Polk Bros. Foundation is working to make Chicago a place where all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Polk Bros Foundation Inc. has built a large share of its recent grantmaking around Chicago’s recovery and long-term community stability, including a $500,000 Equitable Recovery Grant to The Barack Obama Foundation and another $500,000 grant to ChiArts Foundation. The foundation’s current work centers on building community wealth, closing the life expectancy gap, and supporting participatory democracy, while also continuing arts access, education, and community-strengthening grants during a transition period. Its recent awards show a mix of broad institutional support and targeted, project-based funding, with $300,000 grants to Chicago Bar Foundation and UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work, both tied to equitable recovery. Chicago-based recipients appear repeatedly across the grant list, including organizations working in education, health, legal services, food access, and civic life. The foundation also uses timed initiatives and cohort-based support, alongside ongoing program areas in school-based arts learning and community wealth building. Recent grants indicate a funder that is deeply tied to Chicago neighborhoods and institutions, but not limited to a single cause area; instead, it distributes capital across a connected set of community conditions that affect opportunity in the city.
In arts access and learning, Polk Bros Foundation Inc. gave $250,000 to Navy Pier Inc for Arts Access and Learning and $250,000 to ChiArts Foundation for Arts Access and Learning. Those grants sit alongside a school-based arts program area focused on arts learning in Chicago Public Schools and other classroom settings. In health, the foundation awarded $300,000 to UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work through its equitable recovery work and $250,000 to Heartland Alliance Health for the same grantmaking stream, linking recovery funding to health and community support. In community wealth building, the foundation’s emerging shared-ownership initiative is aimed at low-income Chicagoans and economically distressed neighborhoods. The grant list also shows support for civic and public-interest infrastructure, including $250,000 to WBEZChicago Public Media for Special Projects and $300,000 to Chicago Bar Foundation for Equitable Recovery.
Typical grant size sits at $2,500 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list shows both large project grants and recurring support for the same organizations across 2023 and 2024, including ChiArts Foundation, Navy Pier Inc, Big Shoulders Fund, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. Polk Bros Foundation Inc. is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The grant profile also includes unrestricted advisory cohort grants of $75,000 and transition-period support for current grantees, showing a mix of structured initiative funding and bridge support.
$26.6M
$324.7M
$12.2M
$31.5M
Most grants fall between $3K and $50K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$50K
About 87% of grants go to recipients in IL.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Polk Bros Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,493 | $59.3M | 99.9% |
| 2 | Canada | 2 | $46K |
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Grantmaking is highly concentrated in Chicago and elsewhere in Illinois. The foundation gives 87% of grants to recipients in its HQ state, Illinois, and the top giving state is also Illinois. Chicago dominates the recipient map, with repeated grants to organizations in Chicago, plus occasional support outside the city such as Springfield, IL. The recipient country distribution is almost entirely U.S.-based, with 1,493 grants in the U.S. and 2 in Canada.
The foundation supports Chicago-based organizations working in arts access, education, community wealth building, health and life expectancy, civic engagement, organizational capacity, emergency response, and community strengthening. Recent grants include support for arts institutions, legal and health organizations, food access groups, and public media.
The grant-size distribution shows a 25th percentile of $2,500, a median of $25,000, and a 75th percentile of $50,000. Recent awards also include larger project grants such as $500,000, $300,000, and $250,000.
Yes. The recent grant list includes multiple organizations funded in both 2023 and 2024, including ChiArts Foundation, Navy Pier Inc, Big Shoulders Fund, Greater Chicago Food Depository, and Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago. The foundation also has transition-period support for current grantee partners.
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Illinois. 87% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Chicago appears throughout the recent grants list, with additional Illinois recipients in places such as Springfield.
Yes. The foundation lists RFP-based work for shared ownership, next-generation power-building, and overdose prevention. The next-generation power-building program uses a two-stage process with an LOI followed by invited full proposals, while the overdose-prevention RFP also uses an LOI-to-full-proposal format.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChiArts Foundation | Chicago, IL | $500,000 | 2024 | Legacy Grant |
| Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Navy Pier Inc | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Arts Access and Learning |
| Window to the World Communications | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Illinois Immigrant Funders Collaborative | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Big Shoulders Fund | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Education |
| WBEZChicago Public Media | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| ChiArts Foundation | Chicago, IL | $250,000 | 2024 | Arts Access and Learning |
| Tapestry 360 Health | Chicago, IL | $205,000 | 2024 | Health |
| Center for Housing and Health | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | Equitable Recovery Grant |
| Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness (CFTEH) | Elgin, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | Initiatives |
| Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Erie Family Health Center | Chicago, IL | $200,000 | 2024 | Health |
| Shriver Center on Poverty Law | Chicago, IL | $180,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| Chicago Community Loan Fund | Chicago, IL | $160,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| Ingenuity Incorporated Chicago | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Arts Access and Learning |
| All Chicago Making Homelessness History | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Equitable Recovery Grant |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Equitable Recovery Grant |
| Chicago Youth Centers | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Strong Families |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Equitable Recovery Grant |
| Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities | Chicago, IL | $150,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| Leading Educators Inc | New Orleans, LA | $140,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Chicago Public Education Fund | Chicago, IL | $140,000 | 2024 | Education |
| NEP | Oakland, CA | $140,000 | 2024 | Education |
| IFF | Chicago, IL | $135,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Mercy Housing Lakefront | Chicago, IL | $135,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Civic Consulting Alliance | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| University of Chicago Urban Education Institute | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | Education |
| University of ChicagoNetwork for College Success | Chicago, IL | $125,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Forefront | Chicago, IL | $115,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Rush University Medical Center | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 2024 | Health |
| Chicago Jobs Council | Chicago, IL | $110,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| UIC Urban Education Leadership Program | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Goodman Theatre | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Arts Access and Learning |
| Youth Guidance | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Museum of Science and Industry | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Arts Work Fund for Organizational Dev | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Metropolitan Family Services | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| ICIRR | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Chicago Public Library Foundation | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| UIC Urban Education Leadership Program | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| Hubbard Street Dance Chicago | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Arts Access and Learning |
| Communities In Schools of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Education |
| UIC Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Health |
| Crossroads Fund | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Special Projects |
| Business and Professional People for the Public Interest | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
| All Chicago Making Homelessness History | Chicago, IL | $100,000 | 2024 | Strong Communities |
ChiArts Foundation
$500,000Legacy Grant
Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago
$250,000Special Projects
Navy Pier Inc
$250,000Arts Access and Learning
Window to the World Communications
$250,000Special Projects
Illinois Immigrant Funders Collaborative
$250,000Special Projects
Greater Chicago Food Depository
$250,000Special Projects
Big Shoulders Fund
$250,000Education
WBEZChicago Public Media
$250,000Special Projects
ChiArts Foundation
$250,000Arts Access and Learning
Tapestry 360 Health
$205,000Health
Center for Housing and Health
$200,000Equitable Recovery Grant
Chicago Funders Together to End Homelessness (CFTEH)
$200,000Initiatives
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
$200,000Special Projects
Erie Family Health Center
$200,000Health
Shriver Center on Poverty Law
$180,000Strong Communities
Chicago Community Loan Fund
$160,000Strong Communities
Ingenuity Incorporated Chicago
$150,000Arts Access and Learning
All Chicago Making Homelessness History
$150,000Equitable Recovery Grant
Chicago Community Foundation
$150,000Equitable Recovery Grant
Chicago Youth Centers
$150,000Strong Families
Chicago Community Foundation
$150,000Equitable Recovery Grant
Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities
$150,000Strong Communities
Leading Educators Inc
$140,000Education
Chicago Public Education Fund
$140,000Education
NEP
$140,000Education
IFF
$135,000Special Projects
Mercy Housing Lakefront
$135,000Strong Communities
Chicagoland Workforce Funder Alliance
$125,000Special Projects
Civic Consulting Alliance
$125,000Special Projects
Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU
$125,000Strong Communities
University of Chicago Urban Education Institute
$125,000Education
University of ChicagoNetwork for College Success
$125,000Education
Forefront
$115,000Special Projects
Rush University Medical Center
$110,000Health
Chicago Jobs Council
$110,000Strong Communities
UIC Urban Education Leadership Program
$100,000Education
Goodman Theatre
$100,000Arts Access and Learning
Youth Guidance
$100,000Education
Museum of Science and Industry
$100,000Education
Arts Work Fund for Organizational Dev
$100,000Special Projects
Metropolitan Family Services
$100,000Education
ICIRR
$100,000Special Projects
Chicago Public Library Foundation
$100,000Special Projects
UIC Urban Education Leadership Program
$100,000Education
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
$100,000Arts Access and Learning
Communities In Schools of Chicago
$100,000Education
UIC Community Engagement and Neighborhood Health Partnerships
$100,000Health
Crossroads Fund
$100,000Special Projects
Business and Professional People for the Public Interest
$100,000Strong Communities
All Chicago Making Homelessness History
$100,000Strong Communities
Current and upcoming funding from Polk Bros Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations based in and primarily serving Chicago residents; youth must be in meaningful decision-making roles; the work must align with the Foundation’s power-building continuum and demonstrate active coalitions of young leaders.
Deadline: LOI deadline June 5, 2026; full proposal deadline August 14, 2026.
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