Since 2003, the “Chicago 7 Most Endangered” has sounded the alarm on imminently threatened historic buildings and public assets in Chicago to mobilize the stakeholder support necessary to save them from demolition.
Preservation Chicago works to leverage the power of historic preservation to create and foster healthy, vibrant, diverse and sustainable communities.
Everything we do is pro-bono. We engage directly to protect historic buildings at their most vulnerable stages and deliver wins at critical times.
Our work leads to change. Preservation Chicago is the catalyst behind Chicago’s unprecedented surge in high-profile efforts to recognize, protect and transform long-neglected historic assets into dynamic neighborhood anchors.
We seek constructive and collaborative win-win solutions. We are known for our fierce advocacy and our partnership with stakeholders.
The revitalization of historic buildings is a proven and powerful economic engine that anchors reinvestment and catalyzes communities through job creation, heritage tourism and community wealth building. By focusing attention on the significance of historic places, we promote the successes and sacrifices of past generations and inspire Chicagoans to push towards a more just and equitable future.
We focus on creating the stability necessary to secure significant public and private investment. We follow an innovative “Leveraged Impact” model of Amplification, Protection and Investment which helps foster transformational change. Our approach seeks to deploy Chicago Landmark protections against demolition and mobilize public sentiment and goodwill.
We work directly with stakeholders, supporting them every step of the journey until they achieve success. We serve as a partner, advocate, protector and strategist in often complex preservation efforts. We listen, offer advice, make connections, seed media stories, facilitate Adopt-a-Landmark and other funding, and testify as consistent advocates at public hearings or community meetings.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
INVEST: Invest your charitable dollars in a nonprofit that delivers. With your support, we will continue to make Chicago a better city.
LEVERAGE: Preservation Chicago is the rare nonprofit that leverages philanthropic support into tangible community investment. In 2023, with our $0.5 million budget, we catalyzed over $10 million in public funding, which in turn generated over $100 million in private funding in community investment.
CHALLENGE: Ask us the hard questions and give us the opportunity to prove our organizational impact and earn your support.
AMPLIFY: Share the wins, losses and ongoing efforts that interest you by connecting with us on social media and signing up for our month-in-review newsletter.
PARTICIPATE: Host a parlor meeting to hear the dramatic backstories of our advocacy efforts and share in the profound satisfaction of catalyzing lasting change.
DONATE: There are many ways to donate to Preservation Chicago. You can donate annually, donate monthly or donate stock. For larger donations or legacy donations, please contact Ward Miller directly at 312-443-1000. Donate at PreservationChicago.org. Or mail donations to Preservation Chicago, 205 W. Monroe St., #400, Chicago, IL 60606.
2023 Metrics:
603 news stories about historic buildings we advocated for
273 of these stories included quotes or direct mentions
14,283 signatures received by our Warehouse petition
23,918 signatures received by our Century & Consumers petition
90 testimonies at Commission on Chicago Landmarks hearings
16 newly Designated Chicago Landmarks