Chicago Prize is founded on the belief that community leaders are best positioned to create catalytic plans for positive change in their communities.

Their bold ideas for transformation across the South and West Sides often lack access to the resources and networks needed to execute those community plans. Chicagoans deserve better.

We launched the Chicago Prize in 2019 to invite community leaders to share their plans for catalytic change. We offered an investment of $10 million grant to a community that could catalyze change and attract additional resources to help advance their plans. We highlighted six community ideas and provided planning grants to all. Four projects received an additional $500,000 to advance their plans.

In 2022, Chicago Prize identified and highlighted six strong proposals to advance in the 2022 Chicago Prize selection process. Each team offers a remarkable vision for their community and a compelling collection of projects and plans to achieve their goals in partnership with the community.

In addition to the Chicago Prize awards, we have committed $5 million to support a pipeline of community development projects. Chicago Prize provided $2 million in matching grants to four of the Chicago Prize 2020 finalists to help get their projects across the finish line. In 2022, we are offering up to $2.5 million in matching grants to the five remaining 2022 finalists. Chicago Prize is part of Pritzker Traubert Foundation’s $100 million 10-year commitment made in 2017 to increase access to economic opportunity for more Chicagoans.