Gaylord Foundation Awards Over $1.58M to Small Chicago Arts Organizations

The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (GDDF) has announced it awarded more than $1.58 million in grants to 59 of Chicago’s small arts organizations and arts advocacy organizations in 2024, including its end of year grant cycle. Twenty-one Chicago area arts organizations received multi-year grants of $30,000 or more last year.

The Chicago arts grantees are a portion of thoroughly $6.2 million in funding provided to 127 organizations in the Chicago region and Lowcountry of South Carolina across GDDF’s three program areas in 2024: Artistic Vitality, Broadening Narratives, and Land Conservation. The Foundation makes grants twice a year in the summer and late fall.

In total, GDDF is currently funding more than 160 small arts organizations in the Chicago region through its multi-year general operating grants.

Among GDDF’s 2024 Chicago arts grantees are nonprofit advocacy organizations the League of Chicago Theatres and Lawyers for the Creative Arts, which were awarded grants of $75,000. Additional Chicago Artistic Vitality grantees include Chicago Jazz Philharmonic ($40,500), Jazz Institute of Chicago ($40,500), Natya Dance Theatre ($40,500), See Chicago Dance ($40,500), Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center ($40,500), Silk Road Rising ($40,500), Definition Theatre Company ($36,000), and Shattered Globe Theatre ($36,000). Arts organizations receiving grants of $30,000 include Asian Improv aRts Midwest, Chicago Dancemakers Forum, Ensemble Dal Niente, Kalapriya, Lucky Plush Productions, Mandala South Asian Performing Arts, Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Steep Theatre Company, The Newberry Consort, and Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art.

“It is more important than ever to champion the power of art, nurture our land, and share the stories that shape our self-understanding,” said Arnold Randall, executive director of the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. “Even as they are doing exciting and important work, many of the organizations we support are facing challenges and uncertainty. At GDDF, we value the deep, steady, and long-term relationships we build with our grantee partners. We remain committed to trust-based practices, our mission areas, and the values of equity and trust that guide our work. We are proud to support these organizations that are doing such important work in their fields and communities.”

More than 65% of GDDF’s 2024 grants were for multi-year general operating support, and 70% of the December grants provided general operating support. The Foundation also provides project, planning, technical assistance, and cash reserve funding. In addition to grant-making, GDDF is committed to supporting its grantee partners in a variety of ways, including access to training and support for collaborations and convenings.

For more information on GDDF awardees or programming, visit gddf.org.