Chicago
Park Advisory Council
Resource Guide
Presented by the Chicago Parks Foundation
The 501c3 Partner of the Chicago Parks
Welcome! The Chicago Parks Foundation collaboratively created this Park Advisory Council Resource Guide to support our incredible PACs. These materials are intended for all Chicago PACs to use. Think of it as a one-stop-shop for all things PACs. The Resource Guide is a living collection and will continue to grow with your feedback. Learn, explore, share!
Materials are organized into the following sections:
I. Chicago Parks Foundation Overview
II. Chicago Park District General Information
III. PAC Roles & Responsibilities
IV. Fundraising
V. Communications
Questions or comments? Please reach out to Triana at tcallam@chicagoparksfoundation.org or 773-505-9477.
Updated July 2026. To be updated annually.
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This section introduces the Chicago Parks Foundation, the preferred partner of the Chicago Park District.
The Chicago Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that serves as fiscal agent for the Park District, in addition to any Park Advisory Council in good standing that wants to fundraise and therefore needs a fiscal sponsor. More information about fiscal sponsorship & fundraising can be found in Section IV.
Applications to join our fiscal sponsorship program, Partnership For Parks, are open year-round. Please reach out to Triana at tcallam@chicagoparksfoundation.org with any questions.
In this section:
Click the links below to download & view documents. -
This section focuses on the Chicago Park District’s information about Chicago Park Advisory Councils.
Please visit the Chicago Park District Advisory Council webpage for more information.Advisory Council Forms:
Click the links below to download & view documents.
All existing and newly formed advisory councils and those interested in becoming an advisory council, must review and complete the forms below. Email the completed Application, Registration Form, Partnership Pledge and By-Laws to the Chicago Park District Community Engagement Department to lca@chicagoparkdistrict.com.Additional resources:
Click the links below to download & view documents.If you have any further questions about Chicago Park District Advisory Councils, please call the Department of Community Engagement at (312) 742-2797 or email lca@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
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This section contains important documents and resources for the various PAC roles, as well as the standard PAC procedures.
To be in good standing with the Chicago Park District, a PAC must have at least 3 elected board members, but most PACs vote to have one person each fulfill the roles of President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.
PACs must follow certain procedures for regular meetings, any events, and annual reporting. The documents in this section either have more information on those procedures, or are forms PACs can use for a variety of scenarios.
In this section:
Click the links below to download and view documents. -
This section contains various documents and resources for PACs that are planning on fundraising, whether it be for a larger park project, events, or general operations.
In accordance with the Chicago Park District PAC Guidelines, any PAC that receives donations must be sponsored by a 501(c)3 organization. Some PACs apply for and maintain their own 501(c)3, but that process involves extensive paperwork and annual reporting to local and state agencies. So, a preferred alternative for many PACs is to operate under a fiscal sponsor, which in most cases is a 501c3 non-profit organization with a similar mission, such as the Chicago Parks Foundation.
Currently, 73 PACs are fiscally sponsored by the Chicago Parks Foundation, which means we extend our 501(c)3 status over our partner PACs to allow them to receive tax-deductible donations.
Other fiscal sponsors for Chicago PACs include Friends of the Parks and in some cases, local chambers of commerce or other non-profit organizations.
The Chicago Parks Foundation encourages all PACs in good standing to join our fiscal sponsorship program! Benefits include a Free Fifth Third Bank account, use of CPF’s 501c3 status to fundraise for tax deductible gifts for park projects, use of sales tax exemption on park project purchases, and more. More information about our fiscal sponsorship program, Partnership For Parks, can be found in Section I.
In this section:
Click the links below to download & view documents.Chicago Parks Foundation Fundraising Presentation - 2026 PAC Conference
GiveButter: Fundraising Platform for Fiscally Sponsored Organizations
GiveButter is a free, user-friendly online donation management tool that the Chicago Parks Foundation recommends to any PAC that wants to receive and manage donations online. Any PAC that is fiscally sponsored by a non-profit organization can sign up for GiveButter, and will receive a GiveButter badge and additional perks. Read more about Givebutter’s fiscal sponsor verification here.
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This section focuses on information and resources to assist PACs in all types of communications to their park community and beyond.
CPF hosts a virtual PAC Roundtable series throughout the year. These are active, participatory webinars focused on various topics. Check out the slide decks from past Roundtables to learn more.
In this section:
Click the links below to download & view documents.Chicago Parks Foundation Communications Presentation - 2026 PAC Conference
Chicago Parks Foundation Roundtable Notes
Share Your Feedback
We want to hear from you as we continue to build this Resource Guide together. Use the form below to share comments on what is included here or additional elements that you’d like to see featured.