Community Desk Chicago

Community Desk Chicago (the Desk) provides comprehensive support, including capital, development coaching, and investor coordination for specific spatial development projects. The goal is to build capacity, cultivate experience, and attract investors for community-based organizations that have historically faced barriers to accessing capital and resources. The Desk builds local capacity to independently advance real estate projects that are prioritized by community residents, and directly sources capital to these projects. The Desk also provides technical assistance in land development to community organizations that wish to engage in spatial development but have minimal or no prior experience. This gift provides general operating support to the Desk.

Community Desk Chicago (the Desk) was initially established in 2019 at The Chicago Community Trust through a collaborative partnership with the Boston Consulting Group’s Center for Illinois’ Future (BCG) and JPMorgan Chase. The Desk provides comprehensive support to specific spatial development projects while actively pursuing policy reformation to address barriers to accessing the capital and resources needed in underserved communities. The Desk advances real estate projects, builds local capacity to advance these projects independently, and directly sources project capital often perceived as too risky for traditional capital markets. The Desk primarily seeks to serve historically marginalized communities and has operated in several communities that are presently a part of the Vital Communities portfolio.  The Desk provides technical assistance in land development to community organizations that are entering spatial development with minimal or no prior experience.  After participating in the services provided by the Desk, participants are better equipped to pursue a pipeline of development projects with seed funding, financial acumen, and technical training for financing physical development.