Community Partner Spotlight: Chicago Cares
Chicago Cares
Rosie Drumgoole
Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Cares
About this Partner
Mission
Chicago Cares mobilizes volunteers to build a stronger, more unified Chicago.
CEO
In August 2023, Rosie Drumgoole began her tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Chicago Cares. Rosie started at Chicago Cares as a program coordinator in 2010 and knows Chicago Cares inside and out. Having supported the success of Chicago Cares’ Community Investment Strategy for the last 9 years, she has an excellent reputation across Chicagoland and is a trusted partner to Chicago’s most dedicated community leaders. Through her leadership, Chicago Cares has cultivated thousands of volunteers to build a stronger, more equitable Chicago.
Services Offered
We offer volunteer experiences and educational forums that change hearts and minds by moving people from awareness and connection to empathy and civic engagement. All our programs, including those for individual volunteers and those customized for groups and companies, are co-designed with community leaders from Chicago’s South, West, and Northwest sides to help fulfill the neighborhood’s own Quality-of-Life Plan, ensuring that every action contributes to the community’s long-term goals and catalyzes impactful, long-term investment.
Current Projects
The Chicago Cares team is currently partnering with the Steans Family Foundation and the North Lawndale Employment Network on an upcoming Employer Summit.
The North Lawndale Employer Summit will be hosted on October 22, 2025, with fellow employers. This business focused event is designed to help individuals/employers to grow, thrive, and gain practical tools on building their business, learn about tax incentives, community resources, and explore strategies for hiring locally.
The Breakout sessions will be tailored for both small and large businesses on the West Side of Chicago and will provide the opportunity for attendees to connect with peers while strengthening their capacity to create jobs in the community. Together we will build a supportive network of local employers working to drive North Lawndale’s economic growth.
Organizational Impact to the Community
Through our unique combination of service, education, and relationship building, Chicago Cares unlocks new resources for our partner neighborhoods. Volunteers become more civically engaged; some join nonprofit boards or change careers; and companies and volunteers have invested over $10 million directly into community plans – all because of Chicago Cares.
Funding Sources
Chicago Cares receives generous donations from individuals, corporations, and foundation partners. We are grateful for the support of our stakeholders, which allows us to bring the power of people to action.
About this Spotlight
