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.

16 grants matching “thank · $2.3M

  • $850,500

    Save the Children Federation · Fairfield, CT · 2022

    providing hunger assistance to Afghanistan and other regions in greatest need, Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, General Operating Support, support for the summer feeding and reading program, Children's Emergency Fund for Tur read all
  • $99,250

    Onegoal · Chicago, IL · 2022

    support for the 4yr College Access and Completion Program in Chicago, supporting programs in Texas (preferably Fort Bend or Harris County). Thank you for your important work., support for the Chicago office to provide e read all
  • $42,500

    Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2022

    General Operating Support - Thank you for Cabaret!!!, General Operating Support

  • $39,500

    Judicial Watch · Washington, DC · 2022

    General Operating Support, Membership plus contribution - waive all tangible benefits, support for election integrity, support for matching contribution challenge, support for the Voter Integrity Project - with thanks t read all
  • $16,000

    Fill Ministries · Cumming, GA · 2022

    support for medical needs, support for Gala (no tickets or tangible benefits), General Operating Support - thank you for all you do!!, General Operating Support, support for Social Worker Family Care Funds - per Jaclyn' read all
  • $12,000

    Rockland Foundation Rockland Memorial Community Church · Golden, CO · 2022

    Unrestricted - with thanks for what God is doing

  • $438,000

    Resident Association of Greater Englewood · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support - with thanks from Scott Daniel, to provide programming to build community cohesion for the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities grantees. In support of The 1158 development on the 59 read all
  • $438,000

    Resident Association of Greater Englewood · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support - with thanks from Scott Daniel, to provide programming to build community cohesion for the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities grantees. In support of The 1158 development on the 59 read all
  • $70,000

    Mishkan Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, general operating support, with thanks For supporting the funeral of Roy David Gottlieb, general operating support - in appreciation for the beautiful funeral that Mishkan orchestrated for Roy read all
  • $70,000

    Mishkan Chicago · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, general operating support, with thanks For supporting the funeral of Roy David Gottlieb, general operating support - in appreciation for the beautiful funeral that Mishkan orchestrated for Roy read all
  • $55,000

    Teach for America · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support for TFA Chicago, general operating support, general operating support - Note From Funder: Thank you to Emily Kos for helping us learn more about your wonderful work!

  • $55,000

    Teach for America · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support for TFA Chicago, general operating support, general operating support - Note From Funder: Thank you to Emily Kos for helping us learn more about your wonderful work!

  • $32,000

    Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support - with thanks from Scott Daniel

  • $32,000

    Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support - with thanks from Scott Daniel

  • $9,550

    Howard Brown Health Center · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, general operating support in recognition of the Boka Restaurant Group contribution to the Let It Be Us Event. Thanks!, to further Covid vaccine response communication, outreach, and Support ef read all
  • $9,550

    Howard Brown Health Center · Chicago, IL · 2021

    General operating support, general operating support in recognition of the Boka Restaurant Group contribution to the Let It Be Us Event. Thanks!, to further Covid vaccine response communication, outreach, and Support ef 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.