Lloyd a Fry Foundation
The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation is an independent private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1977 with proceeds from the sale of the Lloyd A. Fry Roofing Company to Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation, the foundation has grown to become a significant philanthropic force in the Chicago region. The foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of Chicago residents facing challenges rooted in systems of inequity, partnering with effective nonprofit organizations committed to building a community where all individuals and families have the opportunity to thrive.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$10.0M
+5.9% YoY
Grant Count
404
+10.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
-4.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: 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. The foundation partners with effective nonprofit organizations that share its commitment to building a community in which all individuals and families have the opportunity to thrive.
Vision: A Chicago that offers education, opportunity, health, and hope for all.
The foundation funds grants in three primary program areas:
Arts Learning — Supporting low-income Chicago children and youth through high-quality arts learning experiences. The foundation is interested in improving the quality and expanding the availability of arts education programs, especially in Chicago public schools, including arts instruction, performance, and professional development for arts educators.
Education — Increasing the academic achievement of low-income students in historically disinvested Chicago public schools.
Employment — Helping families and individuals move out of poverty.
Grantmaking
Eligible organizations submit a letter of inquiry, allowing program officers 30 days to respond. Once invited to apply, organizations submit a full application with required documents. The foundation operates on a quarterly review cycle with a typical decision time of 2-3 months.
Grant Range
s & Activity:**
Average Grant
$20,000 - $50,000
Review Cycle
with a typical decision time of 2-3 months.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Lloyd a Fry Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds exclusively in Chicago, Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $198,005,600 (as of fiscal year ending June 2023)
Annual Giving: $9,995,219 (2024)
Revenue: $5,688,272 (fiscal year ending June 2023)
Expenses: $11,707,566 (fiscal year ending June 2023)
Total Liabilities: $4,850,000 (as of June 2023)
Tax Status: 501(c)(3) organization; tax-exempt since April 1963; EIN: 36-6108775
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Lloyd a Fry Foundation
Fry Foundation: Arts Learning Grants
LLOYD A FRY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Fry Foundation: Education Grants
LLOYD A FRY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Fry Foundation: Employment Grant
LLOYD A FRY FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include The Barack Obama Foundation ($250,000), Anet ($100,000), Bellwether Education Partners Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| THE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS CHICAGO, IL | FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN OF FIRST RESPONDERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY | $1,500 |
| 2ND STORY CHICAGO, IL | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| 3ARTS INC CHICAGO, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF THE FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL COMMUNITY ARTS INITIATIVE, MADE IN HONOR OF YOUR BOARD MEMBER, MEL SMITH | $2,000 |
| 7 LAKES ALLIANCE BELGRADE LAKES, ME | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| ACCESS COMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | FOR THE INTEGRATED HEALTH HOME PROGRAM, CARE COORDINATION FOR PATIENTS WITH SERIOUS MENTAL ILLNESS | $65,000 |
| ACTS OF KINDNESS CABARET WHEELING, IL | IN HONOR OF HILARY ANN FELDMAN | $500 |
| ADVANCE ILLINOIS NFP CHICAGO, IL | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| AFRICA INTERNATIONAL HOUSE USA INC CHICAGO, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF THE 34TH ANNUAL AFRICAN FEST | $2,500 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTS ALLIANCE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF BLACK ARTS MONTH AND THE NEW LEADERS | $1,500 |
| ALBANY PARK THEATER PROJECT CHICAGO, IL | FOR SUPPORT OF THE APTP HIGH SCHOOL ENSEMBLE AND APTP@SCHOOL | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Unmi Song — President (retiring after 22 years of service)
Dr. Sherly Chavarria — Senior Education Program Officer, succeeding Song as President effective January 1, 2026
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNMI SONG | PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY | 40 | $300,000 |
| AMINA DICKERSON | CHAIR | 2.5 | $40,000 |
| GRAHAM GRADY | VICE CHAIR AND TREASURER | 2.5 | $40,000 |
| LLOYD A FRY III | DIRECTOR | 2.5 | $40,000 |
| STEPHANIE PACE MARSHALL | DIRECTOR | 2.5 | $40,000 |
| LIBRADA KILLIAN | DIRECTOR | 2.5 | $40,000 |
| HOWARD M MCCUE III | DIRECTOR | 2.5 | $40,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation announced a phase-out of its Health Program, reflecting a strategic shift in focus toward its three core program areas of Arts Learning, Education, and Employment.
Spotlight: our Arts Learning Program 2025 :: The Lloyd A. Fry FoundationThe National Museum of Mexican Art, a grantee organization, was awarded $3.5 million, demonstrating the foundation's significant support for arts and cultural institutions serving Chicago communities.
Grantee National Museum of Mexican Art Awarded $3.5 MillionFrequently Asked Questions
What does Lloyd a Fry Foundation fund?
**Mission:** 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. The foundation partners with effective nonprofit organizations that share its commitment to building a community in which all individuals and families have the opportunity to thrive. **Vision:** A Chicago that offers education, opportunity, health, and hope for all. The foundation funds grants in three primary program areas: **Arts Learni…
How do I apply for a grant from Lloyd a Fry Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Activity:** • Typical grant range: $20,000 - $450,000 • Average grant: $20,000 - $50,000 • Annual giving: Approximately $10 million (2024: $9,995,219) • Number of grants: Approximately 300 annually (403 grants in 2024) **Grant Types:** • Program funding • Emergency funds **Application Process:** Eligible organizations submit a letter of inquiry, allowing program officers 30 days to respond. Once invited to apply, organizations submit a full application with required documents. T…
Where does Lloyd a Fry Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds exclusively in Chicago, Illinois.
What size grants does Lloyd a Fry Foundation award?
In 2024, Lloyd a Fry Foundation awarded 404 grants totaling $10.0M — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Lloyd a Fry Foundation's EIN?
Lloyd a Fry Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6108775. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Lloyd a Fry Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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