The Missing Link in Veteran Support: How 2 Organizations Are Partnering to Close the Gap Between Housing and Mental Health Care

Housing and mental health care are often treated as separate challenges. For veterans, they rarely are. As communities across the country look for better ways to support veterans, two Chicago organizations, both Make It Better Foundation 2026 Philanthropy Award winners, are demonstrating what a more integrated approach can look like. Rush University’s Road Home Program […]

by Alison Bowen

Every Spring, Chicago’s Tulips Return — For the People Who Plant Them, It’s More Than a Job

Barry Butler has been photographing Chicago for decades — but more specifically, he’s been capturing its tulips. A native of Ireland, Butler has always loved shooting natural scenery. But while building his photography practice, he also began photographing Chicago’s industrial landscape, a striking contrast to Ireland’s terrain.   “I was psychologically saying to myself, ‘Well, I […]

by Alison Bowen

Beyond Ukraine’s Front Lines: Portraits From the Civilian Relief Effort

As the war in Ukraine enters another year, its consequences extend far beyond the front lines. Millions remain displaced, navigating daily uncertainty as civilian infrastructure and volunteer networks strain under sustained pressure. During recent reporting in Ukraine, I focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) near the front lines east of the Dnipro River and in […]

by Mark Edward Harris

The Future Works: Why Skills-Based Hiring Must Define Our Next Era of Workforce Investment

Each year, thousands of talented Chicagoans are overlooked for high-growth careers — not because they lack ability, but because traditional hiring systems still equate potential with pedigree. In a city built on innovation and hard work, it’s important to shift the definition of success to reflect people’s demonstrated abilities and future capacity, moving beyond background […]

by Kate Doyle

Angel Investors Build Community Connections at Red Cross Community Adaptation Program Tour

Trusted community connections and measurable social impact were on display during a recent American Red Cross Community Adaptation Program (CAP) tour in Monterey County, California, where seven- and eight-figure donations demonstrated how strategic philanthropic investment can strengthen communities long before disasters occur. Enabled by donors who operate as angel investors — also described as venture […]

by Susan B. Noyes

Rising Need, Declining Funding: Nonprofit Leaders Warn of Growing Strain on U.S. Social Safety Net

As demand for basic assistance rises and public funding becomes less predictable, nonprofits providing essential services are filling the gaps. That was the clear message from leaders of four of Chicago’s largest social-service organizations at a panel hosted by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Their conversation reflected a broader reality playing out across […]

by Elizabeth Owens-Schiele

The 2025 Better Guide to Giving

As the holidays get underway, many of us look for ways to make someone else’s season brighter. And there’s science behind why that makes us feel so good. Research shows that acts of generosity — from gift giving to financial support — increase happiness more than spending on ourselves.  At Better, we’re dedicated to simplifying […]

by Better

Giving Tuesday 2025: Where to Donate

The holiday season invites us to turn gratitude into meaningful social impact. Giving Tuesday, observed this year on Dec. 2, reflects the growing interest in philanthropy that fuels real outcomes — from venture philanthropy models to impact investing — all aimed at strengthening communities and supporting organizations doing essential work. Established in 2012 by New […]

by Better staff