No More ‘Checkbook Philanthropy’! Get Passionate About Your Giving

Although most people want to align their philanthropic efforts with their personal passions, very few individuals actually do. That’s a mistake, according to the experts – but it’s one that can be remedied. “Often in philanthropy, people give because a friend asked or because they attended a social event,” says Eric Weinheimer, CEO of Donors […]

Chicago Cubs Empowers Players and Staff to Give Back

Businesses built on good values ultimately become the most successful. Think Whole Foods, Starbucks, hospitals built to the highest LEED standards using designs known to uplift spirits and promote healing, high-end event vendors who give back, and (ahem) Make It Better. As Wharton Business School wunderkind professor Adam Grant demonstrates in his New York Times best-selling […]

Kohl Children's Museum Celebrates 30 Years

Join Kohl Children’s Museum, our October Shop For Good beneficiary, as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year. Don’t miss the An Evening to Imagine Gala on Oct. 17 at the museum. This year’s gala will honor the Founders Circle, a group of people whose passion and support has been invaluable to the museum. In addition to the gala, […]

Go Ahead, Wear White After Labor Day: Light the Night White Party

Local fundraising and grant-making nonprofit DIFFA/Chicago (The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Auxiliary Board hosted their premiere Light the Night White Party on Sept. 9 at Sterling Bay in Chicago to applaud advancements in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to raise funds and awareness. Dressed to impress in their swankiest white garb, 163 design and […]

Party Pros Who Pay It Forward

Glitz, glamour and extravagance are words that often come to mind when it comes to weddings and special events. But beyond the big business of providing the products and services for these grand affairs of the heart, some industry insiders have found a deeper meaning in the work they do that lingers long after the […]

Our 4th Annual Philanthropy Award Nominations Are Open

At Make It Better, we take our mission to amplify best philanthropic practices very seriously. That’s why we launched our Philanthropy Awards four years ago. In that time, our Philanthropy Awards have recognized 25 outstanding nonprofits in education, athletics, social service, health and more. This year, we will recognize philanthropic excellence in six award categories: […]

FamilyFarmed Raises Money to Educate Young Family Farmers

Familyfarmed.org is a 15-year-old Chicago organization that aims to get wholesome, local and sustainable food on every table. This year, their goal is to educate the newer wave of young family farmers through a direct sales manual called “Direct Market Success.” The launch of this new manual seemed like the ideal opportunity for the organization […]

Better Makers: Golf Tournament to Benefit Midwest CareCenter

More than 50 golfers participated in the 13th Annual Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit Midwest CareCenter on August 17 at the Glen View Club in Golf, Ill. The event raised $85,000 to support Midwest CareCenter, which has now joined with JourneyCare and Horizon Hospice & Palliative Care to form a new agency that will reach […]

Make It Better Readers Help to End Hunger

During the last two weeks of July, we hosted a subscription drive asking new subscribers to our email newsletter to choose one of five outstanding food-related nonprofits as the recipient of a $5 donation when signing up. The five participating nonprofits—Common Threads, The Kitchen Community, Pilot Light, Purple Asparagus and Top Box Foods—all benefited thanks […]