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Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.0M
Grant Range
$20K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,995,219 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $198 million
  • Number of Grants: ~300 annually (403 in 2024)
  • Grant Range: $20,000 - $450,000
  • Typical Grant: $20,000 - $50,000
  • Decision Time: 2-3 months (quarterly review cycle)
  • Geographic Focus: Chicago, IL only

Contact Details

Address: 120 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 1950, Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: (312) 580-0310

Email:

Website: www.fryfoundation.org

Overview

The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation was established in 1977 with funds from the sale of the Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Company to Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp. With over $198 million in assets, the Foundation distributed nearly $10 million in grants to approximately 300 Chicago-based organizations in 2024. The Foundation's vision is "education, prosperity, and hope for all," and it supports organizations "with the strength and commitment to address persistent problems of urban Chicago resulting from poverty, violence, ignorance, and despair." Under the leadership of President Unmi Song (retiring after 22 years), the Foundation focuses on building organizational capacity, developing successful program innovations, and sharing knowledge that can contribute to advancements in the field. Dr. Sherly Chavarria, currently Senior Education Program Officer, will succeed Song as President effective January 1, 2026.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation currently funds three primary program areas (note: Health funding is being phased out):

Arts Learning

  • Typical Range: $20,000 - $50,000
  • Supports programs using arts education to improve learning and provide life-enriching experiences for low-income Chicago children and youth
  • Focuses on building student skills and knowledge in various artistic disciplines
  • Emphasizes using arts to nurture problem-solving abilities and self-assessment

Education

  • Typical Range: $20,000 - $50,000
  • Long history of supporting efforts to improve academic achievement for Chicago students
  • Priorities include: principal preparation and development for leading high-performing schools, teacher leader development, and rigorous academic enrichment opportunities
  • Supports school leadership development, academic enrichment, and college preparation

Employment

  • Typical Range: $20,000 - $50,000
  • Invests in vocational training to help low-income job seekers secure middle-skilled jobs with good wages and career advancement potential
  • Focuses on building organizational capacity to deliver high-quality employment services
  • Emphasizes healthy, sustained relationships between workforce development programs and employers

Priority Areas

  • Programs with demonstrated record of high-quality, effective services
  • Organizations serving low-income, underserved Chicago communities
  • Initiatives addressing systemic inequities
  • Projects with strong program design and clear expected outcomes
  • Efforts that test models or develop knowledge contributing to field advancements
  • The Foundation gives priority to proposals for specific projects rather than general operating support

What They Don't Fund

Explicit Exclusions:

  • General operating expenses for new grantees
  • Capital projects
  • Endowments
  • Fundraising events
  • Political activities
  • Medical research
  • Religious purposes
  • Start-up organizations
  • Individuals
  • Emergency causes
  • Renovation projects
  • Governmental bodies
  • 509(a)(3) supporting organizations (with rare exceptions)
  • Unsolicited proposals from individual schools
  • Organizations based outside Chicago (very rare exceptions)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Graham C. Grady – Chair (Founder of Donors Forum's Trustee Subcommittee)
  • Librada Killian – Vice Chair (she/her/hers)
  • Unmi Song – President and Secretary (she/her/hers)
  • Merril Prager – Treasurer and Assistant Secretary (she/her/hers)
  • Amina Dickerson – Director (she/her/hers)
  • Lloyd A. Fry III – Director
  • Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall – Director
  • Howard M. McCue III – Director

Staff

  • Unmi Song – President (she/her/hers) - retiring after 22 years
  • Dr. Sherly Chavarria – Senior Education Program Officer (she/her/hers) - incoming President effective January 1, 2026
  • Joe Panganiban – Senior Arts Learning Program Officer (he/him/his)
  • Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal – Employment Program Officer (she/her/hers)
  • Carrie Roche – Grants & Operations Manager (she/her/hers)
  • Merril Prager – Controller (she/her/hers)
  • Olivia May – Administrative & Operations Coordinator (she/her/hers)

Leadership Insights

President Unmi Song on Foundation Philosophy:

"The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation – board and staff – we are the stewards of funds meant to benefit society, the communities of Chicago. It is about strategy, being objective, being fair, being accessible and available to communities that need it most."

On Ambitious Goals:

"Foundations can have ambitious goals, as long as they are realistic, focused and strategic. Now more than ever, we must deepen our impact, accelerating trends, moving programs over the tipping point and remaining flexible in the face of sudden need."

On Equity and Access:

"We want to be sure that it is not just our closest networks who know what the Fry Foundation funds—it is all the groups on the outside—so that even people who are not well connected have a fair and full chance at the same opportunities."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI) - Highly Recommended

  • For first-time applicants or organizations seeking support for a new project
  • No deadline; can be submitted anytime
  • Should be 2-3 pages and include:
    • Brief description of proposed project
    • Project budget
    • Other projected sources of support
  • Staff responds within 30 days
  • Allows Foundation to provide preliminary feedback on fit with funding priorities

Step 2: Full Application (By Invitation)

  • Applicants invited after LOI review
  • Submit through online grants portal at fryfoundation.org
  • New users must register with organization's EIN (verify 501(c)(3) status)
  • Alternative: Email to applications@fryfoundation.org or postal mail (longer processing)
  • Must include required documentation and outcomes assessment plan

Application Requirements:

  • Must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization (or use fiscal sponsor)
  • Based in Chicago; programs must serve Chicago residents
  • Strong program design with clear expected outcomes
  • Procedures for assessing and evaluating programs
  • Minimum of three indicators to track program effectiveness

Application Deadlines & Board Review Schedule

The Board of Directors meets quarterly. Each meeting reviews three of the four program areas on a rotating basis:

DeadlinePrograms ReviewedBoard Decision
June 1All three areasAugust
September 1Arts Learning, EmploymentNovember
December 1Education, EmploymentFebruary
March 2Arts Learning, EducationMay

Note: If deadline falls on weekend or holiday, applications accepted by 5 p.m. the following business day

Decision Timeline

  1. LOI Response: 30 days from submission
  2. Application Contact: Staff contacts applicants within 3 weeks of deadline to discuss review
  3. Board Decision: Made at quarterly meeting (timing depends on deadline cycle)
  4. Notification: Program officer notifies approved applicants; email sent from grants portal
  5. Payment: Processed within a few business days after signed grant agreement

Total Timeline: Approximately 2-3 months from application deadline to decision, depending on quarterly cycle

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to reapply at any time with no mandatory waiting period. However, the Foundation strongly encourages unsuccessful applicants to have a conversation with Foundation program staff before reapplying to discuss reasons for the decline and improve chances of success.

For Current Grantees: Organizations are eligible to receive one grant per 12 months.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Foundation's explicit guidance and priorities, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Strong Program Design and Clear Outcomes

The Foundation emphasizes that it "looks for strong program design, clear expected outcomes, and procedures for assessing and evaluating programs." Applications must identify at least three indicators or measures to track and analyze program effectiveness, strengths, challenges, or long-term impact.

2. Focus on Specific Projects

As stated on their website, "the Foundation gives priority to proposals for specific projects rather than for general operating support." While they do fund general operating support for established grantees, new applicants should focus on well-defined project proposals.

3. Demonstrated Track Record

The Foundation seeks organizations with "a demonstrated record of high-quality, effective services" serving low-income, underserved Chicago communities. Evidence of past success and organizational capacity is critical.

4. Commitment to Knowledge Building

The Foundation is "especially interested in efforts to test models or develop knowledge that can contribute to advancements in the field." Applications that articulate how their work contributes to broader field knowledge have an advantage.

5. Equity and Accessibility Focus

President Unmi Song emphasizes accessibility: "We want to be sure that it is not just our closest networks who know what the Fry Foundation funds—it is all the groups on the outside—so that even people who are not well connected have a fair and full chance at the same opportunities." Applications should demonstrate commitment to addressing systemic inequities.

6. Strategic and Realistic Goals

As Song notes, "Foundations can have ambitious goals, as long as they are realistic, focused and strategic." Applications should balance ambition with achievable, measurable outcomes.

7. Submit LOI First

For first-time applicants, the Foundation "highly recommends" submitting a letter of inquiry before a full proposal. This allows applicants to receive preliminary feedback and ensure alignment with priorities before investing time in a full application.

8. Employment Program Specifics

For workforce development programs, the Foundation recognizes that "the most effective workforce development programs have healthy and sustained relationships with employers that lead to high quality employment opportunities for job seekers." Applications should demonstrate these employer relationships.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic restriction is absolute: Only Chicago-based organizations serving Chicago residents qualify; exceptions are extremely rare
  • LOI process is your friend: First-time applicants should use the letter of inquiry process to get feedback before investing in a full proposal—staff respond in 30 days
  • Project-specific beats general operating: New applicants have much better chances with well-defined project proposals rather than general operating support requests
  • Outcomes measurement is non-negotiable: Plan to identify and track at least three specific indicators of program effectiveness
  • Quarterly cycle requires planning: With only four board meetings per year, timing your application strategically matters—check which program areas are reviewed each quarter
  • Relationship building is encouraged: Unsuccessful applicants are explicitly encouraged to speak with program staff before reapplying; the Foundation values accessibility and being "fair" to all applicants
  • Typical grants are modest: Most grants fall in the $20,000-$50,000 range, though larger grants up to $450,000 are possible for established relationships and larger initiatives

References

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