Welcome to the FT Cares Foundation website. We invite you to explore it and learn about our Mission of Transforming Lives, Locally, Nationally and Globally

BRINGING HOPE & HELP

First Trust Cares was created in 2006 by a group of First Trust employees as a way to “give back”. First Trust Cares grew quickly, and the FT Cares Foundation, formalized in early 2012 as a 501(c)(3), has now touched all 50 states and 26 countries.

Photo, right, was taken at a build in 2024 with First Trust employees and volunteers.

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MILESTONES & IMPACT

In mid-2017, the Foundation realized the milestone of donating a total of $1 million dollars
During the pandemic in 2021, the Foundation reached $2 million dollars in charitable donations
In April 2022, the Foundation's 11th year, it was announced that $3 million dollars had been donated
Mid-year 2023, the Foundation announced the $4 million dollar mark had been reached
In October 2024, the Foundation announced that it had reached $5,000,000 in charitable donations

THE TORCH. The FT Cares Foundation's torch logo symbolizes the light of hope and help that we are bringing to others. Now in our second decade, the FT Cares Foundation remains committed to our mission of transforming lives locally, nationally and globally.

THE WHY. Since its founding, we have always committed to dreaming big and continuing to grow as we serve others by....

Dreaming things that never were and asking why not...

Weekly donations to local food pantries, including Austin, TX

LOCAL

NATIONAL

Kids getting school supplies
from a teacher request

GLOBAL

Kids at a new school kitchen
in Mexico enjoy a meal

How We Help Locally

The Foundation supports many organizations in DuPage County and surrounding counties. We also support organizations throughout the Chicagoland area that are working to make a difference. With another office in Austin, TX, we support local organizations there.

How We Help Nationally

Nationally, we are proud to have collaborated with organizations throughout the U.S., including several disaster relief organizations. To date, we have touched all 50 states.

How We Help Globally

We have touched 26 countries throughout the world, including during times of wars and conflict and when natural disasters have struck.