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.

GDDF News

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

Capitol building in Washington DC behind green trees and purple and white flowering bushes

Leveraging Enhanced Federal Conservation Programs to Support On-the-Ground Conservation

by Rebecca Judd, Program Officer – Conservation While the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation is a place-based foundation in the Chicago region and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, in a time of challenge from 2017 to 2020, we recognized the compelling need to support advocacy…

Arts Professional Development Resources

The following resources were recommended by Chicago arts organizations supported by the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. Some of these are national and/or broader than arts, so would be applicable in the Lowcountry and in land or collections, as well. Workshops/ Executive Education / Webinars…

For Immediate Release: Survey of 61 small arts organizations in Chicago reveals benefits of virtual programming, impact on plans for 2021

[header images – Silk Road Rising and Cerqua Rivera CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THESE IMAGES AND MORE] CHICAGO [January 26, 2021]—The Chicago-based Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation (the Foundation)—an organization that offers unrestricted grants to 175 small arts organizations in Chicago with budgets under $1…