About City Colleges of Chicago Foundation
Fueled by the generosity of Chicago's philanthropic community, the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, raises charitable contributions to support community college students from all backgrounds in reaching their academic and career goals.
Focus Areas
higher educationscholarshipsbasic needs/food securityemergency student aidworkforce developmenttechnology equitystudy abroad/programmatic supports
Who They Fund
Chicago adults seeking career advancementCity Colleges of Chicago students / adult learnersK-12 students (Chicago Public Schools)Small business owners / entrepreneursStudents lacking home broadband access
About City Colleges of Chicago Foundation
A defining feature of the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation is its direct support for City Colleges of Chicago students through large operating grants to the college system itself. The foundation’s recent giving includes multi-million-dollar awards to City Colleges of Chicago in 2023, 2024, and 2025, alongside targeted support for individual campuses and student services. That pattern shows a funder built around keeping students enrolled, funded, and connected to academic and career pathways. Beyond core institutional support, the foundation backs scholarships, emergency aid, food security, broadband access, and workforce-oriented programs tied to Chicago adults and City Colleges students. It also funds partnerships that connect students to employer and community networks, including the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses referral sponsorships and career advancement efforts through for-credit programs. The grant list also points to long-term student support, with named scholarship and endowment options designed to fund awards annually. Across these grants, the foundation’s activity centers on practical barriers to persistence: tuition, books, crises that interrupt enrollment, and wraparound services that help students finish and move into work or transfer.
What City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Funds
Scholarship support is central to the foundation’s work. It funds unrestricted need-based aid through the General Scholarship Fund, supports the Star Plus Scholarship Fund for City Colleges Star Scholar graduates admitted to four-year institutions, and maintains named scholarship opportunities such as the Romulo V. Ronquillo Memorial Endowment Fund for Respiratory Care students at Malcolm X College. Basic needs and emergency assistance are another clear thread. The Student Emergency Fund provides short-term help for costs like car repairs, rent, and childcare, while Student Supports funding also covers housing coordination and other wraparound services. The Food Security for Life initiative, in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, adds campus food access, meals to go, snack programs, public benefits connections, and apprenticeship opportunities. The foundation also invests in career pathways for adults and entrepreneurship support. It gave $27,000 to Temple University, $25,000 each to Community Organizing & Family Issues, ENLACE Chicago, and LIFT Inc., and additional grants to chambers and business groups tied to Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses referral sponsorship.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.1M
Total Assets
$27.2M
Total Revenue
$7.2M
Total Expenses
$8.3M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $53K, with a median of $18K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$18K
75th Percentile
$53K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Veronica Herrero
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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