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    To support Climate Imperative's work to cut emissions at speed and scale

  • $20.0M

    Climate Imperative Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021

    To support Climate Imperative's work to cut emissions at speed and scale

  • $20.0M

    Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools · Fresno, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools · Fresno, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles · Bellflower, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $20.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles · Bellflower, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $16.0M

    Escondido Union School District · Escondido, CA · 2022

    support for public purposes

  • $16.0M

    Learning Policy Institute · Palo Alto, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $16.0M

    Learning Policy Institute · Palo Alto, CA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.3M

    Guttmacher Institute · New York, NY · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.3M

    Guttmacher Institute · New York, NY · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.1M

    Community Investment Corporation · Chicago, IL · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $15.1M

    National Low Income Housing Coalition · Washington, DC · 2022

    Unrestricted, General Operating Support

  • $15.0M

    Boys and Girls Clubs of America · Atlanta, GA · 2021

    General operating support, $10,000,000 support of child care; $5,000,000 support of food insecurity

  • $15.0M

    Boys and Girls Clubs of America · Atlanta, GA · 2021

    General operating support, $10,000,000 support of child care; $5,000,000 support of food insecurity

  • $15.0M

    Community First Fund · Lancaster, PA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $15.0M

    Grid Alternatives · Oakland, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $15.0M

    The Miami Foundation · Miami, FL · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $15.0M

    Codepathorg · San Francisco, CA · 2022

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Merit America · Washington, DC · 2022

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Achievement Network · Boston, MA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Achievement Network · Boston, MA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Instruction Partners · Nashville, TN · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Instruction Partners · Nashville, TN · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    National Council of Ymcas of the USA · Chicago, IL · 2021

    $10,000,000 support of child care; $5,000,000 support of food insecurity

  • $15.0M

    National Council of Ymcas of the USA · Chicago, IL · 2021

    $10,000,000 support of child care; $5,000,000 support of food insecurity

  • $15.0M

    Recovery Innovations · Phoenix, AZ · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Recovery Innovations · Phoenix, AZ · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Rights and Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Rights and Resources Institute · Washington, DC · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Unbounded Learning · New York, NY · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Unbounded Learning · New York, NY · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Vose River Charitable Fund · Bethesda, MD · 2021

    General operating support

  • $15.0M

    Vose River Charitable Fund · Bethesda, MD · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Atlanta Habitat for Humanity · Atlanta, GA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Atlanta Habitat for Humanity · Atlanta, GA · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity · St Paul, MN · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity · St Paul, MN · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region · Charlotte, NC · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region · Charlotte, NC · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver · Denver, CO · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.5M

    Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver · Denver, CO · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.1M

    Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Cincinnati, OH · 2022

    John M Scott Giving Account, Charles N. Mills Giving Fund, Andy and Nancy Mills Charitable Fund, Ellert Donation Fund, Levine Family Fund, Evolve Charitable Fund - support for Salon Ohm, transfer of funds - Charles N. M read all
  • $13.0M

    Communities in Schools Houston · Houston, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $13.0M

    Communities in Schools Houston · Houston, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $12.0M

    Impactassets · Bethesda, MD · 2021

    Support for David Samuel or Fund for the Earth (DSOFFTE), The Builders Initiative Fund

  • $12.0M

    Impactassets · Bethesda, MD · 2021

    Support for David Samuel or Fund for the Earth (DSOFFTE), The Builders Initiative Fund

  • $12.0M

    Grounded Solutions Network · Oakland, CA · 2022

    General operating support

  • $12.0M

    The Morehouse School of Medicine · Atlanta, GA · 2022

    General operating support

  • $11.2M

    National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $11.0M

    Ascend Learning · Brooklyn, NY · 2022

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Braven · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Braven · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Omaha · Omaha, NE · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County · Clearwater, FL · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas County · Clearwater, FL · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Houston Habitat for Humanity · Houston, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Houston Habitat for Humanity · Houston, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Trinity Habitat for Humanity · Fort Worth, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $11.0M

    Trinity Habitat for Humanity · Fort Worth, TX · 2021

    General operating support

  • $10.3M

    Start Early · Chicago, IL · 2022

    support for programming, support for Educare, General Operating Support, matching the contribution of Charles Matthews, PGL retiree, continued support for the roll-out of the NEAR Program in the Chicago area, especially read all
  • $10.1M

    Chinese American Service League · Chicago, IL · 2022

    To support building and leading a coalition of partner organizations focused on assisting hate crime survivors and educating and empowering Chicagoland AANHPI community on how to report hate crimes and hate incidents., read all
  • $10.1M

    American Jewish Committee · New York, NY · 2022

    support for Project Interchange: bringing Arabs to Israel for immersive initiative, General Operating Support, support for the Dallas office, to advance human rights and democratic values in the Dallas area, General Ope read all
  • $10.0M

    Seventh Generation Fund for Indigenous Peoples · Arcata, CA · 2022

    General Operating Support, Unrestricted

  • $10.0M

    Glaad · Los Angeles, CA · 2022

    General Operating Support, Unrestricted

  • $10.0M

    Access To Capital for Entrepreneurs · Cleveland, GA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $10.0M

    Genesis La Economic Growth Corporation · Los Angeles, CA · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $10.0M

    Ochin · Portland, OR · 2023

    General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes

  • $10.0M

    Alliance for Early Success · Washington, DC · 2022

    General operating support

  • $10.0M

    City of Lakes Community Land Trust · Minneapolis, MN · 2022

    General operating support

View all 14,939 grants →

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Source: IRS Form 990, Schedule I, as filed by this organization. These are grants already paid. Grants paid directly to individuals are reported to the IRS only as totals, so they do not appear as named lines here.