The Chicago Community Trust - Sponsorships

The Chicago Community Trust - Sponsorships 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.

**Application Opens:** April 30, 2026 **Application Deadline:** May 15, 2026 **Disbursements:** June 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**grants@cct. org**. For programmatic and application content questions, contact**sponsorships@cct.

org**. 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. ### **Grantmaking Criteria** 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: 1. **Strengthen Community Voice and Leadership**: Support events that elevate resident perspectives, particularly from underinvested communities, and create meaningful opportunities for engagement and dialogue. 2.

**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. 3.

**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. 4.

**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. ### **Eligible Applicants** 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**grants@cct. org**.

For programmatic and application content questions, contact**sponsorships@cct. org**.