Polk Bros. Foundation is accurate. Please note that Bros. is intentionally abbreviated, and includes a period. The stores (Polk Bros) and the park at Navy Pier (Polk Bros Park) are also both intentionally abbreviated, but do not include a period. Reach out to us at info@polkbrosfdn.org with any questions you may have.

Polk Bros. Foundation is a private independent foundation dedicated to building and strengthening Chicago's families and communities, especially those most affected by poverty. The Foundation focuses its work at the intersection of Chicago's most pressing issues to address the complex roots and devastating effects of poverty, challenge inequity, and ensure that all Chicagoans have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Since its founding in 1988, the Foundation has partnered with more than 3,000 Chicago nonprofits to build strong communities and families, increase access to quality education and the arts, improve health, and strengthen organizations and the sectors in which they work. Polk Bros. Foundation is one of the largest funders of Chicago nonprofits, granting more than $25 million to nearly 400 nonprofit partners every year, and managing assets greater than $400 million.

Polk Bros. Foundation only funds organizations located within the city of Chicago. Rare exceptions are made when services are provided in Chicago and Chicago residents make up at least 80% of those served by the program for which support is requested.

Polk Bros. Foundation only considers proposals from organizations that have been in operation for at least one year and have non-profit 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal agent with 501(c)(3) status. Please first explore our focus areas to understand our grantmaking and what we support. If you believe your organization’s work aligns with our funding priorities, please complete our eligibility checklist and, if eligible, register for access to our online Grants Portal. If you receive login credentials for Polk Bros. Foundation’s online Grants Portal as a result, you may log in and begin your application.

Learn more about our process.

Please first explore our focus areas to understand our grantmaking and what we support. If you believe your organization’s work aligns with our funding priorities, please complete our eligibility checklist and, if eligible, register for access to our online Grants Portal. If you receive login credentials for Polk Bros. Foundation’s online Grants Portal as a result, you may log in and begin your application.

Learn more about our process.

If you do not already have login credentials for Polk Bros. Foundation’s online Grants Portal, please complete our eligibility checklist and register for access to our online Grants Portal. Once you receive login credentials, you may log in and begin your application. During Phase One of your application, you’ll be asked to provide brief, high-level information about your organization and the program for which you’re seeking funding. If the Foundation determines your request is aligned with our strategies, you will receive information about how to proceed to Phase Two where you'll be asked to answer an additional set of questions and to provide supporting documents that will help us evaluate your application.

Learn more about our process.

Detailed information about applying to Polk Bros. Foundation is available on Our Process page. Polk Bros. Foundation accepts applications year-round and recommends keeping the timing noted in the charts on Our Process page in mind. We review applications in the order in which they are received, and consider them at quarterly board meetings in February, May, August and November. We generally recommend completing your two-phase application three to four months prior to the date of the board meeting.

Polk Bros. Foundation accepts applications year-round and recommends keeping the timing noted in the charts on Our Process page in mind. We review applications in the order in which they are received, and consider them at quarterly board meetings in February, May, August and November. We generally recommend completing your two-phase application three to four months prior to the date of the board meeting.

We recommend keeping the timing noted in the charts on Our Process page in mind. We generally recommend completing your two-phase application three to four months prior to the date of the board meeting. Thus, both phases of an application for the February meeting should be completed no later than the beginning of November. Because it is hard to predict the flow of applications for any given board meeting, we cannot guarantee that the proposal will be scheduled for February.

You will receive written confirmation that your application has been received. Once it is reviewed, you will be contacted by a program officer with additional questions or to schedule a site visit.

Our grants can be used to cover the full costs of programs, including any direct program costs and the proportional share of administrative costs (including proportional rent, salaries, fundraising, and other overhead) that can be allocated to the program.

The Foundation's grants are most often program focused, but may be put toward the full range of program-related expenses. This might include the program’s proportional cost of renting and/or heating office space, providing transportation or meals to program participants as well as direct costs for program staff. The full-cost program budgets are intended to provide grantees with more flexibility within our grants.

Generally, Polk Bros. Foundation makes grants only for systems improvement and direct services provided to Chicago communities of need, with a priority for those serving Chicago public school students and their families.

Polk Bros. Foundation does not support tax-generating entities for services within their normal responsibilities. When it comes to individual schools, our preference and practice is to fund organizations that work with schools, not the schools themselves. We feel this gives us and the organizations we support more leverage to ensure results.

Polk Bros. Foundation is located at 20 West Kinzie Street, Suite 1110, Chicago, IL 60654-5815. You can reach us at 312.527.4684 or info@polkbrosfdn.org.