1,000+ Opportunities
Find the right grant
Search federal, foundation, and corporate grants with AI — or browse by agency, topic, and state.
Sponsorships (The Chicago Community Trust) is sponsored by The Chicago Community Trust. The Chicago Community Trust dedicates a portion of its discretionary grantmaking budget to sponsor programming events that strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address critical needs in Chicago.
Events that highlight community-driven solutions, amplify resident voices, encourage inclusive development, or promote new ideas that help people build wealth and well-being could be relevant. Priority is given to organizations and events in Chicago or Cook County with annual budgets under $1M.
Get alerted about grants like this
Save a search for “The Chicago Community Trust” or related topics and get emailed when new opportunities appear.
Search similar grants →Extracted from the official opportunity page/RFP to help you evaluate fit faster.
Sponsorships - The Chicago Community Trust The Trust dedicates a portion of its discretionary grantmaking budget to sponsor programming events that strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address critical needs in Chicago.
Application Opens: April 30, 2026 Application Deadline: May 15, 2026 An Update to our Sponsorships Program We are updating our sponsorships process to better support the organizations and communities we serve. By fall 2026, we will move to rolling applications that are considered for funding multiple times per year.
Between now and then, we will have two open application periods: For events occurring in June, July, and August: Application Opens : April 30, 2026 Application Deadline : May 15, 2026 Disbursements : June 2026 For events occurring in August, September, and October: Application Opens : June 8, 2026 Application Deadline : June 30, 2026 Disbursements : August 2026 Please visit GrantCentral , The Chicago Community Trust’s online grants management system, to view the criteria and access the application for Sponsorships.
If you have additional questions, for technical questions regarding GrantCentral, email [email protected] . For programmatic and application content questions, contact [email protected] . The Chicago Community Trust dedicates a portion of its discretionary grantmaking budget to sponsor programming events that strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address critical needs in Chicago.
Need/Opportunity Statement For many nonprofit organizations, events such as meetings, forums, conference, and cultural events are an important source of funding. They also create opportunities for people to connect, collaborate and lift up the voices of residents who are most impacted by systemic barriers.
Applicants should explain how their event aligns with the Trust commitment to convene people and partners, respond to community needs, and support lasting change. Organizations should also explain the event highlights community-driven solutions, amplifies resident voices, encourages inclusive development, or promotes new ideas that help people build wealth and well-being through homeownership or income growth.
Priority will be given to organizations and events located in Chicago or Cook County that most clearly align with and advance the goals mentioned above. We further prioritize organizations with annual budgets under $1M and those that do not currently have a grant from The Chicago Community Trust.
Sponsorship grants are intended to support events that advance The Chicago Community Trust’s commitment to strengthen economic mobility, increase opportunity and well-being, and address the critical needs of Chicago’s most vulnerable residents.
Through this funding opportunity, the Trust seeks to achieve the following goals and outcomes: Strengthen Community Voice and Leadership : Support events that elevate resident perspectives, particularly from underinvested communities, and create meaningful opportunities for engagement and dialogue.
Advance Economic Mobility and Opportunity : Promote events that highlight innovative solutions, partnerships and strategies related to income growth, workforce development, entrepreneurship, homeownership, and wealth-building.
Foster Cross-Sector Collaboration : Encourage convenings that bring together nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, business, and community leaders to share knowledge, align strategies, and build partnerships for long-term impact.
Address Critical and Emerging Community Needs : Support programming that increases awareness, mobilizes resources, and catalyzes action around pressing challenges affecting vulnerable residents in Chicago and Cook County. Preference for sponsorships will be given, but not limited, to: Organizations that achieve some alignment with the Trust’s mission or work. To view our new strategic direction, please visit: https://www.
cct. org/about/strategic-plan/ . We will prioritize applications from organizations we are not currently funding.
Sponsorships are not available for: Events already sponsored with an existing Trust grant. This includes multi-year grant agreements that are still currently active. Please visit GrantCentral , The Chicago Community Trust’s online grants management system, to view the criteria and access the application for Sponsorships.
If you have additional questions, for technical questions regarding GrantCentral, email [email protected] . For programmatic and application content questions, contact [email protected] . The Trust awards grants to organizations whose work is consistent with our mission and our current priorities.
Learn about the application process and eligibility. Our grants are not just checks, not just points on a map. Our grants are lifelines, connecting individual donors with people and families striving for a better life.
Scoring criteria used to review proposals for this grant.
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Nonprofit organizations based in or primarily serving Cook County, Illinois, with evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or with a nonprofit fiscal sponsor. Priority given to organizations with annual budgets under $1M and those not currently holding a grant from The Chicago Community Trust. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Applications for Sponsorships (The Chicago Community Trust) are due August 1, 2026. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Sponsorships (The Chicago Community Trust) is funded by The Chicago Community Trust. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
This opportunity targets applicants in Illinois. If your organization operates elsewhere, check the official notice for location requirements.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
The Homeless Youth Program is a grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services that funds services for homeless and at-risk youth across Illinois. Administered through the Office of Community and Positive Youth Development, it supports nonprofit organizations delivering shelter, outreach, and support services to young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Eligible applicants are Illinois-based nonprofits with demonstrated capacity to serve youth. Awards range from $100,000 to $800,000 per year under CSFA number 444-80-0711. This is a FY 2026 funding opportunity with an application deadline of May 21, 2025.
Community Investment Tax Credit Program (CITC) is a grant from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development that provides state tax credit allocations to 501(c)(3) nonprofits, enabling them to attract private donations from individuals and businesses. Donors contributing $500 or more to approved projects receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects statewide. Eligible project areas include education, housing, job training, arts and culture, economic development, and services for at-risk populations. Projects must be located in or serve residents of Maryland's Priority Funding Areas. The application period is typically held annually.
The Families First Community Grant Program is a competitive grant initiative from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) offering approximately $27 million in funding to support nonprofit organizations serving low-income Tennessee families. Grants fund programs across four priority areas: education, health, economic stability, and family well-being, aligned with TANF goals of promoting self-sufficiency. Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofits based in Tennessee that provide direct services to economically disadvantaged families. The 2025 application cycle closed July 10, 2025. This program reflects Tennessee's broader commitment to strengthening communities through strategic investment in local organizations that address the root causes of poverty.