Gillian Darlow

she/her

As chief executive officer, Gillian Darlow guides Polk Bros. Foundation’s mission and strategy, working closely with the Board of Directors, staff and community partners to help advance the Foundation’s vision for Chicago. She joined the Foundation in 2013, and emphasizes listening, learning and working alongside nonprofit organizations and communities to help ensure the Foundation’s resources are invested where they can make the greatest difference. Gillian is also a leader and co-founder of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which has aligned more than 50 funders to direct over $200 million to address gun violence in Chicago. Previously, Gillian was a principal with Civic Consulting Alliance where she guided numerous initiatives to transform Chicago Public Schools, tourism, workforce, and City operations and led the City’s 2011 Mayoral transition plan. Gillian is a Leadership Greater Chicago Burnham Fellow and a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, the Chicago Network and the Economic Club. Board roles include Chicago Public Education Fund, Civic Consulting Alliance (executive committee), Skills for Chicago, Positive Coaching Alliance and the Civic Federation. She also serves on a number of advisory boards and steering committees, including Cook County Equity Fund Task Force, Illinois Justice Project, Press Forward Chicago and Resilient Chicago Fund, among others. Formerly, Gillian also served as Vice Chair of the Board of Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism agency, and as Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Site Selection Task Force for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.