Through this program, the Chicago Community Trust seeks to support neighborhood-scale development projects that catalyze economic growth and create thriving neighborhoods where residents can stay and grow their wealth with improved quality of life and well-being, regardless of income.
Donor Name: The Chicago Community Trust
State: Illinois
City: Chicago
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/12/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The Pre-Development Fund aims to achieve these goals by resourcing neighborhood-scale development projects to deliver assets and amenities aligned with the needs of the community.
Funding Information
Grants Up to $100,000.
Grant Period
24 Months.
Eligible Expenses
The Pre-Development Fund is for projects at the pre-development stage of the development process. Activities in this stage usually include design, development and financial due diligence, or early-stage project management. Activities that fall in the planning stage will not be eligible.
Eligibility Criteria
The Trust will review project scope submissions against a defined set of criteria. Only submissions that meet these criteria will be eligible for funding. The requirements are:
- Located within a historically underinvested neighborhood. Eligible geography is limited to communities within Cook County with a focus on neighborhoods on the South and West Sides.
- Established site control. Outright site ownership is strongly preferred, but the Pre-Development Fund will accept projects with a clearly defined path to site ownership in the immediate future (e.g., purchase agreement, acquisition letter). Lease agreements are not an accepted form of site control.
- 501(c)(3) or have a fiscal sponsor. Grant funding is required to go to a 501(c)(3) organization. For-profit entities are required to use a fiscal sponsor. 501(c)(6) organizations are also eligible for direct funding.
- Neighborhood scale. Projects should be small to medium-sized and fit within the context of the existing neighborhood. Successful applicants will be able to detail how the development will both complement and be amplified by an existing economic environment.
For more information, visit CCT.
