Polk Bros. Foundation

05/04/2026

Now open!

Polk Bros. Foundation’s Next Generation Power-Building Request for Proposals (RFP) is now live. Letters of Interest are due June 5, 2026 at 5:00pm.

By making grants through this RFP, Polk Bros. Foundation seeks to nurture and elevate the civic leadership and brilliance that we know is abundant among young people across Chicago’s neighborhoods by supporting youth-led collective action initiatives that address specific issues of significance to young Chicagoans (up to age 26).

See full details at: https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/next-generation-power-building/

03/12/2026

New Funding Opportunity | Are you working to adapt, rethink and redesign how essential benefits and services are delivered within food, shelter, healthcare and safety systems amid federal funding and policy changes? The Resilient Chicago Fund is accepting applications through Friday, April 17, to support efforts like these. Polk Bros. Foundation is proud to partner in this collaborative funding effort.

Learn more:

The goal of this funding opportunity is to enable nonprofits and government partners to adapt, rethink and redesign how essential benefits and services are delivered within food, shelter, healthcare and safety systems amid federal funding and policy changes.

03/06/2026

Are you planning to apply for this grantmaking opportunity? Have questions?

Join a virtual information session on Monday, March 9 at 12pm to hear more about what we’re looking to support through the Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership RFP, the steps to apply and how this process works. The session will be held as a Zoom webinar, with the option to submit questions during the event.

Register to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_irkMq1ObR8mHnLqvDXZ4Jw

Learn more about the opportunity: https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/emerging-strategies-to-advance-shared-ownership/

03/02/2026

Now open! We're accepting Letters of Interest through March 27 at 5pm for grants to advance shared ownership models — consistent with 501(c)(3) requirements — that create opportunities for Chicagoans living on low incomes to collectively own their labor and housing in ways that strengthen individual, family and community resilience.

Learn more and please reshare!

https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/emerging-strategies-to-advance-shared-ownership/

02/23/2026

Today at 10am: Join a virtual info session today (2/23) at 10am to learn more about our open grantmaking opportunity focused on supporting risk reduction strategies to prevent overdose.

Advance registration required: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_zPmqye-nRWiru2uSym90Iw

Read the full Request for Proposals: https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/request-for-proposals-risk-reduction-strategies-to-prevent-overdose/

02/19/2026

Are you planning to apply for this grantmaking opportunity? Have questions?

Join a virtual information session on Monday, February 23 at 10am to hear more about what we’re looking to support through the Risk Reduction Strategies to Prevent Overdose RFP, the steps to apply and how this process works. The session will be held as a Zoom webinar, with the option to submit questions during the event.

Register to attend: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zPmqye-nRWiru2uSym90Iw

OPPORTUNITY | Are you working on risk reduction strategies to prevent overdose in Chicago? We've just issued a new funding opportunity as part of our transition toward new grantmaking goals.

Learn more at:
https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/request-for-proposals-risk-reduction-strategies-to-prevent-overdose/

Please help spread the word!

02/17/2026

OPPORTUNITY | Are you working on risk reduction strategies to prevent overdose in Chicago? We've just issued a new funding opportunity as part of our transition toward new grantmaking goals.

Learn more at:
https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-transition-period-how-were-preparing-for-future-grantmaking/request-for-proposals-risk-reduction-strategies-to-prevent-overdose/

Please help spread the word!

02/17/2026

OPPORTUNITY | Polk Bros. Foundation is opening three new funding opportunities to support community-driven work. These are part of the Foundation’s transition toward its new grantmaking goals.

“As we prepare to fully launch our new grantmaking strategies this fall, we want to make sure our approach is shaped by the insights of nonprofits and community leaders,” said Polk Bros. Foundation CEO Gillian Darlow. “Our recently-established Advisory Cohorts have been invaluable in helping us listen deeply, and now these RFPs allow us to put new resources into the hands of organizations doing critical work. We know there is much to learn from their efforts, and we’ll continue listening closely as we lean into the work ahead.”

Read the full announcement to learn more about these three opportunities, and please re-share so this reaches organizations across Chicago.

https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/polk-bros-foundation-to-release-three-grant-opportunities-to-support-community-driven-efforts-and-help-shape-future-grantmaking/

12/16/2025

Today, we’re taking an important next step in our transition period: the launch of three new Advisory Cohorts that will help ground our work in community expertise as we develop strategies for our three new grantmaking goals.

As Polk Bros. Foundation CEO Gillian Darlow, shares:

“We’ve always seen this transition period as a time to listen and learn. Today, I’m excited to share a new step in that commitment. We have formed three new Advisory Cohorts that will serve as a forum to listen and learn in a deeper, more structured way so our strategies better reflect both the urgency of now and the vision of what’s next.”

Read more from Gillian about the work ahead and why we launched these Advisory Cohorts → http://www.polkbrosfdn.org/listening-deeply-building-for-now-and-whats-next

Swipe through the carousel to see all participating organizations.

11/21/2025

Investing in systems of harm more than in systems of care is a driver of the life expectancy gap. Great reporting from WBEZ shows the human cost — and why changing that balance matters.

West Garfield Park residents are expected to live on average until 67 years old, compared to Loop residents living to age 87. This is the widest death gap in Chicago.