Polk Bros. Foundation Announces $3 Million in New Community-Driven Grant Opportunities (2026)
The Polk Bros. Foundation has announced three major Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to be released between February and May 2026, totaling $3 million in one-year grants. These opportunities are designed to support community-driven solutions across Chicago while helping shape the Foundation’s future grantmaking strategy.
Each RFP allocates $1 million to advance one of the Foundation’s three new long-term goals:
- Closing the Life Expectancy Gap
- Building Community Wealth Across Generations
- Fostering a Participatory, Multiracial Democracy
According to CEO Gillian Darlow, these RFPs offer a chance to learn directly from nonprofits and community leaders:
“We know there is much to learn from their efforts, and we’ll continue listening closely as we lean into the work ahead.”
Overview of Upcoming Grant Opportunities (2026)
1. Closing the Life Expectancy Gap
RFP Focus: Risk Reduction Strategies to Prevent Overdose
- Opens: February 17, 2026
- LOI Deadline: March 16, 2026, 5 PM
- Full Application Invites: April 20, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: May 15, 2026, 5 PM
- Grants Awarded: August 7, 2026
Focus:
Supports programs centered on reducing overdose deaths, particularly on Chicago’s south and west sides. Grants will fund harm-reduction services, community partnerships, non-lobbying advocacy, evidence-building, and trauma-informed approaches grounded in justice and human rights.
2. Building Community Wealth Across Generations
RFP Focus: Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership
- Opens: March 2, 2026
- LOI Deadline: March 27, 2026, 5 PM
- Full Application Invites: April 27, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: May 22, 2026, 5 PM
- Grants Awarded: August 7, 2026
Focus:
Strengthens Chicago’s community wealth building (CWB) ecosystem by advancing shared ownership models—including worker ownership and shared residential ownership—in economically distressed neighborhoods. Eligible projects may include technical assistance, education, scaling initiatives, and ecosystem-building aligned with 501(c)(3) requirements.
3. Fostering a Participatory, Multiracial Democracy
RFP Focus: Next Generation Power-Building
- Opens: May 4, 2026
- LOI Deadline: June 5, 2026, 5 PM
- Full Application Invites: July 20, 2026
- Full Application Deadline: August 14, 2026, 5 PM
- Grants Awarded: November 13, 2026
Focus:
Supports youth-led collective action (ages 26 and under) to counter harmful narratives about Chicago’s young people and elevate their civic leadership. Eligible projects include community organizing, youth-driven advocacy (non-lobbying), mutual aid, and other strategies that center youth voice, agency, and self-determination.
Application Process
Each RFP follows a two-step process:
- Letter of Interest (LOI): A brief high-level overview
- Full Application: By invitation only for projects aligned with the RFP’s criteria
Invited applicants will receive at least four weeks to complete the full proposal. All applicants will be notified of their status at the end of each cycle.
Learn More
Full details, eligibility, guidelines, and updates are available at official website.
Applicants may also subscribe to the Foundation’s newsletter for updates on future RFP openings.
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