Gabriella “Gabby” Nelson 

she/her

As program officer, Gabriella “Gabby” Nelson helps lead Polk Bros. Foundation’s grantmaking for the Building Community Wealth Across Generations goal. She joined the Foundation in September 2024, and draws on her background in housing policy, community development and government affairs — and a career-long commitment to expanding affordable housing and homeownership opportunities across Chicago — to inform the Foundation’s partnerships with grantees, community organizations and peer funders. Most recently, Gabby served as director of housing for the City of Chicago Mayor’s Office of Business, Economic, and Neighborhood Development, where she helped shape citywide housing strategy, including passage of a $1.25 billion bond issuance that included $625 million for affordable housing and creation of the country’s largest municipal social housing revolving loan fund. She previously worked as a senior policy analyst with the Chicago Department of Housing, where she took part in framing the Chicago Recovery Plan, and held policy and program roles at the Safer Foundation focused on expanding access to housing, legal services and employment for people facing systemic barriers. Gabby is a 2023 Chicago United for Equity Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow to Brazil, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.