Education, opportunity, health, and hope for all.
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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.
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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.
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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
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Spotlight: our Employment Program
June 4, 2025
The Fry Foundation’s Employment program supports efforts that help Chicagoans move out of poverty by connecting them to living-wage careers and addressing structural barriers to employment. Much of this work depends on federal programs like WIOA and SNAP E&T. With reauthorization of these programs delayed, our grantees—many of whom rely on this funding for a significant portion of their budgets—face growing uncertainty at a time of rising need.
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Unmi Song to retire from the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation after 22 years as President
June 2, 2025
With deep gratitude for her two decades of leadership, the Board of Directors of the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation announces that Unmi Song is stepping down as President of the Foundation at the end of this year. Under Unmi’s leadership, the Foundation has sharpened our focus and ability to derive the most impact from our grantmaking. Her approach involved keen examination of the issues and challenges facing our grantee partners and Chicago’s most vulnerable residents.
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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.