Our 2024 proposal deadlines are Friday, March 29 (Spring Cycle) and Friday, July 26 (Fall Cycle). Applications for the Spring Cycle are now open.

Supporting land conservation, artistic vitality, and regional collections for the people of the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

We seek to sustain and build resilient, vital, engaged, and equitable communities in our two regions by supporting conservation, arts, and collecting organizations.

More about how we work.

GDDF News

Explore recent news and stories from the Foundation, grantees, and partners. 

Getting to Know… Chicago Artistic Vitality

Discover more about our Chicago Artistic Vitality program and how we support neighborhood small arts organizations that are the spark for Chicago’s artistic innovation. Photo: Chicago Dance Crash is one of the premier hip hop/contemporary dance companies in the Midwest. Photo courtesy of Mark Hackman….

Getting to Know… Lowcountry Land Conservation

Our 5 Questions Getting to Know Series asks our program officers to provide an introduction to our work and insights about what is interesting and unique about each of our program areas. By Jason Crowley, Lowcountry Program Director Why does the Foundation support land conservation…

Remarks and Reflections of David Farren at the Arts Club of Chicago

Remarks delivered by retiring Executive Director David Farren on December 6, 2023 at a reception honoring his 11 years of service to the Foundation. I’m honored for all of you to be here to mark my retirement. It’s really a celebration of what we’ve done…

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