Polk Bros. Foundation’s longstanding funding strategies — those featured on this page — are being phased out. In fall 2024, the Foundation announced new goals focused on making more progress toward racial equity and justice in Chicago. Our new grantmaking strategies will be fully launched in fall 2026.

Before we begin to put any resources toward our new goals, we have first entered a two-year transition period to provide grantee partners with time and resources to enable them to plan for upcoming changes.

During this transition, which ends in fall 2026, we are unable to accept unsolicited proposals.

Our Focus

By working together across neighborhoods and issues and sectors, Chicagoans are helping make our city a place where all people have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Championing these efforts is our focus.

Strong Communities

To strengthen Chicago and its neighborhoods, we support efforts focused on workforce development, housing, community and economic development, legal services, and safe communities.

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Strong Families

To strengthen families and their support networks across Chicago, we invest in efforts that promote healthy relationships and youth development and offer equitable access to holistic services.

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Education

To ensure all Chicago public school students are prepared for success in college, in their careers, and in life, we invest in school improvement and student academic success.

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Health

To improve the health outcomes of Chicagoans, especially those affected by poverty, we support efforts that expand access to school-based and community-based preventive and primary health care.

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Arts Access and Learning

To increase Chicago public school students' access to the learning opportunities that come from deep participation in the arts, we support school-based arts education programs and community-based arts instruction for youth.

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Enhanced Capacity

To help our grantees — and the systems in which they operate — thrive, we support capacity building at the organization level and at the sector level.

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