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Polk Bros. Foundation

Annual Giving
$26.6M
Grant Range
$25K - $0.5M
Decision Time
4mo

Polk Bros. Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $26.6 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $319.3 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: 3-4 months (historically)
  • Grant Range: $25,000 - $500,000
  • Average Grant: $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Chicago, IL only
  • Current Status: NOT accepting unsolicited applications until fall 2026

Contact Details

Address: 20 West Kinzie Street, Suite 1110, Chicago, IL 60654-5815

Phone: 312-527-4684

Website: polkbrosfdn.org

Grants Portal: polkbrosfdn.fluxx.io (currently not accepting new applications)

Email for Eligibility Questions: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1988, the Polk Bros. Foundation emerged from the success of the Polk Bros. retail furniture and appliance chain, a Chicago institution that operated for over 55 years before closing in 1992. Over the past 35 years, the foundation has invested more than $586 million in 3,900+ Chicago nonprofit organizations. With current assets of $319.3 million and annual giving of approximately $26-28 million supporting nearly 400 nonprofit partners, Polk Bros. Foundation has been one of Chicago's largest private funders.

IMPORTANT: In fall 2024, the foundation announced new strategic goals focused on racial equity and justice in Chicago, entering a two-year transition period during which it will not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation will continue funding existing grantees during this transition with minimal paperwork requirements. New grantmaking strategies will be announced and applications will reopen in late 2026.

Funding Priorities

Historical Grant Programs (Being Phased Out)

The foundation historically supported seven interconnected focus areas:

Strong Communities ($53,000 - $500,000)

  • Workforce development and job training
  • Affordable housing and community development
  • Legal services and civil rights protection
  • Safe communities and violence prevention

Strong Families

  • Healthy relationships and family support
  • Youth development programs
  • Equitable access to holistic services for families affected by poverty

Education

  • School improvement initiatives in Chicago public schools
  • Programs supporting student academic success
  • Focus on underserved Chicago communities

Health

  • Expanded access to school-based and community preventive healthcare
  • Primary care services for populations affected by poverty

Arts Access and Learning

  • School-based arts education programs
  • Community-based arts instruction for youth

Enhanced Capacity

  • Organizational capacity building for grantees
  • Sector-level strengthening initiatives

Strategic Collaborations

  • Cross-sector partnerships with philanthropic, nonprofit, public, and private organizations
  • Collaborative, cross-neighborhood work

Small Grants Program: Up to $25,000 for organizations with limited funding histories and annual expenses of $75,000 - $500,000

Future Focus (Post-2026)

The foundation's new strategic direction will center on racial equity and justice in Chicago. Specific program details will be announced in late 2026. CEO Gillian Darlow has emphasized the foundation's commitment to "centering more explicitly on racial equity and racial justice" in their work and "addressing structural racism and economic disparities."

Geographic Restrictions

Critical: The foundation only funds organizations located within and doing work within the city of Chicago. Very few exceptions are made for communities outside Chicago city limits. This is not a Cook County-wide focus, but specifically Chicago city boundaries.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions have not been publicly detailed in available sources, but standard private foundation restrictions typically apply (individuals, political campaigns, religious activities, debt reduction, etc.). Check their website for complete exclusion criteria when applications reopen.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Gillian Darlow, CEO (appointed January 2013)

  • MBA and Master's in Education from Stanford University; BA from Harvard University
  • Former Principal at Civic Consulting Alliance; led Mayor Rahm Emanuel's 2011 Transition Plan
  • Previously held leadership roles at The Field Museum, Redmoon Theater, and Leadership for Quality Education
  • Annual compensation: $499,000 (2024)

Darlow's stated priorities: "I believe in the work of the Polk Bros. Foundation because I see the power of its grantmaking in the ambitious work of its grantees. My goal is to improve the health and effectiveness of local nonprofits and enhance the critical services they provide to Chicago's children, youth and families."

Upon joining, Darlow held listening sessions with 250 grantee organizations to inform strategic planning. Under her leadership since 2013, the foundation has granted more than $260 million. She is a co-founder of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which has aligned more than 50 funders to direct $115 million to address gun violence in Chicago.

Board of Directors

Nancy Lewis, Chair (appointed November 2022)

  • Granddaughter of Goldie Bachmann Luftig (part of the founding Polk family)
  • National Sales Manager of Mary Meyer Corporation
  • Served on the Board for five years before becoming Chair

Sandra P. Guthman, Chair Emeritus

  • Daughter of Samuel Polk; founding board member since November 18, 1988
  • Former CEO of Polk Bros. Foundation (1993-2012)
  • Spent 28 years with IBM Corp. before leading the foundation
  • Served as Board Chair for 34 years

Other Board Members:

  • Ellen Multack, Vice Chair
  • Cherryl Thomas, Secretary
  • Roberto Herencia, Treasurer
  • Peter Howard, Director
  • Jill Cutler, Director
  • Howard Polk, Director
  • Elizabeth Connelly, Director
  • David Snyder, Director

Note: Board members do not receive compensation for their service.

Key Staff

  • Divya M. Little, Senior Program Officer
  • Camielle Taylor, Program Officer
  • Gabriella "Gabby" Nelson, Program Officer (housing strategies focus)
  • Jasmine "Jaz" Lopez, Program Assistant
  • Alexandria (Lexi) Nieves, Program Assistant
  • Nestor Manuel Avendaño, Grants Manager
  • Tracy Kremer, Director of Communications

Application Process & Timeline

Current Status (2024-2026)

The foundation is NOT accepting unsolicited applications.

During the two-year transition period (fall 2024 through fall 2026), only current grantees (organizations that received board-approved grants between September 1, 2022 and August 31, 2024) are eligible for transition funding. These organizations have been contacted directly by email with information about accessing transition grants.

Applications will reopen in late 2026 when the foundation announces its new grantmaking strategies focused on racial equity and justice.

Transition Period Funding for Current Grantees

Current grantees receive substantive funding with minimal paperwork:

Grant Size (Previous)202520262027
≤$25,000100%60%—
>$25,00080%60%—
Arts organizations100%/80%60%60%

Arts organizations receive an extended third year of transition funding recognizing sector vulnerability.

Historical Application Process (Pre-2024)

Two-Phase System:

Phase One: Applicants provided brief, high-level information about their organization and program without extensive time investment.

Phase Two: If aligned with foundation strategies, invited organizations answered additional questions and provided supporting documents.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or fiscal agent with 501(c)(3) status
  • At least one year of operation
  • Located within and conducting work within Chicago city limits

Decision Timeline (Historical)

Board Meetings: Quarterly in February, May, August, and November

Application Timeline: Complete both phases 3-4 months prior to desired board meeting date

  • Example: For February board meeting, submit by early November

Review Process:

  • Applications reviewed in order received
  • Program officer contact with additional questions or to schedule site visit
  • Cannot guarantee scheduling for specific board meeting due to unpredictable application flow

Rolling Basis: Applications accepted year-round (historically)

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. The foundation awarded 703 grants totaling $26.6 million in 2023, supporting nearly 400 nonprofit partners annually.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants have not been publicly detailed. This information may be available when applications reopen in 2026.

Application Success Factors

Guiding Principles (Foundation Values)

The foundation operates according to five core principles that should inform all applications:

  1. Community: Listening to and celebrating those most impacted by poverty and inequity
  2. Equity: Intentionally addressing structural racism and economic disparities
  3. Urgency: Balancing immediate critical services with systemic transformation
  4. Partnership: Built on respect, trust, creativity, integrity, and accountability
  5. Heart: Approaching work with compassion, joy, and hope

Strategic Approach

  • Collaborative, cross-neighborhood work: The foundation emphasizes working "together across neighborhoods and issues and sectors" as central to helping Chicagoans "reach their full potential"
  • Systems change orientation: Balance between immediate services and long-term systemic transformation
  • Racial equity lens: The new strategic direction explicitly centers racial equity and justice
  • Community-centered: Deep listening to those most impacted by poverty and inequity

What Leadership Values

Based on Gillian Darlow's approach:

  • Evidence of community listening and engagement
  • Programs that strengthen nonprofit organizational capacity
  • Collaborative approaches that work across sectors
  • Focus on Chicago's most pressing issues related to poverty and inequity
  • Ambitious work with meaningful impact

The foundation values grantee expertise and has staff and board members with "deep roots in Chicago's communities."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not currently accepting applications: Do not submit proposals until fall 2026. Subscribe to the foundation's newsletter for updates on when applications will reopen and details about new funding priorities.

  • Chicago-only focus: Your organization must be located within and doing work within Chicago city limits. Geographic restriction is strict with very rare exceptions.

  • New strategic direction ahead: The post-2026 strategies will focus explicitly on racial equity and justice in Chicago. Begin thinking now about how your work addresses structural racism and economic disparities.

  • Relationship building during transition: While you cannot apply now, use this time to understand the foundation's values, follow their communications, and prepare for the new application cycle.

  • Grant size expectations: Historically, grants ranged from $25,000 to $500,000 with an average of $50,000. Expect similar ranges when funding reopens, but confirm when new guidelines are announced.

  • Collaborative approaches valued: The foundation has historically emphasized cross-sector, cross-neighborhood collaboration. Projects that demonstrate partnership and systems-level thinking align with their values.

  • Plan for 3-4 month timeline: Historically, the foundation recommended submitting applications 3-4 months before desired board meetings. Use this lead time for planning when applications reopen.

References

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