Polk Bros Foundation Inc Grants

Organizations may introduce their work at any time for funding aligned with Polk Bros. Foundation’s goals: Closing the Life Expectancy Gap; Building Community Wealth, Across Generations; and Fostering Participatory, Multiracial Democracy. Applications are reviewed in the order received on a quarterly cycle, and the review process can take up to five months. Eligible applicants: Organizations must be recognized by the IRS as eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions through Section 501(c)(3) and as public charities described in Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2).; Organizations that provide services, offer programs or build partnerships must be based in Chicago and serve Chicago residents.; Organizations with region-wide or statewide work must demonstrate that they operate a site or office in Chicago, closely partner with Chicago-based organizations, and/or conduct core work that benefits Chicago residents.; Organizations must have been in operation for at least one year.; Organizations must have filed an IRS Form 990 for one of the two most recent fiscal years.; Organizations must wait at least 12 months from the date their most recent Polk Bros. Foundation grant was issued (paid) before receiving another grant; because the Open Application review process can take up to five months, they may begin a new application as early as seven months after their most recent grant was issued.; For recent Transition or RFP grant recipients, the earliest Introduction deadline depends on when the most recent grant was paid: February 2026 payments had an October 2, 2026 deadline; April/May 2026 payments have a December 4, 2026 deadline; August 2026 payments have a March 5, 2027 deadline; and September/November 2026 payments have a June 4, 2027 deadline.; Organizations serving as fiscal sponsors may apply; the fiscal sponsor is the grant applicant and bears legal and financial oversight and reporting responsibilities for the supported activity or project.; Grants may be used only for recognized charitable, educational, or other Section 501(c)(3) purposes and cannot result in impermissible private benefit or private inurement.; The Foundation does not fund initiatives or organizations that do not directly serve or benefit Chicago residents.; The Foundation does not fund projects or organizations situated outside the United States.; The Foundation does not fund religious institutions seeking support for programs whose participants are restricted by religious affiliation or whose services promote a particular creed.; The Foundation does not fund the purchase of fundraising-event or raffle tickets or advertising in dinner or gala programs.; The Foundation does not fund medical or scientific research.; The Foundation does not make grants to individuals.; The Foundation does not fund private foundations or for-profit organizations.; The Foundation does not fund tax-generating entities, including municipalities, school districts, or individual schools, for services within their normal responsibilities.; Grants cannot constitute self-dealing under Internal Revenue Code Section 4941, including any direct or indirect financial benefit to Foundation disqualified persons.; Grants cannot fund or support activities inciting political violence.; Grants cannot fund taxable expenditures, including partisan electoral activity, lobbying, voter-registration activities that do not meet statutory exceptions, or grants that fail to meet expenditure-responsibility requirements.; A grant for a specific project at an organization that also conducts lobbying requires either an agreement that no grant funds will be used for lobbying or compliance with the project-grant rule.; Grantees must use funds only for the purposes stated in the award notification and cannot use them to participate or intervene in a political campaign for or against a candidate for public office or for any purpose prohibited by law.; The Foundation will not fund organizations it knows or has reason to believe engage in hateful activities, including violence, intimidation, harassment, threats, or defamation targeting protected groups.; Grant funds cannot be used to plan, incite, perpetrate, or otherwise contribute to violence or activities that might lead to violence or violations of local law.. Geography served: Chicago.