Pre-Development Fund

Project Scope Form

The Project Scope Submission Deadline is July 11th, 2025 at 4 p.m. CT. Project scope submissions past the deadline will not be considered.


The Pre-Development Fund aims to increase investment in underinvested communities by resourcing neighborhood-scale development projects to deliver assets and amenities aligned with community-defined visions for economic growth. To ensure we meet these goals the process is administered in two parts; a project scope submission and a full application for select applicants.


This form is meant to provide a cursory understanding of your proposed project. Submissions should not take longer than 30-40 minutes.


Please note that progress is not saved. Please make sure to start and complete the application in the same session or otherwise lose your progress.

Verifying Project Eligibility


These initial questions are designed to determine whether your project meets the basic eligibility criteria for pre-development funding.


Please review the Understanding Eligibility section of the opportunity for more details.

Is your project serving a historically underinvested community?

An underinvested community refers to a neighborhood, often predominantly Black or Latine, that has historically faced systemic disinvestment and inequitable resource allocation, resulting in limited access to quality housing, education, jobs, and capital.

Do you have established site control or a clearly defined pathway to 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, etc.).

Is your project within 1/2 mile of economic asset (e.g., transit, commercial corridor) or integral neighborhood amenity (e.g., shopping center, community space, multi-tenant housing)?
Do you have any community endorsements (e.g., civic leaders, government stakeholders, neighborhood development organizations leading economic development efforts, and community leaders)?*
Do you have established site control or a clearly defined pathway to 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, etc.).

Is your project within 1/2 mile of economic asset (e.g., transit, commercial corridor) or integral neighborhood amenity (e.g., shopping center, community space, multi-tenant housing)?
Do you have any community endorsements (e.g., civic leaders, government stakeholders, neighborhood development organizations leading economic development efforts, and community leaders)?

Based on the answers provided, the proposed project does not currently meet the criteria to be eligible for pre-development funding.


We encourage you to review the program’s eligibility criteria and consider resubmitting the project scope once you have met the requirements. If you have questions or need clarification on the criteria, please contact Edwin Tobar at etobar@cct.org.


We appreciate your interest and the work you’re doing in your community.

Based on the answers provided, your proposed project meets the eligibility criteria for pre-development funding consideration. Please complete the following form to be formally considered.


If you have any questions or need assistance please contact Edwin Tobar at etobar@cct.org

Developer Details

The organization or business leading the project's development

The main person to contact for project details and coordinating application submission.

This will be the contact information we use to provide updates to on the application status.

How is your organization classified for tax purposes?*

The Trust awards grants directly to US-based nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations and to charitable organizations. If your organization is not a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization, you may be eligible to receive grants via a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.



Organizations that are not recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code are expected to partner with a 501(c)(3) designated fiscal sponsor to apply for and receive grants from The Chicago Community Trust.


Each organization should maintain separate Organization Profiles in the GrantCentral portal. Each organization must complete and certify its own Organization Profile for a fiscally sponsored organization to submit a funding request to the Trust. For more information on certifying your profile review our How To Guide.

Do you have a fiscal sponsor in place?*

You can find more information regarding fiscal sponsorship on the Trust's Fiscal Sponsorship FAQ sheet. If you have questions or need clarification on the criteria, please contact Edwin Tobar at etobar@cct.org.

Based on your response, your project is ineligible for consideration at this time.


Please hold your submission until a fiscal sponsor is secured or consider submitting during our next cycle. The Trust does not provide recommendations for fiscal sponsors.

Applicants that are NOT a 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) must have a fiscal sponsor at the time of submitting this form to be considered. Submitting without an identified fiscal sponsor will automatically make a project ineligible for consideration during this grant cycle.

Development Details

Available selections are based on the community areas designated by the City of Chicago.

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Projects pursuing a lease for an interior build-out of a tenant space are not eligible for funding.


Eligible projects will be pursuing ownership of a property or otherwise be partnering with a development partner to acquire a site. Should you believe you have a special circumstance, please choose "Other" and provide context for your site control.

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Acceptable documentation includes a recorded deed, an executed purchase agreement, an option to purchase, a signed letter of intent from the property owner, or written correspondence that demonstrates active negotiation or ownership engagement.

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Please limit responses to under 10 words (e.g., Food hub with community kitchen, Cafe with art gallery, Commercial mall with small business development center)

  1. Planning Phase - The project is still in concept development, and site control has not yet been secured. Activities may include identifying a potential site, building partnerships, or conducting high-level planning. At this stage, capital needs are typically limited to early technical assistance or grant support for visioning and exploration.
  2. Pre-Development Phase - The project has secured site control, or a clearly defined path to site control, and is focused on testing feasibility and laying the groundwork for construction. This includes preliminary design, budgeting, community engagement, and market or environmental assessments. Capital at this stage is often needed for soft costs such as studies, legal work, or early design.
  3. Pre-Construction Phase - The project is nearly shovel-ready, with design and approvals mostly complete and financing efforts underway or near closing. Activities may include completing construction documents and securing final permits. Capital needs at this stage are focused on closing funding gaps or covering final pre-construction costs.
  4. Construction Phase - The project has broken ground and is actively under construction. This includes site work, building activities, and ongoing inspections. Capital needs typically involve construction loans or phased equity draws to support build-out.
  5. Completion Phase - The project is nearing or has reached substantial completion. Activities may include final inspections, occupancy permits, tenant improvements, or operational ramp-up. Capital needs are focused on permanent financing or final-stage close-out support.
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This is your opportunity to provide context for how your project's development is structured.


Examples

  • This project is a phased development. We are currently working on Phase II, which involves the development of the second of three buildings,
  • We are close to getting site control but need capital to execute the deliverable necessary to facilitate acquisition from city/county.


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Project Needs

What is your project's most pressing issue?*

While we understand that a project's most pressing issue is often related to capital gaps, this question is intended to help us better understand other challenges your project may be facing.

Provide a brief summary (no more than 3-5 sentences) of the "most pressing issue" identified above.


If project issues are solely related to gaps in capital please provide a brief summary of the issues behind your gap.

Has your project received help from a consultant or other technical service provider?*

Provide a brief summary (no more than 3-5 sentences)

Would you be interested in receiving consulting services or technical assistance to advance your project?*

Financial Details

Please provide the total anticipated project budget for your project from pre-development through construction completion. This should include all the estimated hard and soft costs (e.g., design, engineering, permitting, construction, legal, etc.). Do not include the cost of property acquisition.

Pre-development costs are the early-stage expenses required to move a project toward construction readiness. These may include architectural and engineering services, site planning, zoning and permitting, environmental assessments, legal fees, and other technical or professional services. Do not include construction costs or property acquisition.

Please indicate the anticipated cost to acquire the property. If you are in the process of purchasing the site or plan to, include the estimated acquisition cost. If you already own the property, enter $0.

Please include the total amount of funding you have already secured for your project. This may include grants, loans, equity, or other confirmed sources of capital. Do not include funds that are pending or under consideration—only include funding that has been formally awarded or committed.

Mark all those that apply

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Project Impact

Please read before answering the following questions.


The Pre-Development Fund aims to strengthen development projects that build neighborhood assets and align with community-driven visions for growth. For this reason, the Trust seeks to support neighborhood-scale development projects that catalyze economic development and create thriving neighborhoods.


Projects that lack a strong connection to their neighborhood’s physical and social environment often struggle to generate meaningful economic growth. To support projects that are well-positioned to advance neighborhood investment and build long-term community wealth, the Trust will review project scope submissions with an emphasis on the following attributes, which reflect the characteristics we believe are most important for lasting impact:


  • Proximity to economic infrastructure or social amenities. Specifically, within a half mile of transit, an economic corridor, community hub, and other physical space that promotes economic activity and pedestrian traffic. Projects capitalizing on upcoming developments will also be considered.
  • Alignment with community-driven visions for economic growth. Preferably, delivering an amenity or asset that meets a specific development need outlined in an existing community plan or economic development strategy.
  • Community endorsements. For example, letters of support from civic leaders, government stakeholders, neighborhood development organizations leading economic development efforts, and community leaders. These endorsements are important to supporting the project’s alignment with community-driven visions for growth.


Projects need not have all or any of these attributes to be considered for pre-development funding but we encourage your answers to make connections where possible.

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Describe any nearby existing or upcoming developments—such as businesses, transit stations, community anchors, or public investments—within a ½ mile radius that could help drive economic activity around your project.


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If your project aligns with a formal community, corridor, or citywide plan (e.g., a Quality-of-Life Plan, neighborhood plan, or City of Chicago plan), please name the plan and explain how your project helps advance its goals. Be specific about which elements or strategies your project supports, and how it contributes to implementing the plan.


Limited to 8000 characters

Limited to 8000 characters

Limited to 8000 characters

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