Education, opportunity, health, and hope for all.

  • About the foundation

    The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of the people of Chicago faced with challenges rooted in the systems of inequity.

  • Funding priorities

    We offer grants in three program areas—Arts Learning, Education, and Employment—to organizations with the strength and commitment to address persistent problems of urban Chicago.

  • Our program focus

    The Foundation focuses on programs with a demonstrated record of high-quality, effective services that improve conditions for low-income, underserved communities in Chicago areas.

How to apply

If you’re eligible, submit a letter of inquiry, then allow our program officers 30 days to respond. Once you’re invited to apply, submit your application with the required documents.

Our year in review

In this year’s annual report, we spotlight the women, men, and children served by our grantees.

While the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation provides grants to a wide range of organizations, we recognize that the true beneficiaries are the individuals whom those organizations support.

Our history

Learn how Lloyd A. Fry, the founder of the nation’s largest roofing materials company, created a foundation that has grown and evolved to help address the critical needs of Chicago communities during these quickly changing times.

Recent News

  • Sherly Chavarria named Pahara Fellow and re-appointed to Illinois State Board of Education

    Sherly Chavarria named Pahara Fellow and re-appointed to Illinois State Board of Education

    March 13, 2025

    The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is proud to share that Sherly Chavarria, Senior Program Officer for Education, has been selected for the prestigious Pahara Fellowship and re-appointed by Governor J.B. Pritzker to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for a four-year term. Sherly was also nominated to serve as Secretary of the ISBE Board, furthering her leadership in advancing educational equity across the state.

  • Our commitment to grantee partners amid policy changes

    March 10, 2025

    In light of the rapid policy changes at the federal level, we want to take a moment to reaffirm the values that guide the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation. We know that uncertainty can create challenges for our grantee partners and the people they serve, and we want to assure our grantees that our commitment remains steadfast. With that in mind, we share a statement the Foundation sent to our grantee partners.

  • Spotlight: our Arts Learning Program

    Spotlight: our Arts Learning Program

    Mar 10, 2025

    This spotlight discusses the critical role played by the Foundation’s grantee partners in expanding access to arts education for underserved youth in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Highlights include how grantees have successfully reached underserved schools by building long-term relationships that provide consistent arts programming and how grantees are adapting to improve student engagement.