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Grant funders / Illinois / The Chicago Community Trust

The Chicago Community Trust

Chicago, Illinois  ·  EIN 362167000  ·  Private foundation

Based in Chicago, Illinois, The Chicago Community Trust has awarded $5.95B across 21,394 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Save the Children Federation Inc. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.

$576.9M
Annual giving (FY2020)
$3.60B
Total assets
21,394
Grants tracked
2024
Most recent grant

What The Chicago Community Trust funds

The Chicago Community Trust's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes.

Adult EducationArts & CultureArts EducationCivil Rights & Social JusticeCommunity ImprovementCriminal JusticeDisability ServicesDomestic ViolenceEarly Childhood EducationEconomic Development

Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities.

black communitieschildrendisabledfamiliesfoster youthhispanic communitieshomeless populationimmigrants & refugees

Grant history

The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Chicago Community Trust, by amount:

RecipientLocationGrantYear
Save the Children Federation Inc
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
Fairfield, CT$50.8M2024
Capital Impact Partners
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
Arlington, VA$45.0M2024
National Philanthropic Trust
Goldstein Family Fund, support for Charles A Micale Foundation, "Our Own Thing" Fund, illiquid shares to be transferred to FP: Goldstein Fam
Jenkintown, PA$30.8M2023
Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation
To support Breakthrough Energy Catalyst's effort to accelerate deployment of clean technologies in order to achieve net zero by 2050
Seattle, WA$30.0M2022
Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation
support to accelerate the deployment of clean technologies
Seattle, WA$30.0M2023
Hampton University
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
Hampton, VA$30.0M2020
Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
Seattle, WA$30.0M2024
Hope Enterprise Corporation
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
Jackson, MS$28.0M2024
Tides Foundation
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
San Francisco, CA$26.1M2024
Habitat for Humanity International
General operating support, 2022 contribution, 2021 contribution, general operating support - for use in the State of New Mexico
Americus, GA$25.0M2022
Chicago Public Schools
General operating support
Chicago, IL$25.0M2023
Chicago Cred
FUND OPERATIONS AND PROGRAMMING
Palo Alto, CA$23.6M2019
Accion Opportunity Fund Community Development
General support for programs, operations and other charitable purposes
San Jose, CA$23.0M2024
Youth Guidance
General operating support, contribution to the JPMC The Fellowship Initiative, matching contribution made by Polly Eldringhoff, PGL employee
Chicago, IL$22.6M2022
Duke University
NICHOLAS SCHOOL OF THE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:$10,000,000 FOR NSOE FINANCIAL AID AND SUPPORT FOR STUDENT EDUCATION PROGRAMS$
Durham, NC$20.4M2018

The Chicago Community Trust giving by year

Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing 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 for funding from The Chicago Community Trust

The Chicago Community Trust's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at cct.org.

Is The Chicago Community Trust the right funder for your nonprofit?

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Frequently asked questions about The Chicago Community Trust

Does The Chicago Community Trust accept grant applications?
The Chicago Community Trust's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
What does The Chicago Community Trust fund?
The Chicago Community Trust's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Save the Children Federation Inc, Capital Impact Partners, National Philanthropic Trust. Its full grant history is listed above.
How much does The Chicago Community Trust give in grants?
The Chicago Community Trust reported $576.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $5.95B over 21,394 grants.
Where is The Chicago Community Trust located?
The Chicago Community Trust is based in Chicago, Illinois. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 362167000.
How can I find foundations similar to The Chicago Community Trust?
Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Chicago Community Trust, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.

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About this profile. This page is built from The Chicago Community Trust's public IRS Form 990-PF and 990 filings, indexed by Bespoke Grants alongside 13M+ grants from 225,000+ U.S. foundations. Grant figures reflect filings available to date; IRS data publishes on a 1–2 year lag. Bespoke Grants is not affiliated with The Chicago Community Trust. Always confirm current giving priorities and application procedures with the foundation directly before applying.