Lloyd A. Fry Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation has four well-defined focus areas: art education, general education, employment and health. Fry limits its grantmaking to the city of Chicago.
IP TAKE: All Fry funds stay in Chicago, so nonprofits will only be competing against their neighbors for grants. This funder accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry at any time.
PROFILE: The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation was established with funds from the sale of the Lloyd A. Fry Roofing company to Owens Corning Fiberglass Corp. in 1977. Lloyd A. Fry Sr. started his roofing business in Chicago in 1932 and teamed up with the prominent Sears & Roebuck Company in Chicago shortly thereafter. Over the next decades, the company expanded to other cities and states and began making products such as road asphalt, asphalt cements, specialty asphalt for burial vaults and automotive storage batteries. After Fry was sold to Owens Corning, the family shifted its focus to philanthropy. This funder aims to support “organizations with the strength and commitment to address persistent problems of urban Chicago resulting from poverty, violence, ignorance, and despair.” Grantmaking areas are art education, education, employment, and health.
The foundation’s education and arts education programs both prioritize Chicago’s low-income public schools. In arts education, the foundation seeks programs that offer students high quality arts instruction and opportunities for performances and exhibitions. The arts program also supports teacher development programs in the arts, prioritizing programs that offer ongoing support for teachers in this area. Fry’s education funding supports the development of principals and educational leadership as well as collaborative programs for teacher development that emphasize instructional quality. The education program prioritizes public middle and high schools. Policy development and advocacy programs are also occasionally funded.
Fry’s employment funding also prioritizes low-income populations and aims to help people develop skills for jobs and careers. Vocational training and adult education that lead to employment opportunities in the healthcare, manufacturing and transportation industries have been supported. Policy and advocacy toward improved employment opportunities have also been funded.
Fry’s health program is focuses on “increasing access to high quality primary care and reducing health disparities for Chicago’s low-income residents.” Funding has supported the integration of multi-disciplinary care, the maintenance of chronic diseases and conditions, outreach programs and healthcare advocacy.
Fry tends to give out about 300 grants a year, with the average grants in the $20,000 to $50,000 range. Past grantees include Chicago’s Black Ensemble Theater, Advance Illinois, the Center for Changing Lives and the Sinai Health System. Grantseekers can review a grants database by program area on the funder’s website. Fry limits its grantmaking to the city of Chicago and generally does not award grants to start-up organizations, individuals, emergency causes, renovation projects, medical research, religious purpose or governmental bodies.
Fry accepts unsolicited letters of inquiries from nonprofits. Access the link to the LOI application on the funder’s website. Inquiries are accepted via online system or via email to applications@fryfoundation.org. Direct general questions to the staff via online form or at 312-580-0310.
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