Field Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Field Foundation focuses on community power building in Chicago, prioritising Chicago’s South and West Sides, so nonprofits working outside this area or outside its themes of arts and culture, civic infrastructure, journalism and storytelling, and local leaders and organisers are unlikely to be a fit.
- Most grants are modest: about eight in ten of its 728 grants to organisations fall between $10,000 and $50,000, the median grant is $25,000, and half of its 728 grants were $25,000 or less, so a request in that range is realistic, though the largest grant was about $1,150,000.
- There are two distinct routes in: A Road Together takes open applications during a mid-April-to-mid-May window, while Community Investments has no open call and works through an invitation-based, relationship-driven process, so cold applications are unlikely to succeed there.
- With 70% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in the previous two filings, this suggests a relationship-led funder where sustained contact matters more than one-off pitches.
- Organisations without 501(c)(3) status cannot apply except occasionally through a fiscal agent or fiscal sponsor for Community Power Building or Journalism & Storytelling grants, and should contact the foundation to confirm eligibility before applying.
Overview
Field Foundation is a US private foundation based in Chicago, IL.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Field Foundation supports community power building in Chicago through investment in arts and culture, civic infrastructure, journalism and storytelling, local leaders and organisers. It focuses primarily on Chicago’s South and West Sides, where its analysis identifies areas of greatest need, and works alongside grant recipients to advance resident-set agendas. It invests in resident-led organisations and small and mid-sized arts and culture organisations. In journalism, it supports fact-based work that gives voice to Chicagoans, particularly news outlets centring underrepresented communities and enabling residents to access reliable information and advocate for change. Its approach emphasises strategic partnerships, sustained investment and community-defined goals.
Themes
- Arts and culture
- Civic infrastructure
- Journalism and storytelling
- Local leaders and organisers
- Community investments
Geographic Focus
Priority: Chicago’s South and West Sides.
What They Don't Fund
- Organisations without 501(c)(3) status, except on occasion through a 501(c)(3) fiscal agent or fiscal sponsor for Community Power Building or Journalism & Storytelling grants
How to apply
Organisations can apply to A Road Together during its mid-April-to-mid-May window. Community Investments has no open call and uses an invitation-based, relationship-driven process.
Deadlines: A Road Together applications are accepted from mid-April through mid-May.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 70% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 728 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Community Investments favours resident-led organisations rooted in their communities, with an actionable agenda, strong partnerships, sound financial stewardship and a record of turning residents’ priorities into tangible change.
- For A Road Together, a panel of Chicago artists and cultural leaders recommends recipients through a participatory grantmaking process.
- Organisations without 501(c)(3) status applying through a fiscal agent or sponsor should contact the foundation to confirm eligibility before applying.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 10% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to organisations Field Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 18% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 298 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- YWCA Northwestern Illinois · Project - funding for a specific project or program$1,156,4802024 tax year
- United Way of Champaign County · Project - funding for a specific project or program$556,4402024 tax year
- Southern Illinois Community Foundation · Project - funding for a specific project or program$430,4442024 tax year
- United Way of Central Illinois · Project - funding for a specific project or program$346,1352024 tax year
- Half Step · Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization$200,0002024 tax year
- Uprising Theater · Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization$100,0002024 tax year
- Enrich Chicago · Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization$100,0002024 tax year
- Alt Space Chicago · Operating - funding for ongoing operations of the organization$100,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dr Nicholas Pearce — Director
- Cathy J Cohen — Director
- Jamee Field Kane — Director
- Stephanie Field Harris — Director
- Rita A Fry — Director
- F Oliver Nicklin — Director
- Lyle Logan — Treasurer
- Daniel O Ash — President
- Gloria Castillo — Vice Chair
- Joe Aguilar — Board Chair
- Marshall Field V — Director
- Lisa Yun Lee — Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $6,488,141 | $4,362,882 | $60,715,125 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $12,793,641 | $9,799,287 | $61,163,444 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $14,209,451 | $10,767,926 | $63,016,001 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Field Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- (312) 831-0910
- Chicago, IL
- fieldfoundation.org
Applying to Field Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (312) 831-0910
- Chicago, IL
- fieldfoundation.org