How to Donate to the 2021 Top 10 CNN Heroes

When Anderson Cooper took a moment during his 2021 CNN Heroes special to explain how viewers could support the ten honorees, it wasn’t just a feel-good footnote—it was a practical nudge toward tangible action. For someone living in Chicago, that simple call to donate might have felt distant at first, especially amid the city’s own winter challenges and ongoing conversations about community resilience. Yet the spirit behind those honors—recognizing everyday people tackling systemic issues—resonates deeply in neighborhoods from Pilsen to Rogers Park, where local efforts often mirror the national themes highlighted by CNN that year.

The 2021 Top 10 CNN Heroes represented a diverse array of causes: from supporting veterans and fostering youth literacy to providing clean water and aiding refugees. What united them was a grassroots, problem-solving ethos that didn’t wait for permission or funding to begin. In Chicago, a city with a long history of community-driven activism—think of the settlement house movement pioneered by Jane Addams at Hull House or the modern work of groups like the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) on the Southwest Side—this model feels familiar. The honorees’ work echoes the kind of hyper-local innovation seen in Chicago’s own social entrepreneurs, whether it’s urban farming initiatives in Englewood or mentorship programs bridging opportunity gaps in Austin.

Digging deeper, the 2021 cohort reflected broader socio-economic trends amplified by the pandemic: increased reliance on mutual aid networks, the strain on mental health services, and the critical role of nonprofits in filling gaps left by overwhelmed public systems. One honoree focused on delivering meals to homebound seniors—a challenge acutely felt in Chicago, where agencies like AgeOptions reported surging demand for home-delivered meals during 2020-2021. Another’s work supporting LGBTQ+ youth found parallels in local efforts by organizations such as the Center on Halsted, which saw increased need for crisis intervention and housing support. These aren’t direct comparisons, but they illustrate how national recognition can spotlight issues playing out in specific urban contexts, prompting residents to consider how they might contribute—not just financially, but through volunteerism or advocacy.

Given my background in analyzing civic engagement patterns, if this trend of recognizing and supporting grassroots changemakers impacts you in Chicago, here are the three types of local professionals and organizations you should seek out when looking to engage meaningfully:

Community Foundation Program Officers: Look for staff at established Chicago-based foundations like the Chicago Community Trust or the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation who specialize in grassroots grantmaking. They understand how to identify and support hyper-local initiatives—often the kind that might one day be CNN Heroes material—and can guide donors toward vetted, impactful opportunities aligned with specific neighborhood needs.
Volunteer Coordinators at Mutual Aid Hubs: Seek out individuals managing volunteer intake at neighborhood mutual aid networks, such as those active in Albany Park or Bronzeville. Effective coordinators aren’t just matching hands to tasks; they understand the nuances of dignified support, trauma-informed engagement, and how to sustain volunteer energy without burnout—key insights for anyone wanting to contribute time effectively.
Nonprofit Capacity-Building Consultants: These specialists, often found through networks like Forefront (formerly Illinois Nonprofit Association), help small Chicago nonprofits strengthen their operations—whether it’s improving financial tracking, enhancing board governance, or leveraging technology for outreach. Hiring one isn’t about fixing a broken group; it’s about investing in the sustainability of promising local efforts that lack access to corporate-style resources.

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