Anna Lee
Vice President of Programs
she/her
As vice president of programs, Anna Lee leads Polk Bros. Foundation’s grantmaking strategy and guides the Foundation’s program team in advancing effective, community-informed grantmaking. She joined the Foundation in 2024 and draws on her experience building cross-sector partnerships to inform the Foundation’s grantmaking and relationships with nonprofit and philanthropic partners. Anna has spent her career working across philanthropy, government and the nonprofit sector to strengthen communities and expand opportunity in Chicago. Before joining Polk Bros. Foundation, she served as vice president of strategic initiatives at United Way of Metro Chicago, where she led cross-sector initiatives, including the launch of the 211 Metro Chicago helpline. Previously, she was senior director of community impact at The Chicago Community Trust, where she led grantmaking to address the region’s most urgent needs and co-managed the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund. Earlier in her career, Anna held leadership roles with Year Up Chicago, the Chicago Housing Authority and the City of Chicago. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago. She serves on the boards of Disability Lead and the Albert Pick, Jr. Fund and co-chairs the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities Chicago Fund and the Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative.
