Neighborhood Capital Fund – Late-Stage Capital Projects

Neighborhood Capital Fund – Late-Stage Capital Projects is sponsored by The Chicago Community Trust. Supports late-stage real estate development projects in underinvested neighborhoods on the South and West sides of Cook County, focusing on community input and nonprofit partnerships.

The Neighborhood Capital Fund is a funders collaborative led by The Chicago Community Trust that is bringing new amenities and economic opportunities to residents by supporting much-needed development in underinvested communities. The fund provides streamlined, late-stage real estate capital grants for brick-and-mortar projects to help complete their capital financing and move to and through construction.

## Elements of the Neighborhood Capital Fund Three elements sum up what makes this initiative catalytic and unique. Hyperlocal: The goal of the new fund is to support community-led real estate opportunities located within a half-mile of recent economic development to continue momentum.

Late-stage Funding: The fund is providing capital for projects that have raised more than 75% of the resources needed so that they can start construction. Collaborative Philanthropy: By pooling funds from multiple donors, we are able to make investments in multiple projects at the same time for exponential impact.

## **RFP Open:**Late-Stage Capital Projects By supporting developments shaped by community priorities and participation, the Neighborhood Capital Fund seeks to catalyze clustered investment, generate jobs, expand local services and amenities, and improve overall quality of life.

**RFP Release:**Thursday, October 1, 2026 **Project Scope Form Deadline:**Monday, November 2, 2026 **Full Application Deadline:**Saturday, January 30, 2027 **Funding Decision:**June 2027 **Announcement:**June/July 2027 ### Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 26: Building Opportunity, Block by Block From 2021 to 2025, We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery (We Rise Together), a funder collaborative led by The Chicago… * Partnerships & Initiatives ### Neighborhood Capital Fund Fuels South and West Side Corridor Revitalization Underinvestment has limited economic mobility and contributed to higher rates of poverty across Chicago’s South and West sides.

Combined with depopulation, it has… ### Nearly $8 Million in Grants Will Support Nine Real Estate Projects in Underinvested Neighborhoods Community-led projects will bring much needed amenities, services and economic opportunities—including health services, youth programs, workforce training, fresh food, and more—to underinvested neighborhoods… We know of dozens more worthy projects that have raised most of their financing and, with funding from the Neighborhood Capital Fund, will be poised for construction.

The Trust is committed to maintaining the relationships and knowledge needed to maintain a pipeline of projects and match ready projects with the resources needed to get to and through construction.