Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

12/05/2025

We’re hiring! The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is seeking an Education Program Officer to lead our education grantmaking focused on increasing the academic achievement of students in historically disinvested Chicago Public Schools.

The Education Orogram Officer manages $2M in grants annually, oversees four grant cycles, and serves as a key thought partner on emerging opportunities in the education landscape.

Reporting to incoming President Dr. Sherly Chavarria in 2026, this role offers the opportunity to help drive meaningful, long-term impact for Chicago students.

We are excited to partner with Keecia James on this search!

Click here to learn more and apply: https://lloydafryfoundation.applytojob.com/apply/w7byj1nOrd/Education-Program-Officer

10/31/2025

The Board of Directors of the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Sherly Chavarria as the next President of the Foundation, effective January 1, 2026.

To read the announcement, visit our website here: https://www.fryfoundation.org/news/lloyd-a-fry-foundation-names-new-president-dr-sherly-chavarria

The Foundation was assisted in the search by Morten Group For more information about the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, go to fryfoundation.org.

06/05/2025

📬 Our latest quarterly newsletter is out now!

In this issue, we spotlight our Employment Program and the recent impacts from federal funding decisions. Although the path forward is uncertain due to these shifts, our Employment grantees remain steadfast in their work. They continue to help Chicagoans access quality job opportunities and build long-term career paths that support economic mobility.

You'll also find news from the Foundation, including the announcement of President Unmi Song’s upcoming retirement after more than two decades of leadership.

And don’t miss updates from our grantee partners, including I.c.stars Chicago, Research Partnership for Professional Learning (RPPL), and Ingenuity, who continue to lead innovative, impactful work across the city.

Read the full newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/2819914ba6b5/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-18097302

05/14/2025

We are proud to celebrate our President, Unmi Song, as she is honored by AAPIP for her longstanding leadership, commitment to equity, and deep contributions to the philanthropic sector. Congratulations, Unmi, on this well-deserved recognition!

We are honored to recognize Unmi Song, whose impact has shaped and strengthened the local, as well as national, philanthropic landscape, as the recipient of the Local Champion Award in Chicago! 🏆

Congratulations, Unmi, on this well-deserved recognition. Your decades of steadfast advocacy and support of Chicago’s AANHPI philanthropic community played a pivotal role in building AAPIP’s Chicago Chapter. Thank you for being a guiding light and role model to so many rising AANHPI leaders. 💡

Unmi will receive her award at the Community Celebration and Awards Reception on 5/20 as part of AAPIP’s 35th Anniversary Conference. Register at the link in our bio to join us from 5/19-5/21 for this milestone gathering of AANHPI professionals, funders, and advocates to engage in deep learning, meaningful action, and community building. 🔗

03/11/2025

📬 Our quarterly newsletter is live! Here are some highlights from the latest news at the foundation:

🎨 Arts Learning Spotlight: This month, we're featuring the power of arts education in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and student engagement, highlighting organizations that make the arts accessible to all.

📢 Affirming Our Values: In times of shifting policies, we stand firm in our dedication to equity, opportunity, and the communities we serve. Read our full statement in the latest newsletter.

💻 New Website: We're excited to unveil our newly modernized website! With a fresh look but the same information, we hope that it will be easier to navigate—check it out!

Read the full newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/ec4070f26b83/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-18095040

12/17/2024

We’re excited to share the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation’s 2024 Annual Report, highlighting the lived experiences of the Chicagoans served by our grantee partners.

From a teacher improving school instruction to a jobseeker building a career in construction safety to a student gaining skills through theater earning her a college scholarship, this year’s report celebrates the impressive achievements of individuals made in part because of the committed and enduring work of Fry Foundation grantees.

Explore the report and join us in celebrating these inspiring stories and the transformative work of our partners.

Featured grantees include Albany Park Theater Project, Teach Plus Illinois, and Revolution Workshop!

https://www.fryfoundation.org/index.php/download_file/view/536/124/

12/04/2024

📢 Check out the latest updates from the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation!

🌟 Spotlight on Education: Recent insights highlight the need for greater support for experienced principals and engaging learning environments to drive student success.

🤝 Welcome Gabrielle Caverl-McNeal: Meet our new Employment Program Officer, who brings expertise in trauma-informed workforce development and economic mobility.

🎨 Arts Education Progress: Learn how CPS arts initiatives have expanded access and equity over the last decade, shared at this year’s GIA conference.

📖 What We’re Reading, Watching & Hearing: From The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama to PBS’s America at a Crossroads, explore staff favorites!

💡Grants Update: $860,000 awarded to support Arts Learning, Employment, and Health programs across Chicago.

Read more and subscribe at https://mailchi.mp/409c1ba45408/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-18092252

09/11/2024

Last week, the Obama Foundation invited Lloyd A. Fry Foundation staff and board members to visit the construction site of the future Obama Presidential Center. The center, named after Chicago's own former President Barack Obama, will provide spaces for learning, athletics, art, and community service. The staff and board were also treated to witnessing the installation of the new 83-foot glass artwork called "Uprising of the Sun" by Ethiopian-born artist, Julie Mehretu, on the building's north facade.

The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is excited for the opening of the center in the near future, bringing programming to the residents of Chicago, the nation, and abroad!

09/05/2024

Check out the latest Lloyd A. Fry Foundation newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/29dfd559101e/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-17996985

This issue features a spotlight on our grantee, Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative, which established a Special Initiatives Fund to assist community-based organizations that are rapidly responding to support the large influx of asylum seekers.

Also included are some updates from our grantee partners Enrich Chicago, Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, LINK Unlimited Scholars, The Chicago Urban League, and I.c.stars Chicago.

To get the quarterly newsletter from the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, subscribe at https://fryfoundation.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bac84113d2577d29e7dd55e38&id=8073160d9a

05/29/2024

Check out the latest Lloyd A. Fry Foundation newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/0eea9e2d443c/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-17658361

This issue features a spotlight on our employment program and the ways in which our grantees are engaging employers as a key strategy. These relationships are important to the success of employers, grantee partners, and job seekers.

Also included are some updates from our grantee partners National Museum of Mexican Art, Ingenuity, and Teachers Supporting Teachers.

To get the quarterly newsletter from the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, subscribe at https://fryfoundation.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bac84113d2577d29e7dd55e38&id=8073160d9a

03/13/2024

Check out the latest Lloyd A. Fry Foundation newsletter! https://mailchi.mp/ba0408b83d0c/the-latest-from-the-lloyd-a-fry-foundation-17650741

This issue features a spotlight on our arts learning program and the learning conditions and approaches used by Fry Foundation grantees to promote student engagement and to offer high quality arts learning programs.

Also included are some updates from our grantee partners Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE), Uniting Voices Chicago, and Chicago Jobs Council.

To get the quarterly newsletter from the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation, subscribe at https://fryfoundation.us20.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=bac84113d2577d29e7dd55e38&id=8073160d9a