Gillian Darlow

Gillian Darlow is Chief Executive Officer of Polk Bros. Foundation, which is dedicated to building and strengthening Chicago's families and communities, especially those most affected by poverty and inequity. Under Gillian’s leadership since 2013, Polk Bros. Foundation has granted more than $260 million and supports nearly 400 nonprofit partners every year 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.

Gillian is a leader and co-founder of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which has aligned more than 50 funders to direct $115 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 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 Chicagoland’s Future, Forefront, Positive Coaching Alliance, and the Civic Federation. 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. Gillian holds an MBA and an MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA from Harvard University.