The Chicago Community Trust Announces First Smart Growth Participants

Three-year program will help small arts organizations achieve organizational goals.

September 14, 2005, CHICAGO – The Chicago Community Trust, one of largest grant makers in the Chicago area, announced the first participants in its new Smart Growth arts development program. Shaped by the results of the Trust’s survey of the arts community last year, the program provides general operating support, renewable over three years, to address the needs of small arts and cultural organizations.

“The goal of Smart Growth is to help arts organizations grow to the ‘next level’ to achieve their creative visions,” says Kassie Davis, senior program officer for arts and culture with the Trust. “This process will help groups strengthen their infrastructures so that they can focus on developing and sharing their artistic resources and talent.”

The process begins with each organization completing smARTscope, an online survey created by the Arts and Business Council of Chicago (A&BC) to assess organizational development in key areas. A&BC consultants provide a comprehensive analysis of the data, which helps organizations mobilize and plan for their future. The Trust will support participation in smARTscope and provide grants to assist organizations in developing and executing these plans.

One hundred-fifty arts and cultural organizations with annual revenues of less than $1million applied for the 40 slots available in the program. Groups were chosen based on clarity of artistic and programmatic vision, readiness, financial health and board commitment.

For more detailed information about the Smart Growth program, and descriptions of each organization, please visit cct.org.

About the Arts & Business Council of Chicago

The Arts & Business Council of Chicago, currently celebrating its 20th anniversary, links the strengths of arts and business to promote community growth and vitality. Affiliated with the Arts & Business Council of Americans for the Arts, A&BC is dedicated to building arts/business partnerships that enhance the management capacity of arts organizations while promoting business participation in the arts through effective volunteerism.

About the Trust

The Chicago Community Trust and its affiliates form the region’s community foundation, helping local residents manage their charitable giving. Celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2005, the Trust is a union of numerous gifts, bequests and other contributions totaling more than $1.3billion. Income from these assets provides more than $62million annually in grants to agencies that improve the lives of residents of our region through arts, community development, education improvement, health and wellness, and to assure that basic human needs are met for all members of our community. Learn more about the Trust at www.cct.org.