Polk Bros. Foundation awards $2.15 million in grants to advance community-led efforts to close the life expectancy gap and build community wealth across generations

Twenty-seven organizations receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 through two Requests for Proposals   

At its August 2026 meeting, Polk Bros. Foundation’s Board of Directors approved $2.15 million in grants through two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) announced in February 2026 as part of the Foundation’s transition period. 

One RFP was focused on Risk Reduction Strategies to Prevent Overdose (toward the Foundation’s Closing the Life Expectancy Gap goal) and another was focused on Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership (toward the Foundation’s Building Community Wealth Across Generations goal). Grant recommendations for a third transition-period RFP focused on Next Generation Power-Building (toward the Foundation’s Fostering Participatory, Multiracial Democracy goal) will be considered by the Foundation’s Board of Directors in November 2026 and announced publicly afterward. 

“These grants reflect our belief that lasting progress happens when communities have the relationships, organizations and opportunities they need to solve challenges together,” said Polk Bros. Foundation CEO Gillian Darlow. “Whether the goal is preventing overdose or expanding shared ownership, the Foundation is investing in the community capacity that makes long-term change possible.” 

Both RFPs were designed to explore promising, community-driven approaches, while also informing the Foundation’s future grantmaking: 

• The Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership grant opportunity supports the expansion of shared ownership models, and projects selected to receive funding will, together, create pathways for low-income and historically disinvested communities to build wealth that stays local and grows across generations. They reflect the Foundation’s belief that expanding community ownership can strengthen neighborhood stability on the south and west sides, create lasting economic opportunity and help more local residents share in the prosperity they help create.
  See the projects selected for funding.

• The Risk Reduction Strategies to Prevent Overdose grant opportunity brings new resources to the prevention of overdose deaths, and the efforts selected for funding will strengthen the community infrastructure that helps people survive a crisis and then reconnect to care and move toward healthier futures.
  See the projects selected for funding.

The two funding opportunities received a total of 181 letters of interest, with 27 organizations ultimately selected for funding following a competitive, two-phase review process.

“The power of these proposals reflected both the depth of leadership and the diversity of approaches emerging across Chicago,” said Polk Bros. Foundation Vice President of Programs Anna Lee. “We saw organizations strengthening community infrastructure, expanding proven models and testing new ideas that have the potential to advance our goals in different ways. That made these funding decisions difficult, and we’re grateful to every organization that shared its work with us.” 

Learn More 

$1.075 million in grants toward Closing the Life Expectancy Gap: See the organizations selected for funding and learn how this set of grants is strengthening the risk reduction infrastructure and community-based efforts to prevent overdose deaths.

$1.075 million in grants toward Building Community Wealth Across Generations: See the organizations selected for funding and learn how this set of grants is expanding shared ownership and creating pathways for wealth that remain rooted in Chicago’s historically disinvested communities.

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