Polk Bros. Foundation 2027 Open Application
Polk Bros. Foundation is accepting introductory funding inquiries year-round from eligible Chicago-serving nonprofits through its updated Open Application process. Its next stated cutoff for Introduction submissions is December 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Central Time, for potential consideration at the May 2027 board meeting. The earlier Introduction cutoff for the February 2027 meeting was October 2, 2026 and has passed. If invited, a full proposal for May consideration is due February 5, 2027 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. A submitted Introduction is not a grant award or a guarantee of invitation.
Funder and purpose. Polk Bros. Foundation supports Chicago community-rooted efforts under three goals: closing the life expectancy gap, building community wealth across generations, and fostering participatory multiracial democracy. This is philanthropic grant funding for charitable activities, not a government purchasing or vendor procurement contract.
Who may apply. Qualifying organizations must operate in and serve Chicago, have at least one year of operations, and have filed an IRS Form 990 for one of their two most recent fiscal years. The final grant applicant must be a tax-exempt public charity meeting Section 501(c)(3) and Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2), or an eligible charitable fiscal sponsor meeting those requirements may apply with legal and financial oversight responsibilities. Regionwide organizations must demonstrate meaningful Chicago operations or impact. Previously funded organizations must generally wait 12 months after payment of their last Polk Bros. Foundation grant to receive another award; Introductory applications may begin earlier subject to the funder’s review timing.
Award size and funding. The Foundation does not publish a fixed individual-applicant award ceiling, award range, total pool for this Open Application, or a mandatory applicant match in the reviewed official program guidance. Applicant request amounts and any applicable cost-sharing requirements require individual confirmation; do not confuse the Foundation’s broader annual grantmaking with an individual award.
Restrictions. Ineligible uses and recipients include medical or scientific research, grants to individuals, for-profit companies and private foundations, regular municipal or school governmental duties, programs outside Chicago or the United States, and religious programs restricting participation or advancing a creed. Funds must support recognized charitable purposes and cannot finance prohibited lobbying, partisan election activity, fundraising event purchases, private benefit, or violence.
Application steps. Review the current goals and grantmaking guidelines, complete the eligibility checklist and organizational profile through the official Fluxx Grants Portal, receive login credentials, submit an Introduction, and await a response. Only invited applicants can submit a full proposal. The Foundation says initial portal-credential replies may take five business days and Introduction decisions generally arrive within about one month of the listed deadlines.
Required application materials. The Foundation’s published three-page official Preview of Open Application identifies core-work, track-record, service-population/geographic and approach narratives for the Introduction. The Introduction requires both the last complete fiscal year’s itemized revenue and expense budget and the current fiscal year’s itemized budget. The invited full proposal requires the most recent IRS Form 990; project budgets and partnership agreements may be supplied when relevant. See https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/wp-content/uploads/Preview-of-Polk-Bros.-Foundation-Open-Application.pdf for the published preview, which does not replace the authenticated application portal.
Verification and application note. The Foundation’s publicly accessible Open Application page, Grantmaking Guidelines and FAQs were reviewed on November 4, 2026. The authenticated Fluxx eligibility questionnaire and invitation-only full proposal were not independently inspected. This opportunity requires final authenticated portal verification before Atlas publication approval. Consult the official current program instructions for any amendments.
Official application and guidelines: https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-grantmaking/open-application ; https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/our-grantmaking/grantmaking-guidelines ; https://www.polkbrosfdn.org/frequently-asked-questions