Field Foundation of Illinois

Founded in 1940 by Marshall Field III, the Field Foundation is a private, independent foundation that has been dedicated to the promise of Chicago for over 80 years. The Field Foundation aims its grant-making toward the goal of community empowerment through funding nonprofits working in Justice, Art, Media & Storytelling and Leadership Investment. The foundation seeks to invest in organizations working to address systemic issues in divested communities. At the center of the Field Foundation’s work is the idea of community empowerment. The foundation does not claim to “empower” the “powerless,” rather, it sees many of Chicago’s community-based organizations as immense sources of power that need support. The foundation envisions these “local power grids” as organizations, networks, alliances and seek to learn more about them for potential investment of its limited dollars. Community empowerment is also its personal north star. A way of asking the sector to hold the foundation accountable for our work, and to ensure that its dollars are spent on powering specific communities.

Current opportunities from this funder:

Field Foundation Winter Cycle

The Field Foundation seeks to change how news production and storytelling reflect Chicago and create a more equitable, connected and inclusive local media ecosystem in which the stories of all...

Funder address

200 South Wacker Drive Chicago, IL 60606
Funder type

Foundation

Areas of focus

Equity/Inclusion
General Funding
Underrepresented Community(ies)