Deadline: 1-Jun-21
The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is seeking applications for its grants program to support organizations with the strength and commitment to address persistent problems of urban Chicago resulting from poverty, violence, ignorance, and despair.
The Foundation focuses on programs that improve conditions for low-income, underserved communities in Chicago, and they are especially interested in efforts that will foster learning and innovation.
Program Areas
The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation makes grants in the following program areas:
- Arts Learning: Arts Learning funding focuses on programs for low-income Chicago children and youth that use the arts as a means to improve learning and provide life-enriching experiences.
- Education: The Education program has been a cornerstone of their grantmaking since the Fry Foundation’s inception.
- Employment: Employment Program addresses the commitment to helping families and individuals move out of poverty. They support comprehensive job training programs that help low-income individuals improve their ability to compete for living-wage jobs and careers.
Priorities
- Programs with a demonstrated record of high-quality, effective services
- Efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of programs and services (these might include program design, evaluation or staff development efforts, among others)
- The development of innovative approaches that will contribute valuable examples, information, and knowledge to others working in the field
- The Foundation also considers policy advocacy efforts that help ensure low-income communities and individuals in Chicago are treated fairly and have access to the services they need and deserve.
The Foundation does not fund
- In general, the Foundation does not make grants to individuals, governmental entities, or 509(a)(3) supporting organizations, although exceptions sometimes are made for publicly supported charities.
- They also do not provide funding for: general operating expenses for new grantees, capital projects, endowments, fundraising events, political activities, medical research, or religious purposes.
- The Foundation rarely fund unsolicited applications from organizations based outside Chicago.
- When exceptions are made, they look for organizations with strong local board leaders who are responsible for establishing program priorities and policies in Chicago.
- In addition, organizations must agree that funds awarded for Chicago-based programs remain in Chicago and are not included in calculations of funds exchanged between local and national offices.
For more information, visit https://www.fryfoundation.org/how-to-apply/funding-eligibility/